How Affordability of Employer Coverage Varies by Family Income


This analysis looks at the share of family income people with employer-based coverage pay toward their premiums and out-of-pocket payments for medical care. The cost of employer sponsored health insurance—including premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs—has risen steadily over time.

Pending Changes to Marketplace Plans Could Increase Cost-Sharing for Consumers


This brief looks at changes to Marketplace plans recently finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that may incentivize insurers to make their plans less generous. With less generous plans, consumers could face higher out-of-pocket costs, though those who don’t qualify for premium tax credits could see lower premiums.

Poll: Public Views “Big Beautiful Bill” Unfavorably by Nearly a 2-1 Margin; Democrats, Independents and Non-MAGA Republicans Oppose It, While MAGA Supporters Favor It; Favorability Erodes When People Hear About Possible Health Impacts


Medicaid Work Requirements Are Generally Popular, But Arguments Can Shift Views Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the public holds unfavorable views of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed last month by the House, nearly twice the share who view the bill favorably (35%), a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. The budget reconciliation bill that includes…More

Make American Health Care Affordable Again


In this JAMA Health Forum column, Larry Levitt highlights how the Make America Healthy Again agenda aimed at chronic disease does little to address the affordability of health care and that efforts to lower federal spending on health care may worsen the problem, raising out-of-pocket costs for many people with Medicaid and Affordable Care Act…More

The Performance of the Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Process through Mid-2024


The No Surprises Act, which was signed into law by President Trump during his first term and took effect in 2022, aims to protect consumers from certain surprise medical bills. The law established processes to keep the patient out of the payment negotiations between the provider and the plan. In the event of an unsuccessful…More

Expansions to Health Savings Accounts in House Budget Reconciliation: Unpacking the Provisions and Costs to Taxpayers 


The House budget reconciliation bill contains various expansions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). This policy watch explains what HSAs are, how they have been used, what the key changes to HSAs would be, and how much they would cost the federal government.

Marketplace Enrollees with Unpredictable Incomes Could Face Bigger Penalties Under House Reconciliation Bill Provision


This analysis illustrates how provisions included in the House budget reconciliation bill could expose Marketplace enrollees with unpredictable incomes to higher penalties when filing taxes if they underestimate their incomes. About one in four potential Marketplace shoppers had incomes that varied at least 20 percent from the beginning to the end of the year.

How Will the 2025 Budget Reconciliation Affect the ACA, Medicaid, and the Uninsured Rate?


This analysis details the number of people who would become uninsured from policy changes in the ACA Marketplace and Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that, taken together, these changes will result in at least 13.7 million more uninsured people in the year 2034 than would otherwise be the case.