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Industry Updates

This broad category includes articles concerning health insurance costs, carrier and health plan news, changing benefits technology, and surveys by the Kaiser Family Foundation and others on employee benefits.

Rising ACA Costs Leave Many Unable To Pay for Coverage

Higher health insurance costs are forcing some people to walk away from coverage even after signing up. About 14% of people who enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans for 2026 did not pay their first monthly premium, according to a new analysis from Wakely Consulting Group, an actuarial firm. That’s much higher than the ...

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RFK Jr. Defends His Health Agenda And Trump’s Proposed Budget Cuts In Hearing

In his first appearance on Capitol Hill this year, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended his record in running the Department of Health and Human Services. On Thursday, Kennedy testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, playing up his agency’s accomplishments on a range of issues — from drug price negotiations to the ...

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AI Chatbots Give Misleading Medical Advice 50% Of The Time, Study Finds

Artificial intelligence-driven chatbots are giving users problematic medical advice about half the time, according to a new study, highlighting the health risks of the technology that’s becoming increasingly integral in day-to-day life. Researchers from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom evaluated five popular platforms — ChatGPT, Gemini, Meta AI, Grok and DeepSeek — ...

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Who Controls Your Home Insurance? A High-Stakes California Race Could Decide

Few statewide elections stand to matter more this year than the race for insurance commissioner — the primary official tasked with stemming a wildfire-stoked home insurance crisis that has sent rates soaring across California. The insurance commissioner leads the state agency that approves rate hikes for home and auto plans, investigates complaints about providers and enforces ...

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White House Says It’s Boosting Affordability Through Physician Reforms

A new report distills the Trump administration’s strategy as officials jockey to shape health care messages ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

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Hospitals Warn CMS Pay Hike Fails To Offset Inflation, Rising Uninsured Rates

Hospitals would receive a 2.4% rate increase for inpatient services in fiscal year 2027 under a proposal announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Friday. If enacted, it would represent an approximately $1.4 billion increase. CMS also projects that additional payments for inpatient cases involving new technologies will rise by $464 million ...

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Eli Lilly Launches Oral GLP-1 Drug Across US Through Lilly Direct, Telehealth Providers

Eli Lilly has rolled out Foundayo, its oral GLP-1 pill, directly to consumers through its LillyDirect cash-pay channel, as well as to telehealth providers and pharmacies across the U.S. The drug is a once-daily oral obesity treatment. It is to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise, the pharma company said in an announcement. ...

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Federal Priorities from NABIP’s 2026 Capitol Conference

Each year, the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) gathers in Washington, D.C., for its Capitol Conference, bringing together hundreds of agents, benefits specialists, and industry leaders to engage directly with federal policymakers. The event serves as a coordinated advocacy effort, where NABIP members from across the country deliver a unified message to ...

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GOP Pushes Sweetener For Cash-Pay Drugs

Republicans in Congress are trying to attract more people to direct-to-consumer drug purchases on platforms like TrumpRx by requiring insurers to count that spending toward patients’ deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Why it matters: Paying cash for drugs has limited appeal for insured patients, in part because it doesn’t help them get to the point where insurance picks up a bigger ...

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Pharma Fallout From Iran War Won’t End With Ceasefire

The Iran war is highlighting the fragile nature of global drug supply chains as disruptions ripple far beyond the Persian Gulf. Why it matters: Even if the ceasefire holds, disruptions to air cargo and the Strait of Hormuz bring the threat of higher prices for generic drugs and spot shortages, especially in developing countries. The conflict ...

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