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This issue brief reviews the major sex education models and funding streams that are most commonly used, highlights state policies on sex education, and summarizes what is known about the impact of these programs and policies on teen sexual behavior and health outcomes. from KFF https://ift.tt/7ymjgQh
The ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment season begins November 1, and with it comes looming changes to the enhanced premium tax credits, increases in out-of-pocket premiums, and changes to Marketplace enrollment and eligibility rules. Here are eight things to know about the 2026 Open Enrollment period. from KFF https://ift.tt/tM0SExe
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Access to About Half of the Physicians Available to Traditional Medicare Beneficiaries
Medicare Advantage enrollees were in a plan that included just under half (48%) of all physicians available to traditional Medicare beneficiaries in their area in 2022, on average. The limitations of provider networks illustrate one of the key tradeoffs for beneficiaries in choosing Medicare Advantage for their coverage. from KFF https://ift.tt/rNOZyYh
Medicare Advantage Provider Networks Limit Enrollees to About Half of the Physicians in Their Area That Are Available to Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare, on Average
Medicare Advantage Provider Networks Limit Enrollees to About Half of the Physicians in Their Area That Are Available to Beneficiaries in Traditional Medicare, on Average
With Medicare’s annual open enrollment period underway, a new KFF analysis finds that Medicare Advantage enrollees, on average, had access to just under half (48%) of the physicians in their area who were available to people enrolled in traditional Medicare. The finding illustrates a key tradeoff for beneficiaries in choosing Medicare Advantage. from KFF https://ift.tt/lk9AjVs
This guide provides an overview of executive orders and other executive actions made by the Trump Administration since January 21, 2025 that directly address or affect U.S. global health efforts. This resource identifies each executive action, describes its purpose and actions taken, and outlines the implications and what happens next for each. The resource will be updated as needed. from KFF https://ift.tt/5o69xYk
As the Trump administration announces a new partnership with private companies and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expand access to digital health tools like apps, this KFF Health Tracking poll finds that most adults have used these tools to manage their care. from KFF https://ift.tt/jt93Zln
KFF/Washington Post Poll Looks at Parents’ Trust in Children’s Health Content on Social Media, And Unfounded Claims About Abortion Pill Safety Follow FDA Approval of Generic Version – The Monitor
KFF/Washington Post Poll Looks at Parents’ Trust in Children’s Health Content on Social Media, And Unfounded Claims About Abortion Pill Safety Follow FDA Approval of Generic Version – The Monitor
This volume shares findings from the KFF/The Washington Post Survey of Parents about exposure to and trust in children’s health content on social media, along with misleading claims following the approval of a generic version of mifepristone, reports of autism possibly being added to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and patients using AI chatbots to interpret lab results. from KFF https://ift.tt/vSC0HNF
This annual survey of employers provides a detailed look at trends in employer-sponsored health coverage, including premiums, worker contributions, cost-sharing provisions, offer rates, and more. This year's report also looks at how employers are approaching coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, including their concerns about utilization and cost. from KFF https://ift.tt/RzJo0b8
Annual Family Premiums for Employer Coverage Rise 6% in 2025, Nearing $27,000, with Workers Paying $6,850 Toward Premiums Out of Their Paychecks
Annual Family Premiums for Employer Coverage Rise 6% in 2025, Nearing $27,000, with Workers Paying $6,850 Toward Premiums Out of Their Paychecks
Family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance reached an average of $26,993 this year, KFF’s annual benchmark health benefits survey of large and smaller employers finds. On average, workers contribute $6,850 annually to the cost of family coverage, with employers paying the rest. from KFF https://ift.tt/oFar49w
People with Medicare Will Face Higher Costs for Some Orphan Drugs Due to Changes in the New Tax and Budget Law
People with Medicare Will Face Higher Costs for Some Orphan Drugs Due to Changes in the New Tax and Budget Law
This brief analyzes changes in the new tax and budget reconciliation law that modify which drugs will be selected for Medicare drug price negotiation, which will lead to higher Medicare spending and higher costs for beneficiaries who take these medications. from KFF https://www.kff.org/medicare/people-with-medicare-will-face-higher-costs-for-some-orphan-drugs-due-to-changes-in-the-new-tax-and-budget-law/
Major federal changes to Medicaid and other health-related policies could impact children’s health in the coming years. This issue brief explores the latest data on Medicaid and children’s health and highlights five key issues to watch as those federal changes are implemented. from KFF https://ift.tt/qU76cBZ
As Marketplace Open Enrollment nears, policy changes could leave millions of people facing substantially higher premiums and coverage loss, which could lead more consumers to purchase less expensive and less comprehensive coverage through short-term health plans. KFF analyzes short-term health policies sold by nine large insurers in 36 states, examining premiums, cost sharing, covered benefits, and coverage limitations and comparing them to ACA Marketplace plans. from KFF https://ift.tt/EYlmGUI
