Healthcare Costs Archives - KFF Health News

A New Era for the ACA

Episode 469

Oct. 29, 2026

Open enrollment for 2027 Affordable Care Act plans kicks off in most states Nov. 1, and consumers can expect higher premiums and more bureaucracy. Meanwhile, Democrats are planning a major health agenda if they win majorities in Congress. Julie Appleby of KFF Health News, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Victoria Knight of Bloomberg Government join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also, Rovner announces the winners of the KFF Health News Halloween haiku contest.

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A photo of a woman seated on a bench in the shade of a tree.

Bill of the Month

She Needed an EpiPen. But First, an Urgent Care Asked Her To Pay.

An uninsured woman sought help at a Virginia urgent care center after being stung by a wasp. She said she was stunned when the center asked her to pay before giving her a shot to reverse her allergic reaction.

By Phil Galewitz

Oct. 29, 2026

Karlo Campana takes a selfie as he holds his newborn son.

In California and Other States, Dads Are Now Even With Moms in Paid Leave Claims

The U.S. has no law guaranteeing paid parental leave. But in states with their own programs, more dads are using the benefit, surpassing moms in some states. The growth in popularity comes as Americans increasingly say raising children is unaffordable.

By Elly Yu, LAist

Oct. 28, 2026

Priced Out

The Cost of Healthcare Is Hitting America Where It Hurts: The Wallet

Rising healthcare costs are upending the lives of Americans. People are forgoing health insurance, rationing medications, cutting back on doctor visits, and putting off health procedures they can’t afford. But bringing the costs down won’t be easy.

By Renuka Rayasam and Sam Whitehead

Oct. 26, 2026

A photo of HealthCare.gov seen on a computer screen.

Shopping for an ACA Plan This Year? Here’s What You Need To Know

As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance kicks off, consumers face rising premiums, additional identity checks, and fewer brokers.

By Julie Appleby

Oct. 23, 2026

A man in a button down shirt and business blazer stands on a stage with a microphone.

Postcard From Bakersfield, California

GOP Congressman in California Swing-District Race Defends Vote for Medicaid Cuts

In a race that could help decide control of Congress, Republican U.S. Rep. David Valadao is trying to hold on to his swing-district seat. The congressman didn’t mention healthcare at a recent campaign rally in Bakersfield, but voters can't stop talking about it.

By Jackie Fortiér

Oct. 23, 2026

Priced Out

Digging Into the Money Behind the US Healthcare System

Healthcare makes up a growing share of the U.S. economy — and household budgets. We break down how much money the nation is spending and on what.

By Lydia Zuraw and Renuka Rayasam

Oct. 23, 2026

A photo shows four increasingly-taller stacks on one-hundred-dollar bills. The tallest stack on the right has an orange pill bottle resting on top of it.

Job-Based Health Plan Costs Rise, With Little Relief in Sight

Employers saw their healthcare premiums rise 5% this year — and some passed on that burden to workers — as the cost of family coverage in job-based insurance exceeds $28,000 for family plans.

By Julie Appleby

Oct. 22, 2026

A sign on the side of a building has a seal and the words, "U.S. Customs and Border Protection," next to 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

Oct. 22, 2026

An image of buildings with the signage "OHSU Hospital"

Hidden Help

States Are Forcing Hospitals To Offer More People Financial Aid. In Oregon, It’s Working.

Oregon passed a law to require hospitals to proactively screen patients to see if they qualify for financial aid. Patients got immediate relief. Hospitals pushed to roll back the law following federal cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies.

By Melanie Evans, Tradeoffs

Oct. 21, 2026

Letters to the Editor

Readers Are Pleading To Make American Healthcare Greater

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

Oct. 19, 2026

Vice President JD Vance (center) speaks alongside (left/right) Kimberly Brandt, Mehmet Oz, Andrew Ferguson Chris Klomp during a press conference. A large backdrop poster behind them says, "$2.2 BILLION RECOVERED."

GOP Focuses on Fraud, Seeking To Redirect Voters’ Ire Over Healthcare Costs

The anti-fraud efforts highlight a broader political fight ahead of the midterms. Republicans say they’re protecting taxpayer dollars by going after bad actors. Democrats contend the administration is — with insufficient evidence — targeting blue states to cut programs the GOP has long sought to shrink.

By Stephanie Armour

Oct. 19, 2026

The Week in Brief

A Billionaire Tax Is on California’s Ballot. Can It Make Up for Federal Healthcare Cuts?

Get our weekly newsletter, The Week in Brief, featuring a roundup of our original coverage, Fridays at 2 p.m. ET.

By Jackie Fortiér

Oct. 16, 2026

A photo of President Donald Trump speaking at a podium by Mehmet Oz in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House.

After Booting 760K People From ACA Plans, Trump Administration Has Added Some Back

The Trump administration has provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway.

By Julie Appleby

Oct. 16, 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Early Voting Begins

Episode 467

Oct. 15, 2026

As early voting begins in some states, the Trump administration is working to keep its crackdown on healthcare fraud, waste, and abuse in the headlines. Also, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a new initiative to identify vaccine injuries. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Sun join KFF Health News’ Mary Agnes Carey to discuss these stories and more. Also, KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner interviews Dan Weissmann, host of the podcast “An Arm and a Leg.”

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A woman with brown hair, wearing a green shirt, sits at a table in a park

Hidden Help

What Texas Reveals About the Obstacles to Getting Hospital Financial Aid

Hospitals can prevent medical debt by offering financial help before sending big bills. A Tradeoffs investigation found that nearly half of nonprofit facilities in Texas say they will bill patients before screening them for aid. And most will not offer refunds to patients who pay and are later found to qualify for free care.

By Melanie Evans, Tradeoffs

Oct. 15, 2026

Hidden Help

7 Takeaways From an Investigation Into Financial Aid at Texas Hospitals

Hospitals can prevent medical debt by preemptively wiping out a patient’s bill. But a Tradeoffs analysis finds that few nonprofit facilities in Texas use this tool to the maximum benefit of patients.

By Melanie Evans, Tradeoffs, Jo Craven McGinty, Tradeoffs, and Ryan Levi, Tradeoffs

Oct. 15, 2026

A stack of 100-dollar-bills and a stethoscope rest on top of a California resident tax sheet.

California’s Billionaire Tax Promises Healthcare Relief. The Fine Print Is Murkier.

An initiative on the California ballot would levy the nation’s first wealth tax on billionaires. Supporters say the proceeds would help offset President Donald Trump’s sweeping healthcare cuts. But critics argue that the temporary infusion of cash is a giveaway to politicians.

By Jackie Fortiér

Oct. 14, 2026

KFF Health News On Air

Journalists Go Behind Health Headlines From Georgia, Michigan, and Russia

KFF Health News journalists made the rounds on national and local media recently to discuss topical stories. Here’s a collection of their appearances.

Oct. 10, 2026

What the Health? From KFF Health News

Midterm Madness

Episode 466

Oct. 8, 2026

A new KFF poll suggests that health costs are still a top concern for voters and that Democrats have the edge over Republicans on the issue. And in an apparent attempt to close the gap, President Donald Trump is sending checks to millions of Medicare and Affordable Care Act enrollees. Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, and Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Sun join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also, Rovner interviews Michelle Andrews, who wrote the latest KFF Health News “Bill of the Month.”

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