worlds Insurance blog

This tracker examines Executive Actions taken by the Trump administration that have the potential to impact LGBTQ+ people’s health. It lists the action taken by date, provisions relevant to LGBTQ+ health, and describes potential impact, including litigation challenging these actions. from KFF https://ift.tt/N7VahPL

This brief examines two proposed federal rules that would further restrict youth access to gender affirming care. One rule would change the hospital Conditions of Participation (CoPs) which would prohibit most Medicare and Medicaid enrolled hospitals from providing certain types of gender affirming medical care for young people and the other would prohibit federal Medicaid or CHIP funds from covering this care. The rules have a 60-day comment period, do no take immediate effect, and are expected to face litigation, if finalized. from KFF https://ift.tt/IDFTPv1

Due to a combination of lower coverage rates, additional access barriers, and historical and ongoing discrimination, AIAN people continue to face significant disparities in health and health care. from KFF https://ift.tt/e9fhQE3

This analysis documents the different sources of coverage among people with Medicare and examines variation in beneficiary characteristics by source of coverage. from KFF https://ift.tt/ateND91

This brief provides an overview of the role of PBMs in managing pharmacy benefits, discusses recent federal legislation focusing on several elements of PBM business practices, and explains the potential federal budgetary impact of this legislation, which would have a relatively modest impact on the federal deficit, based on available CBO estimates. from KFF https://ift.tt/rIDlPoM

Nearly two weeks after a CDC advisory panel voted to end the recommendation for newborn hepatitis B vaccination, conversations about vaccination schedules and parental choice remain elevated. Meanwhile, narratives about an FDA memo alleging COVID-19 vaccines caused 10 pediatric deaths have shifted toward claims of a government cover-up. from KFF https://ift.tt/ZD7cdk2

This data note discusses the impact of the 2025 reconciliation law on nursing facilities and examines the characteristics of nursing facilities and the people living in them with data from Nursing Home Compare, a publicly available dataset. from KFF https://ift.tt/uVZ4Ytg

This policy watch provides an overview of recent changes to federal vaccine recommendations in the U.S. and what they mean for insurance coverage. from KFF https://ift.tt/eaIGlFn

This analysis examines how people of color fare compared to White people across 64 measures of health, health care, and social determinants of health using the most recent data available from federal surveys and administrative sets as well as the 2023 KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health. from KFF https://ift.tt/9TnYzEg

This tracker provides U.S. global health funding data by program area and country. It will be updated as new data become available. from KFF https://ift.tt/ygJZTLp

This brief describes Trump Administration efforts to scale back or modify data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity variables in federal surveys. It specifically focuses on changes in three national surveys that are representative of these efforts: the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). from KFF https://ift.tt/wLcyVN2

Commercial health insurance markets remain highly concentrated across coverage types. However, the individual market, which consists mostly of the ACA Marketplaces, has attracted more insurers and witnessed greater insurer competition across a variety of measures since the implementation of the enhanced premium tax credits in 2021, according to a new Healthy System Tracker analysis. from KFF https://ift.tt/LdBD6s3

This volume shares updates from the most recent CDC advisory panel meeting, changes to the CDC webpage on autism and vaccines, and polling on trust in news organizations. Additionally, it shares recent developments in AI and social media policy and new KFF poll findings about perceptions of mifepristone’s safety and prevalence. from KFF https://ift.tt/u9JEPCt

A new KFF tracker highlights key federal policy actions during President Trump’s second term that concern issues related to mental health and substance use. The second Trump administration has emphasized law-and-order strategies and scaled back several mental health and substance use-related services, while also continuing some treatment-focused initiatives. The tracker can be viewed in multiple ways, including chronological order of policy actions and by category (Mental Health; Opioids/Substance Use Disorder; Federal Infrastructure/ Data/Guidance; and Gun Violence). from KFF https://ift.tt/9RsdnrM

This brief provides an overview of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available for 2026 and key trends over time. In 2026, the average Medicare beneficiary has a choice of 32 Medicare Advantage prescription drug (MA-PD) plans, two fewer than the 34 in 2025. Virtually all Medicare Advantage plans for 2026 provide multiple extra benefits like vision, hearing, and dental benefits, similar to last year. from KFF https://ift.tt/xLh4eVb

This brief provides an overview of these legal challenges and summarizes the key positions of the plaintiffs and the defendants, Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  from KFF https://ift.tt/if1e3Vt

This KFF Health Tracking Poll finds that many, including women of reproductive age, remain unfamiliar with key facts about mifepristone. Fewer than half of all adults say they believe abortion pills are safe now, compared to over half of all adults two years ago. This poll explores awareness and perception of the recent FDA review of the medication, and support for policies aimed at restricting it. from KFF https://ift.tt/TSvahFm

This survey explores how ACA Marketplace enrollees expect to respond if their premium payments doubled as expected in 2026 when enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire. About a third would very likely look for a lower-cost plan, even if it had higher deductibles, and about a quarter would very likely end up uninsured. The survey also examines how increased health care costs may affect their finances and the potential impact in next year's elections. from KFF https://ift.tt/6IWbgU7

Data show that children’s vaccination rates, including MMR and seasonal flu vaccines, have declined in recent years largely due to decreases in vaccinations among White and Asian children. At the same time, and despite the declines among White and Asian children, Black and AIAN children remain least likely to have received recommended childhood vaccinations and the MMR vaccine specifically. from KFF https://ift.tt/hD4eE8l

This issue brief reviews the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed rule that would rescind 2022 Biden-era public charge determination regulations. The proposed public charge changes along with other Trump administration policy changes will likely lead to decreased participation in public programs, including Medicaid, among a broad group of immigrant families, including citizen children in those families. from KFF https://ift.tt/2I5cqSs

This KFF tracker provides up to date information on U.S. pledges thus far to four multilateral health replenishments (the Pandemic Fund, WHO, Gavi, and the Global Fund) and U.S. government support to date. from KFF https://ift.tt/qduTOG0

This brief explains the major sources of public financing for family planning care, related policies, and their role financing services for low-income women. from KFF https://ift.tt/nbEVcus