These findings from the KFF/Washington Post Survey of Parents shed light on parents who support the Make America Healthy Again movement, including the issues they see as top concerns for their children's wellbeing and their attitudes when it comes to vaccines and government regulations on food. from KFF https://ift.tt/yNZRnKm
Designating English as the Official Language of the United States Could Impact Millions with Limited English Proficiency
Designating English as the Official Language of the United States Could Impact Millions with Limited English Proficiency
This issue brief provides an overview of Executive Order (EO) 14224 designating English as the official language of the United States and its potential implications for multilingual resources, including data on the shares of individuals with LEP across different socioeconomic characteristics based on KFF analysis of 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) data. from KFF https://ift.tt/uiMl9LW
Debunked Autism Claims Resurface After Press Conference, And Supreme Court to Hear Cases on Conversion Therapy and School Vaccine Mandates — The Monitor
Debunked Autism Claims Resurface After Press Conference, And Supreme Court to Hear Cases on Conversion Therapy and School Vaccine Mandates — The Monitor
This volume analyzes false narratives about autism rates in Cuba and among Amish people in the U.S.; health-related cases before the Supreme Court, including challenges to bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors and school vaccine mandates; and the limitations of AI chatbots as primary sources of health information. from KFF https://ift.tt/got1fe3
Poll: After President Trump’s Warning, Many People Are Uncertain About Whether Tylenol Use in Pregnancy Causes Autism; Most Republicans Say It Is Probably or Definitely True
Poll: After President Trump’s Warning, Many People Are Uncertain About Whether Tylenol Use in Pregnancy Causes Autism; Most Republicans Say It Is Probably or Definitely True
Following the Trump administration’s warning last month that using acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism in children, very few (4%) adults say the claim about a causal relationship is “definitely true,” a new KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds. from KFF https://ift.tt/h0kMvGX
Following the Trump administration’s warning last month that using acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – during pregnancy can increase the risk of autism in children, very few adults say the claim about a causal relationship is “definitely true,” though much of the public is uncertain whether to believe it. Trust in the CDC to provide reliable vaccine information has fallen to a new low. from KFF https://ift.tt/VcI4CYT
This Health Policy 101 chapter outlines the U.S. government's historical efforts in global health, which aim to improve health in low- and middle-income countries. While the U.S. has been engaged in international health activities for over a century and has historically been the largest funder and implementer of global health programs worldwide, it is currently undergoing a fundamental shift, with a significantly reduced footprint and role. Key issues addressed include the future direction of U.S. global health leadership, the ability of global health implementers and other donors to continue efforts, and the future role of multilateral institutions in global health. from KFF https://ift.tt/7PobvJR
This Health Policy 101 chapter explores the performance of the U.S. health system on a number of cost, outcomes, and quality measures by comparing it with those in similarly large and wealthy OECD nations. It highlights that despite significant spending, Americans have shorter life expectancies and encounter more barriers to health care, influenced by both the health system's structure and broader socioeconomic factors. from KFF https://ift.tt/b248Ww3
issue brief provides an overview of actions by the Trump administration and Congress that are likely to affect lawfully present immigrants’ access to health coverage and care, including new restrictions on eligibility for coverage and services as well as changes in immigration enforcement and other policies. from KFF https://ift.tt/1hWmV30
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updates Medicare payments for physician services and other Part B services through rulemaking. This issue brief answers key questions about how physicians are paid under the Medicare program, and reviews policy options under discussion for payment reform. from KFF https://ift.tt/Oopjqsk
Medicare Part D Premiums Are Decreasing for Many Stand-Alone Drug Plans in a Number of States in 2026
Medicare Part D Premiums Are Decreasing for Many Stand-Alone Drug Plans in a Number of States in 2026
This brief looks at premium changes for Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans between 2025 and 2026. For plans that were offered nationwide in 2025 and will continue to be offered in 2026, Part D enrollees in many states will see lower monthly premiums in 2026. from KFF https://ift.tt/lSoqxcC
This chart collection compare health outcomes, quality of care, and access to services between the U.S. and peer countries. While inconsistent and imperfect metrics make it difficult to firmly assess system-wide health quality in the U.S., a review of the available data prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that in most of these measures, the U.S. has lagged behind comparably large and wealthy countries. from KFF https://ift.tt/w40IdHa
KFF's Health Tracking Poll finds that more than three-quarters of the public say they want Congress to extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of this year. If the credits do expire and the average premium more than doubles, seven in 10 of those who purchase their own insurance say they would not be able to afford premiums without significantly disrupting their household finances. from KFF https://ift.tt/ZriCdy0