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Every story has an economic angle. We break it down to help you live smarter. marketplace.org đź“§ Want even more Marketplace? Subscribe to our newsletters: https://www.marketplace.org/newsletters/

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More than 1 in 4 Americans have some kind of medical debt. Ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, several states are trying to ease this burden by requiring hospitals to provide financial aid earlier in the process.

If you get your health insurance through an employer, you’ve probably noticed that it’s getting more expensive. Premiums for employer-sponsored insurance rose an average of 9% this year — and all indications suggest we’ll see another increase next year.

marketplace.orgOpen enrollment is here and the cost of employer health plans is going up — againPremiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose 9% this year, with families paying more than $7,000 on average for coverage, according to a new KFF survey.

Do you feel a responsibility to give back to your parents? This week, we chat with financial educator Gigi Gonzalez and financial therapist Sahaj Kaur Kohli about reframing family responsibility and identity, especially as immigrant children. Hear the full episode: https://mktplc.org/4i8Y1GD

Are you paying more for power? According to recent data, 81% of Americans who have lived in the same home for at least three years report that their electricity bills have gone up.

Both Anthropic and Elon Musk announced initiatives this week to donate company shares to the public. While these initiatives might appear generous on the surface, the actual benefits may be far more personal than philanthropic.

marketplace.orgAnthropic and Elon Musk announced big philanthropic plans. But who benefits?Anthropic said that 5% of its shares will go into a new “public benefit fund.” Elon Musk, meanwhile, announced he’ll give every U.S. kid a share in SpaceX next year.

“We found that 29% of buy now, pay later users used the loans for groceries.” As inflation remains high, strapped families are turning to borrowing to pay for basic necessities, which comes with its own cost.

marketplace.orgStruggling consumers are increasingly turning to high-cost credit for basic needsNew research found consumers struggling to afford basic necessities are far more likely to turn to high-cost borrowing like payday loans and buy now, pay later services.

Amway recently agreed to a record-breaking $225 million settlement with the FTC — the largest payout ever forced from a multi-level marketing company.

As winter approaches, Americans will likely face another surge in heating costs. Utility companies across the country are pushing for $23.1 billion in rate increases through the first three quarters of this year.