“The Host” podcast, hosted by Julie Rovner, discusses the impact of the Affordable Care Act plan premiums spiking for 2026 as enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expire. While Democrats are pushing for the renewal of these subsidies, Republicans are hesitant to extend them, opting instead to explore putting the money into health savings accounts. This has created a divide in how to address the rising insurance costs, bringing health care back into the national spotlight.
The panelists for this week’s episode include Julie Rovner, Paige Winfield Cunningham, Joanne Kenen, and Shefali Luthra. They discuss the implications of the CDC website suggesting a link between vaccines and autism, as well as the controversy surrounding a report on transgender health that was not peer-reviewed. Additionally, Republicans are looking to tie ACA subsidies to abortion restrictions, further complicating the issue.
In a special interview, Rovner speaks with Avik Roy, a GOP health policy adviser, and co-founder of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity. The panelists also recommend health policy stories to read, highlighting issues such as Medicaid insurers’ doctor networks and the dismissal of potential bird flu pandemic risks by the U.S. government.
The podcast also touches on recent articles from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, covering topics like the fight over abortion restrictions and the management style of FDA heads. Credits for the podcast go to Francis Ying as the audio producer and Emmarie Huetteman as the editor.
Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to “What the Health? From KFF Health News” on various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. KFF Health News is a national newsroom dedicated to producing in-depth journalism about health issues, operating as part of KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
Overall, “The Host” podcast provides a comprehensive and insightful look at the current health policy landscape, offering a platform for informed discussions and analysis on critical health care issues.
