Explaining Health Care Reform: Questions About Health Insurance Subsidies Published: Oct 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/explaining-health-care-reform-questions-about-health-insurance-subsidies/ This brief provides an overview of the financial assistance provided under the ACA for people purchasing coverage on their own through health insurance Marketplaces (also called exchanges).

Tracking Insurer Participation Changes in the ACA Marketplaces in 2027 Authors: Jared Ortaliza, Justin Lo, Lynne Cotter, Matt McGough, and Cynthia Cox Published: Oct 28, 2026

https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/tracking-insurer-participation-changes-in-the-aca-marketplaces-in-2027/ This interactive tracks announced insurer exits from and entries into the ACA Marketplaces for 2027.

What’s in a Name? From Today’s Medicare to Medicare for All Author: Larry Levitt Published: Oct 29, 2026

https://www.kff.org/elections/whats-in-a-name-from-todays-medicare-to-medicare-for-all/ In this JAMA Health Forum post, KFF's Larry Levitt explains how proposals to create Medicare-for-All promise more generous benefits than the existing Medicare program, with no premiums or cost-sharing, but could end up looking more like Medicare if it became the subject of a serious national debate about the tradeoffs involved to implement it.

Medicare Part D Premiums and Cost Sharing in 2027 The average premium for Part D stand-alone drug plans will increase substantially if current enrollees do not switch to lower-premium plans. Authors: Juliette Cubanski, Meredith Freed, and Nancy Ochieng Published: Oct 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-part-d-premiums-and-cost-sharing-in-2027/ Medicare Part D is a voluntary outpatient prescription drug benefit for people with Medicare provided through private plans, including stand-alone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage. This analysis provides an overview of Medicare Part D premiums and cost sharing in 2027 and key trends over time.

The Average Monthly Premium for Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plans Is Projected to Increase by 50% From $34 to $51 in 2027 Unless Enrollees Switch to Lower-Cost Plans Published: Oct 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicare/the-average-monthly-premium-for-medicare-part-d-stand-alone-plans-is-projected-to-increase-by-50-from-34-to-51-in-2027-unless-enrollees-switch-to-lower-cost-plans/ A new KFF analysis finds that the average monthly premium for Medicare Part D coverage in stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) will increase to $51 in 2027, up 50% from $34 in 2026, if current enrollees don’t switch into lower-premium plans during open enrollment, which runs through December 7.  

Medicare Part D Premiums and Cost Sharing in 2027 The average premium for Part D stand-alone drug plans will increase substantially if current enrollees do not switch to lower-premium plans. Authors: Juliette Cubanski, Meredith Freed, and Nancy Ochieng Published: Oct 30, 2026

https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-part-d-premiums-and-cost-sharing-in-2027/?utm_campaign=KFF-Medicare&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--fTRYgzQj4SsAfIj3YcMgw84QM7kWXISegO5vagtKAG5tkh_3QAfNQSL-jGvKaDiKDsqGwjs1J5NtlBquGV1BQV7uRRA&_hsmi=446715050&utm_content=446715050&utm_source=hs_email Media Contact: Chris Lee | 202.654.1403 | ChrisL@kff.org The Average Monthly Premium for Medicare Part D Stand-Alone Plans Is Projected to Increase by 50% From $34 to $51 in 2027 Unless Enrollees Switch to Lower-Cost Plans A new KFF analysis finds that the average monthly premium for Medicare Part D coverage in stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) will increase to $51 in 2027, up 50% from $34 in 2026, if current enrollees don’t switch into lower-premium plans during open enrollment, which runs through December 7.   The analysis of premium and cost-sharing requirements for Part D coverage in 2027 also finds that the projected average monthly premium of $51 for PDPs is more than five times higher than the drug coverage premium in Medicare Advantage plans that offer Part D coverage (MA-PDs), which is projected to average $9 per month next year. The estimated $17 increase in the average monthly PDP premium contrasts with an expected increase of less than $2 in monthly premiums for drug coverage through MA-PDs.  “With some plans increasing premiums substantially, the stakes are higher this year for people with Medicare stand-alone drug coverage if they sit on the sidelines during open enrollment,” said Juliette Cubanski, a vice president and director of the Program on Medicare Policy at KFF. “There are relatively low-premium PDP options, but people facing large premium increases need to take action if they want to avoid paying significantly more.” Most PDP enrollees who are not receiving extra financial subsidies provided to low-income enrollees will pay higher premiums in 2027 if they don’t switch to cheaper plans, including more than 4 million enrollees who are currently enrolled in PDPs that charge zero premium. This is because there are no zero premium PDPs available in 2027. Average monthly premiums for the eight national PDPs are projected to range from around $6 to $204 in 2027. The lowest-premium national PDP is Centene’s Wellcare Value Script Rx, with an average premium of $6.50 for 2027, up from $5.80 in 2026. The highest-premium national PDP is United’s AARP Medicare Rx Preferred, with an average monthly premium of $204.50, up from $126.00 in 2026.     The analysis also finds that most Part D enrollees will face a deductible of several hundred dollars for drug coverage in 2027, including 85% of MA-PD enrollees (up from 80% in 2026) and virtually all PDP enrollees (99.8%, up from 96% in 2026), based on enrollees keeping their current plans. In 2027, Part D plans are allowed to charge a deductible up to $700, an increase from $615 in 2026, but can charge a lower amount. On average, the Part D deductible in 2027 will be $643 for PDP enrollees (up from $540 in 2026) and $489 for MA-PD enrollees (up from $360 in 2026).   Most Part D enrollees also will face coinsurance rather than copayments for both preferred brands and non-preferred drugs, which can mean less predictable out-of-pocket costs.

Viewpoints: People Who Donate Their Bodies To Science Deserve A Say In What Happens To Them; Amid The Rise Of AI, We Need More Live Scientific Demonstrations

https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/viewpoints-people-who-donate-their-whole-bodies-to-science-deserve-a-say-in-what-happens-to-them-amid-the-rise-of-ai-we-need-more-live-scientific-demonstrations/