Healthcare Costs Archives - KFF Health News

Trump Officials Still Delaying Funds

Episode 452

June 25, 2026

With the fiscal year mostly over, hundreds of millions of dollars in health-related grants approved by Congress still have not reached their designated recipients, with the Trump administration again delaying distribution. Meanwhile, on the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that allowed states to ban abortion, the number of abortions in the U.S. is actually rising. Maya Goldman of Axios, Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, and Rachana Pradhan of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more.

Listen Now

Senator Ron Wyden walks past a few reporters, who hold up their cell phones as recording devices as he speaks in passing.

Democrats To Propose Bill Capping Out-of-Pocket Medicare Costs for Enrollees

Some Senate Democrats want to cap the amount beneficiaries in traditional Medicare have to pay toward care, but the move is expected to draw GOP opposition for potentially adding billions to Medicare costs.

By Julie Appleby

June 25, 2026

An illustration of a person pushing a senior man in a wheelchair, apparently running from a giant "hello my name is caregiver" name-tag.

HealthQ

Worried About Your Aging Parents? Welcome to the Caregiving Club

Being a caregiver can start long before you go to a doctor appointment with a loved one or move your parents into your house. The HealthQ team explores how embracing the role matters — and how the recognition and support that come next can ease a difficult season of life.

By Emily Siner, Nashville Public Radio, Cara Anthony, and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio

June 23, 2026

An Arm and a Leg

Try These Tips When You Can’t Afford Your Rx

Season 15, Episode 8

June 22, 2026

What if you can’t afford your prescription? “An Arm and a Leg” listeners share some of their favorite tips and hacks.

Listen Now

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Democrats Keep Healthcare at the Fore

Episode 451

June 18, 2026

Senate Democrats hope to highlight health costs by forcing a vote on the Trump administration’s changes to the Affordable Care Act before the midterm elections. Meanwhile, Alabama is the latest state to try to cut off access to medication abortion via telehealth. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute and Liz Fowler of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to discuss the employer health insurance tax exclusion.

Listen Now

Letters to the Editor

Readers Curse Medical Debt and Defend Spelling Therapy

KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

June 18, 2026

A photo of Sen. Tammy Baldwin descending a staircase.

Democrats Seek To Spotlight Rising Health Costs by Forcing Vote on Trump Regulation

Congressional Democrats are seeking to overturn a Trump administration rule they say will hamper Obamacare coverage. Whether they win or lose any floor vote, they’ll likely use it in campaign messaging ahead of the midterms.

By Julie Appleby

June 17, 2026

A vector illustration of pieces of paper, an envelope, a receipt, a pen and pencil, a magnifying glass, eye glasses, dollar bills, and coins.

Long-Awaited Rule Aims To Boost ACA Choices While Embracing Higher Deductibles

The Trump administration finalized a rule that embraces new types of Obamacare coverage, including 30% higher out-of-pocket costs for some plans, and a more novel approach that allows insurers to offer coverage without set networks of doctors and hospitals.

By Julie Appleby

June 15, 2026

A woman and man stand by an auto shop building. A dog sits in front of them.

Priced Out

They’re Uninsured After Obamacare Became Too Costly. And They’re Far From Alone.

After congressional Republicans let expanded subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans expire at the end of last year, some families have decided the price is too great of a financial burden and canceled their coverage.

By Andrew Jones

June 15, 2026

Gavin Newsom speaks behind a podium at a press conference. The American flag and California flag are behind him.

Priced Out

1 in 4 Covered California Enrollees Could Get State Aid Under Newsom Proposal

California is considering expanding financial help for low-income residents struggling to pay high health insurance premiums after losing federal subsidies. But relief for state marketplace customers will be limited. Here’s who may get help and what it could mean for premiums.

By Christine Mai-Duc and Jackie Fortiér

June 12, 2026

A senior man with grey hair wearing a navy suit and red tie

Final Rules for Medicaid Work Requirements Are Out. Here’s What You Need To Know.

The Trump administration has laid out what millions of Americans on Medicaid must do to prove they’re working or completing other activities. Health policy researchers and consumer advocates say there are some important takeaways.

By Sam Whitehead

June 12, 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News

The Drip, Drip, Drip of Declining Coverage

Episode 450

June 11, 2026

As predicted, the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans is causing many people to lose coverage for failing to make premium payments. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded angrily to a New York Times article suggesting he’s not actively engaged in the work of his sprawling department. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF’s Tricia Neuman, who is retiring this month as a senior vice president and the executive director of the Program on Medicare Policy.

Listen Now

A image of the healthcare.gov website on a laptop screen.

Health Hub

Millions of Kids Could Lose Insurance as GOP Healthcare Cuts Start To Bite

Big cuts to healthcare programs in the 2025 GOP budget law are creating an affordability crunch for many Americans: Higher health insurance premiums. Confusion about who Medicaid will cover under the new rules. KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner explains how the changes could leave nearly 2 million children uninsured.

By Julie Rovner

June 5, 2026

A pregnant woman receives an ultrasound.

Upcoming Billing Change Could Make Pregnancy Pricier

Come January, pregnancy care physician billing codes will change from a bundled system to an à la carte one. Many obstetricians say this approach will better reflect the amount and type of care they provide. But it could incentivize providers to pile on visits and services.

By Michelle Andrews

June 5, 2026

A woman stands near some shelves indoors and is in silhouette against two windows with blinds drawn.

Louisiana’s Reporting Law Chills Immigrant Medicaid Applications

A year after the measure’s passage, a state law is keeping immigrants and their children from accessing Medicaid even when they qualify.

By Halle Parker, Verite News

June 4, 2026

A woman wearing casual clothing sits in her sunlit dining room.

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

June 1, 2026

A woman sits on a couch in a living room and looks at the camera.

Diagnosis: Debt

Baffling. Frustrating. Frightening. What It’s Like To Be Sued Over Medical Debt.

Patients’ experiences encapsulate breakdowns in a healthcare system that traps patients in debt. The industry’s key players blame one another.

By Katy Golvala, CT Mirror, Jenna Carlesso, CT Mirror, and Noam N. Levey

June 1, 2026

BILL OF THE MONTH

After Her Bout of Amnesia, a $59,000 Billing Dispute Wouldn’t Go Away

Last spring, a woman started exhibiting unusual memory problems after a hike in Arizona. It turns out she was experiencing a disorder called transient global amnesia. She has fully recovered, but a dispute over nearly $60,000 in hospital charges has been a source of stress for over a year.

By Lauren Sausser

May 29, 2026

Letters to the Editor

Readers Address Drugged Driving, Suicide Prevention, Worker Shortages

KFF Health News gives readers a chance to comment on a recent batch of stories.

May 27, 2026

A woman with very short gray hair wearing a black fleece jacket smiles in the direction of the camera.

Priced Out

Cheaper, Alternative Health Plans Are Having a Moment, but Critics Urge Caution

Congress' decision not to extend enhanced marketplace tax credits has boosted the appeal of alternative health coverage with lower monthly premiums. Consumer advocates dismiss the plans as "junk insurance,” while proponents say patients need alternatives to pricey marketplace options.

By Sarah Kwon

May 26, 2026

Trump 2.0

Public Health

Audio Reports

Special Reports

More Topics

Healthcare Costs