KFF

Can a cell-by-cell map of the human body change how we understand disease? Dr. Sarah Teichmann, chair in Stem Cell Medicine at the Univ. of Cambridge, discusses the Human Cell Atlas — a global effort using AI and advanced biology to create a new reference map for medicine:

More than half (53%) of reproductive-age women in states with abortion-provision bans say they would not know where to go or where to find information if they needed an abortion, up from 43% in 2024, our new survey finds: https://on.kff.org/4yOosYG

The Trump administration is sending $500 checks to about 1 million enrollees who are not receiving any tax credits this year in the 30 states that rely on the federal HealthCare.gov Marketplace: https://on.kff.org/4kcuJcS

Understanding public opinion means looking beyond the topline numbers and asking deeper questions: What information did people have? How was the issue described? Would views change with more context? KFF’s @mollybrodie.bsky.social says that’s how people become better consumers of polling data.

The $500 checks going to about 1 million ACA Marketplace enrollees for “excess fees” are likely smaller than the premium increases most of these enrollees faced this year. Our new explainer on Marketplace user fees has the details:https://on.kff.org/4kcuJcS

By 2034, the average American will pay $178 out of pocket for hospital services each year — up by about 32% from today. That’s in addition to rising out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs and physician and clinical services: https://on.kff.org/4yX9C2O

In the Monitor: As some policymakers frame childhood vaccination as an individual parental choice, more decisions may come down to conversations between parents and pediatricians, who remain parents’ most trusted source for vaccine information. https://on.kff.org/3TWjBq2

Health spending growth is expected to outpace growth in the overall economy and eventually hit 20.6% of GDP by 2034. More on health spending: https://on.kff.org/4yX9C2O

Our new analysis examines the $500 checks that the Trump administration is sending to some Affordable Care Act Marketplace enrollees and the user fees that are paying for them: https://on.kff.org/4kcuJcS

Despite media and policy interest, about 1 in 10 employers not offering health benefits are using Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements to help workers purchase coverage through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces or elsewhere on the individual market. https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

Among large firms with 200+ workers, many employers say they increased costs for workers to address higher projected health costs — including by increasing the share of premium that workers pay and by increasing deductibles or other cost-sharing for most services. 🔗: https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

The false claim that COVID-19 vaccines raise the risk of miscarriage recently resurfaced amid a Senate investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci. Our new poll finds few people say it’s definitely true, but most aren’t sure it’s false. https://on.kff.org/3TWjBq2

Many MAHA supporters have confidence in the safety of childhood vaccines, including three-quarters who are confident the vaccines for MMR (76%) and polio (76%) are safe and at least half who say the same of hepatitis B and flu vaccines. Full details here: https://on.kff.org/4yTArVA

What we’re watching: Fewer than half of adults, including women ages 18-49, now say they’re confident COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Four years ago, about half said so. https://on.kff.org/3TWjBq2

U.S. health spending is projected to hit $6 trillion in 2026, with hospitals alone accounting for $1.9 trillion. By 2034, health spending could reach $9 trillion and make up more than 20% of the economy: https://on.kff.org/4yX9C2O

Since 2021, family premiums and workers’ contributions have risen at similar rates (28% and 26%, respectively) and are comparable to the increase in wages (27%) and inflation (24%) over the same period. https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

In this podcast episode, Dr. Eyal Zimlichman argues that in the future, doctors will “be much more humane than the doctors of the present.” Listen to the conversation: https://on.kff.org/4jrc64G

States will soon need to verify who qualifies for a medical exemption from Medicaid work requirements. Our new brief looks at how SNAP handles a similar exemption and what insights it may offer state Medicaid agencies: https://on.kff.org/4iuiJ5f

About 1 in 5 large firms cover GLP-1 drugs specifically for weight loss, often with restrictions. Over half who currently cover the drugs for weight loss say it’s had either a significant (29%) or moderate (27%) impact on their prescription drug spending. More details: https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

Premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage have increased to more than $28,000 in 2026, according to KFF’s benchmark employer health benefits survey. Explore the latest findings: https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

How may the Medicaid process for verifying medical exemptions from work requirements compare to SNAP’s processes? Our new brief offers key insights: https://on.kff.org/4iuiJ5f

Our new survey finds that the average annual deductible for single coverage is nearly $2,000. The average this year stands at $1,955, similar to $1,886 in 2025. Covered workers at small firms face much larger average deductibles than workers at larger firms: https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

Our 2026 benchmark employer health benefits survey finds that total annual premiums for family coverage — including the employers’ share — now average $28,303, up 5% or $1,310 from 2025. Workers now contribute an average of $7,471 annually to the cost of family coverage: https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

Our 2026 benchmark employer health benefits survey finds that workers are paying on average $7,471 annually toward the premiums for employer-sponsored family health benefits this year — up 9% or $621, from 2025. https://on.kff.org/ehbs2026

In 2023, ACA Medicaid expansion covered over 1 in 4 SSDI applicants and beneficiaries waiting to be eligible for Medicare. In future years, this group may struggle to maintain Medicaid before being eligible for Medicare due to new work requirements: https://on.kff.org/4yCMKF1

Notable shares of the public and parents hold misperceptions about the vaccine discussions at the center of President Trump’s executive order calling for a change in U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations. Explore these misperceptions: https://on.kff.org/4yTArVA

At least 15 states use Medicaid state directed payments to support nursing home services. New federal limits could reduce such payments, with potential effects on nursing homes and residents — about two-thirds of whom rely on Medicaid as their primary payer: https://on.kff.org/4k1E7Qw

