All posts by rebecca

KFF Health News: Republican Megabill Will Mean Higher Health Costs for Many Americans

President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” cuts federal spending on Medicaid and Affordable Care Act marketplaces by about $1 trillion over a decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, threatening the physical and financial health of tens of mi... Read more

Social Security Phone Service Changes Will Create Unnecessary Burdens

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)’s Social Security phone service restrictions will make it harder for seniors to access customer service support, according to new data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Social Security Administration (SSA) estim... Read more

Drug Industry Quietly Funds “Patient Advocacy” Groups to Fight Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

A new investigation by Patients for Affordable Drugs (P4AD) has uncovered a troubling tactic used by the pharmaceutical industry to protect profits and keep drug prices high: secretly funding so-called “patient advocacy” groups. The report profiles six such groups all of w... Read more

CBO Warns: New House Budget Proposal Could Slash Medicare by $490 Billion

A new report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has sounded the alarm: the budget recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives could result in nearly $500 billion in automatic Medicare cuts over the next ten years. The bill would add $2 trillion to ... Read more

House Passes One Big, Brutal Budget Bill — Seniors’ Health and Security at Risk

In the early hours of Thursday morning, House Republicans narrowly passed their budget proposal, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (H.R. 1), by a vote of 215-214. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration. The vote was deeply divided. Only two Republicans ... Read more

Tell the Senate to Vote NO on House Budget Plan

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KFF Health News: How Trump Aims To Slash Federal Support for Research, Public Health, and Medicaid

Health care has proved a vulnerable target for the firehose of cuts and policy changes President Donald Trump ordered in the name of reducing waste and improving efficiency. But most of the impact isn’t as tangible as, say, higher egg prices at the grocery store. One thing e... Read more

KFF Health News: Trump’s DOJ Accuses Medicare Advantage Insurers of Paying ‘Kickbacks’ for Primo Customers

When people call large insurance brokerages seeking free assistance in choosing Medicare Advantage plans, they’re often offered assurances such as this one from eHealth: “Your benefit advisors will find plans that match your needs — no matter the carrier.” About a thir... Read more

States in the Midwest and the South Are Most Vulnerable to Social Security Cuts

Any disruption or cuts to Social Security benefits will hurt Americans who live in Southern and Midwestern states the most, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute. The report reinforced the importance of Social Security to the U.S. economy, with the benefits... Read more