Open enrollment for 2026 Affordable Care Act insurance plans is quickly approaching, with uncertainty looming over whether more generous premium tax credits expanded under President Joe Biden will continue past the end of this year. As Congress remains deadlocked on the issue, millions of enrollees are facing the possibility of skyrocketing premiums, which could potentially push Democrats and Republicans to reconsider their positions and end the federal government shutdown.
In a concerning move, the Trump administration has recently revoked a Biden-era regulation that prevented medical debt from being included on consumers’ credit reports. Additionally, the administration is now prohibiting states from passing their own laws to prohibit this practice, further complicating the financial burden on individuals struggling with medical debt.
This week’s panelists, including Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Paige Winfield Cunningham of The Washington Post, Maya Goldman of Axios, and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, discussed several pressing issues in the healthcare landscape.
One major concern is the imminent loss of government food aid for tens of millions of Americans, as the Trump administration has chosen not to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the ongoing shutdown. This decision reflects the administration’s efforts to target government programs deemed as Democratic priorities, intensifying the political pressure on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, individuals shopping for ACA marketplace plans for next year are facing sticker shock due to the expiration of expanded premium tax credits introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal government will bear the brunt of covering the rising costs for lower-income customers, irrespective of any resolution in Congress.
In state news, the Trump administration’s actions to prevent states from implementing protections against including medical debt on credit reports have raised concerns. In Florida, healthcare professionals advocating for vaccination efforts are facing obstacles, with the state’s surgeon general failing to assess the potential consequences of ending childhood vaccination mandates. Public health experts warn that recent measles outbreaks could be a precursor to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Additionally, in Texas, the state’s attorney general, who is also running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, is suing the maker of Tylenol over alleged attempts to evade liability for the medication’s purported links to autism. These legal challenges add to the mounting concerns surrounding the popular painkiller, which is recommended for pregnant women to alleviate fevers and pain.
The panelists also recommended noteworthy health policy stories for further reading, including reports on federal loan caps for aspiring doctors, challenges faced by male veterans with breast cancer in accessing healthcare coverage, the impact of mRNA coronavirus vaccines on cancer patients, and efforts by states to regulate sports betting to prevent gambling addiction.
Overall, the healthcare landscape is fraught with uncertainty and challenges, as policymakers grapple with complex issues affecting access to care, affordability, and public health. Stay informed by tuning in to “What the Health? From KFF Health News” on various podcast platforms and following the latest developments in healthcare policy and news.
