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Nearly half of US adults under 65 had little to no health insurance in 2026: Report
Almost half (46%) of working-age adults aged 19 to 64 had inadequate health insurance this year, according to a report from The Commonwealth Fund. Published Oct. 22, “The State of Health Insurance Coverage in 2026” was based on the fund’s 2026 Biennial Health Insurance Survey. Among those adults, 11% were uninsured, 12% had a coverage…
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Mapping birth control access: Dataset captures 12-year state policy trends
Most health insurance plans in the United States must cover birth control at no cost to patients thanks to the Affordable Care Act. But that ACA provision remains one of its most contentious parts and has been the target of policy debates and lawsuits. A new interactive dataset by researchers with CONVERGE at the University…
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How is Iraq like West Virginia? Mortality data tell a story
A new analysis published in The Milbank Quarterly shows just how unusual the U.S. mortality experience is compared with other wealthy nations. The analysis found that life expectancy in West Virginia and Mississippi looked less like that of other U.S. states than that of countries including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bulgaria and Iraq. At about 71 years,…
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Tips for covering Medicare open enrollment
It’s that time of year again when traditional Medicare enrollees can change their Part D prescription drug plan, move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to original Medicare, and in a handful of states, switch Medigap plans. Several changes in 2027 suggest local coverage angles. Remember: Medicare’s Fall Open Enrollment period runs October 15 through…
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Buyer beware: The risks of using AI for Medicare enrollment advice
Starting Oct. 15, millions of older adults will evaluate their traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans. Many may move to new plans during Medicare’s annual open enrollment period, which runs through Dec. 7, as we reported in part one. Making those decisions may be harder this year because of changes in plan…
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Medicare open enrollment starts soon. Here’s what to know
When Medicare open enrollment begins Oct. 15, beneficiaries will need to know the key changes coming in 2027. During fall open enrollment, which runs through Dec. 7, traditional Medicare enrollees can change their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or, in some states, switch to a different Medigap plan or from a Medicare Advantage plan…
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Nursing home oversight lags, putting residents at risk
Federal oversight of nursing homes is changing as inspection data show an association between short staffing and serious harm to residents, according to a July KFF analysis. The report examined deficiency data for the nation’s roughly 14,700 nursing homes, home to about 1.2 million older adults and people with disabilities. It found that facilities with…
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