About half of parents mistakenly believe spacing out vaccines is healthier for kids — but most still have confidence in the safety of MMR and other long-standing childhood vaccines, new KFF polling finds: https://on.kff.org/4yTArVA

About half of parents (48%) mistakenly say kids are healthier when vaccines are spaced out and they do not get multiple shots in one visit, while the remaining half (52%) says there is no strong evidence to support the claim. More in our new findings: https://on.kff.org/4yTArVA

Sheba Medical Center is building what could become the first fully AI-based hospital by 2030. Dr. Eyal Zimlichman — Sheba’s Chief Transformation Officer, Chief Innovation Officer and Chief AI officer — talks with Host Chip Kahn about what that means for patients. https://on.kff.org/4jrc64G

We're in another campaign where voters may punish the party in power for disrupting the status quo in health care, this time for changes to Medicaid and the ACA. It also happened in 2018 after Republicans tried to repeal the ACA, and in 2010 after Democrats passed the ACA.

States can go beyond minimum federal requirements to establish broader guaranteed issue protections for Medigap policies. Review federal and state rules and how they affect beneficiaries’ access to Medigap coverage in our updated analysis: https://on.kff.org/4zCGjTa

New KFF analysis finds nearly 3 in 4 Medicare Advantage enrollees (74%, or 20.9 million people in 2023) had a pre-existing medical condition that could lead private insurers to refuse to sell them a Medigap policy or charge them more if they were to try to purchase one. 🔗 https://on.kff.org/4ipFib6

On KFF’s Business of Health podcast, Dr. Uché Blackstock discusses why patients are increasingly turning to AI and why their experiences should help shape the future of these tools. Hear more from her perspective in the full episode: https://on.kff.org/4yQQbJ0

Virginia is the only state in the South that doesn't ban abortion or impose an early gestational limit. This fall, voters decide whether to formally add a right to reproductive freedom, including abortion and contraception, to the state's constitution. https://on.kff.org/4spnwr7

KFF’s searchable archive of frequently asked questions about Medicare open enrollment covers a range of topics, including Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medigap, low-income assistance, and more. Open enrollment began October 15 and runs through December 7. https://on.kff.org/47O0UYK

Nevadans approved a Reproductive Rights Amendment in 2024. So why is it back on the ballot? State law requires citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to pass in 2 successive general elections. KFF explains this and 3 other 2026 state abortion ballot measures: https://on.kff.org/4spnwr7

Our new analysis provides a look at key facts about Medigap — including the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with a policy, variation in enrollment by state, and premiums, including trends over time. Explore the data: https://on.kff.org/4dJc1Wt

Individual market enrollment — composed primarily of ACA Marketplace coverage as well as off-exchange coverage — fell 18% between June 2025 and June 2026, suggesting Marketplace losses are continuing. New KFF analysis: https://on.kff.org/3U3WgCK

More than 275k refugees and asylees were awaiting green card decisions as of June 30. Processing times have risen since FY2025, leaving many ineligible for federally funded health coverage due to new eligibility restrictions in the 2025 reconciliation law: https://on.kff.org/4jXnZPV

Idaho, which has a total ban with few exceptions, will vote next month on creating a right to abortion up to fetal viability (or later, in a medical emergency). But the legislature can amend or repeal citizen-initiated statutes without restrictions. https://on.kff.org/4spnwr7

Health equity isn’t just about certain communities. In this episode, Dr. Uché Blackstock explains why she sees health equity as inseparable from quality, safety, trust, and accountability and why improving outcomes for those facing the greatest barriers benefits everyone. https://on.kff.org/4yQQbJ0

For the first time, voters could decide to repeal a state constitutional amendment protecting abortion. Missouri's Amendment 3 would undo 2024 protections and ban abortion with limited exceptions as well as gender-affirming care for minors. What to know: https://on.kff.org/4spnwr7

AI can improve care, but only if health care leaders are intentional about how it’s used, says Dr. Uché Blackstock. Listen to this discussion of the importance of responsible implementation, ongoing feedback & making sure new tech doesn’t reinforce existing inequities: https://on.kff.org/4yQQbJ0

Abortion is back on the ballot this November in 4 states: Nevada and Virginia vote on constitutional amendments protecting abortion rights, Idaho on a statute guaranteeing them, and Missouri on repealing its 2024 amendment protecting abortion. https://on.kff.org/4spnwr7

Most Medicare beneficiaries don’t compare options during open enrollment. KFF answers key questions about coverage options, including for Rx drugs, and tradeoffs involved when deciding whether to enroll in traditional Medicare versus Medicare Advantage. https://on.kff.org/47hyjLe

Medicare comes with costs beyond monthly premiums, such as deductibles and cost sharing. Costs can vary widely depending on coverage choices. KFF examines what people pay for traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D drug coverage in 2026. https://on.kff.org/4zxN5tn

Medicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. People can choose between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change Medicare Advantage plans, or join or switch Part D prescription drug plans. Read our key questions and answers about this period: https://on.kff.org/47hyjLe

As patients increasingly turn to AI tools and social media for health information, Dr. Uché Blackstock explains why involving patients in AI development and implementation is essential to building trust and creating tools that meet real needs. Tune in to this episode: https://on.kff.org/4yQQbJ0

Health care employment has grown steadily while job growth elsewhere has plateaued in recent years. Over the past year, the health sector added 378,500 jobs — a 2% increase — compared with 0.2% growth in non-health, non-farm employment: https://on.kff.org/3TXM5iV