Costly GLP-1 Drugs are Rarely Covered for Weight Loss by Marketplace Plans June 12, 2024 News Release Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plans rarely cover GLP-1 drugs approved solely for obesity treatment, according to a new KFF analysis of 2024 federal plan data. Wegovy, a drug that is approved for weight loss, is covered by just 1% of Marketplace prescription drug plans, compared to 82% of Marketplace…
Poll: Most Americans Encounter Health Misinformation, and Most Aren’t Sure Whether It’s True or False August 22, 2023 News Release A new KFF survey reveals the broad reach of health misinformation, with at least four in 10 people saying that they’ve heard each of 10 specific false claims about COVID-19, reproductive health, and gun violence. Relatively small shares say that each of those false claims are “definitely true”, ranging from…
States Adopted Changes to Expand Medicaid Eligibility and Streamline Renewal Processes That Will Continue Beyond the Unwinding, Though Challenges Remain June 20, 2024 News Release The unwinding of pandemic enrollment protections in Medicaid helped accelerate states’ expansion of eligibility for key groups and adoption of policy and system changes to streamline renewal processes for enrollees, according to findings from a new KFF survey of state Medicaid officials. These changes mean that the return to “routine”…
Democratic Women are More Motivated to Vote in States with Potential Abortion Ballot Initiatives than in Other States June 20, 2024 News Release A new KFF poll of women voters reveals that the issue of abortion is boosting Democratic women’s eagerness to vote most in states with potential abortion-related ballot initiatives. As of mid-June, there are 10 states where voters may be deciding on abortion access in November, including 4 states where abortion…
Election 2024: Side-by-Side Comparison Tool Highlights President Biden’s and former President Trump’s Records and Positions on Health Issues June 24, 2024 News Release KFF today launched a new side-by-side comparison tool of the records and policy positions of President Biden and former President Trump across a range of key health policy issues. In a related “Beyond the Data” column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines why the election represents a “fork in…
KFF Analysis Finds That Firearms Were Involved in 79% of Homicides and 55% of Suicide Deaths in 2022 July 17, 2024 News Release A new KFF analysis finds that firearms are involved in the majority of all homicides and suicides in the U.S., playing a role in 79% of homicides and 55% of suicide deaths in 2022, the most recent data available.The analysis, based on data from the federal Centers for Disease Control…
ACA Marketplace Enrollees Will See Steep Increases in Premium Payments in 2026 if Enhanced Subsidies Expire July 26, 2024 News Release Without the enhanced subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollees in 12 of the states that use HealthCare.gov would see their annual premium payments at least double on average, according to a new KFF analysis. Enrollees in three states would see the steepest annual…
The Share of Young Adults Who Received Mental Health Treatment Jumped 45% from 2019 to 2022, the Largest Increase Among Any Age Group August 1, 2024 News Release A new KFF analysis shows that the share of young adults (ages 18 to 26) receiving mental health treatment rose by 45% between 2019 and 2022 – a steeper increase than in any other age group. More than 1 in 4 young adults (26%) received counseling and/or medication for mental…
Marketplace Insurers are Proposing a 7% Average Premium Hike for 2025 and Pointing to Rising Hospital Prices and GLP-1 Drugs as Key Drivers of Costs August 5, 2024 News Release ACA Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 7% for 2025, similar to the 6% premium increase filed for 2024, according to a new KFF analysis of the preliminary rate filings. Insurers’ proposed rate changes – most of which fall between 2% and 10% – may change during…
Medicare Advantage Plans Denied a Larger Share of Prior Authorization Requests in 2022 Than in Prior Years August 8, 2024 News Release Medicare Advantage plans denied 3.4 million prior authorization requests for health care services in whole or in part in 2022, or 7.4% of the 46.2 million requests submitted on behalf of enrollees that year, according to a new KFF analysis of federal data. That was a higher share of denials…