Midterm Wave Sets a Course for ‘Medicare for All’ Fight
Voter frustration with healthcare costs helped fuel the Democrats’ midterm takeover of Congress. But Democratic control doesn’t mean “Medicare for All” will follow, as some hoped.
Drug Costs
1-20 of 711 results
-
-
Democrats’ Election Rout Is Poised To Dramatically Reorder Federal Health Policy
Democrats’ retaking of Congress doesn’t change President Donald Trump’s control of the veto pen — making the new majority’s aspirations to reverse changes to Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and other safety net programs an uphill climb.
By Stephanie Armour and Amanda Seitz -
Medicare Drug Plans Are Hiking Premiums While Trump Claims Victory on Medicine Prices
Millions of Medicare enrollees who buy stand-alone prescription drug plans will see their average monthly premiums rise by 50% in 2027, a new analysis finds. But enrollees can avoid the average increase by switching to lower-cost plans.
-
For Californians Drowning in Healthcare Costs, Governor’s Race Offers Few Answers
In California, healthcare costs are rising faster than income and inflation, and 4 in 10 adults in the state say they’re paying down medical debt. With the governor’s race in full swing, it’s still not clear what the candidates would do to fix it.
-
‘Go to Canada’: Trump Touted Americans’ Access to Cheaper Drugs. A New Rule Threatens It.
The Trump administration pushed back a rule — until after the midterm elections — that would complicate Americans’ access to less expensive medication imports from Canada and other countries.
By Arthur Allen Medicare Is More Broken Than We Thought
Season 16, Episode 2At least 2 million seniors will receive notice this fall that their Medicare Advantage plans will disappear at year’s end, some without a comparable alternative. Here’s a look at this increasingly common problem with Medicare Advantage, and what it says about Medicare as a whole.
-
Republicans and Democrats Find a Unifying Target: Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Some states have considered barring companies that own a PBM from also owning brick-and-mortar pharmacies, as CVS does. Two states have followed through. A similar proposal at the federal level has gained prominent sponsors, aligning conservative, business-friendly Republicans with Democrats traditionally more open to government regulation.
-
Insurance Coverage Lags as Cancer Science, Treatment Move Forward
“Brain cancer” or “H4 G34-mutant”? As knowledge about genetics advances, some doctors say cancers should be defined by their mutations, not the tissues where they manifest.
By Arthur Allen -
With Midterms Looming, Journalists Consider Measles, Food Recalls, and Obamacare
KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.
-
The Medicare GLP-1 Discount Has One Big Catch: Some Sick Patients Don’t Qualify
The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program promises eligible beneficiaries access to popular weight loss drugs for as little as $50 a month. But for some, having the very medical conditions these drugs are approved to treat means they don't qualify for the discount.
-
Watch: Mark Cuban Says You Can’t Fix Healthcare Until Every Price Is Known
With his online pharmacy, Mark Cuban changed how generic drugs are sold — and he has thoughts about how to fix the healthcare system. The billionaire businessman talks to KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to answer the question: “How Would You Fix It?”
By Julie Rovner and Hannah Norman -
How Much of a Cancer Drug Is Too Much? Patients, Researchers Challenge FDA-Approved Dosages
Patients and researchers point to evidence that many cancer drug dosages are excessive, and that reducing the amount and frequency could save billions of dollars and prevent some of the worst side effects.
By Arthur Allen -
Newsom Promotes Affordable Insulin, but California’s Generic Label Off to a Slow Start
California is the first to launch state-branded insulin as Gov. Gavin Newsom tries to disrupt the pharmaceutical industry. But the new CalRx drug label has been slow to reach pharmacies and patients.
By Angela Hart -
Watch: GOP Senator Says Trump’s Tariffs Could Mean Safer Drugs — For a Price
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana chairs the Senate’s health committee. In an interview with KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner, he discusses the drug supply, his proposal to defray out-of-pocket costs, and his controversial vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary.
By Julie Rovner and Hannah Norman -
Copay Assistance Is Meant To Defray Patient Drug Costs. Some Insurers Keep It Instead.
Drugmakers provide financial assistance to help patients afford increasingly expensive medications. But some insurers do not count those payments toward a plan’s deductible or out-of-pocket maximum and make patients pay instead.
By Daniel Chang -
Thousands of Medicare Beneficiaries Thought Their Drug Plan Was Free. Then They Lost It.
Thousands of people who had a Medicare drug plan with zero-dollar premiums last year got small premium increases this year — and didn’t know it. They were dropped from their coverage for failing to pay amounts as little as $8, and most can’t get it again until 2027.
By Susan Jaffe -
She Struggled To Get a Lifesaving Drug Even After Insurers Vowed To Help
Margaret Hvatum ended up in the hospital after her insurer denied coverage of a medicine she relies on to boost her immune system. Hvatum got entangled in the preapproval process, which the insurance industry has vowed to improve.
-
Trouble Getting Weight Loss Drugs Covered by Insurance? Here’s What To Know
If your doctor prescribes a GLP-1 medication for weight loss but your insurance won’t cover it, you have options.
-
Telehealth Booms as Demand for GLP-1s Surges and Questions Mount About Safety, Oversight
Many telehealth companies have emerged in recent years offering easy access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs as demand has exploded. Meanwhile, researchers and doctors are concerned that some of these online companies aren't properly screening or monitoring patients. “It gives a black eye to telemedicine,” one researcher said.
By Lauren Sausser and Maia Rosenfeld -
Trump Bought Stock in Eli Lilly as His Policies Gave the Drugmaker a Big Boost, Documents Show
Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.
By Darius Tahir