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24+ min ago (1391+ words) By Julie Appleby December 12, 2025 We've been here before: congressional Democrats and Republicans sparring over the future of the Affordable Care Act. But this time there's an extra complication. Though it's the middle of open enrollment, lawmakers are still debating whether to extend the subsidies that have given consumers extra help paying their health insurance premiums in recent years. The circumstances have led to deep consumer concerns about higher costs and fears of political fallout among some Republican lawmakers. For those caught in the middle " including consumers and leaders of the 20 states, along with the District of Columbia, that run their own ACA marketplaces " the lack of action on Capitol Hill has led to uncertainty about what to do. In Washington, as part of the deal to end the recent government shutdown, a Senate vote was held Dec. 11 on a proposal…...

2+ hour, 24+ min ago (831+ words) One of Victoria's largest disability services providers is facing financial crisis, which its chief executive officer said was caused by higher-than-expected numbers of client deaths and a funding stand-off between the state and federal governments. Scope chief executive officer Lisa Evans this week told her staff Scope's services had to be "right-sized for our revenue, or risk becoming unsustainable within four years. The loss of many NDIS clients and a funding stand-off between the state and federal governments have hit Scope, one of Victoria's largest NDIS service providers. More than 60 Victorian-supported independent living homes caring for the state's most vulnerable residents have closed in the past 2" years. The situation is set to become worse after January 1, when the state government grants that have topped up some National Disability Insurance Scheme clients' payments end. During a confidential "town hall meeting on…...

2+ hour, 32+ min ago (386+ words) Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, questioned the lack of action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) against health insurers on Thursday. Cuban took to X to highlight the insurers" failure to verify if zero-premium enrollees were aware of their enrollment, labeling it as "fraud" and a "material risk" to their earnings. He also suggested that the $35 billion'in aggregate premium tax credits'could and should be repaid'to taxpayers. Cuban wondered if any short sellers were discussing this issue, as they typically conduct more due diligence than anyone. Cuban"s post came in response to a Politico report on Thursday that health insurers are now openly acknowledging widespread fraud in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, a sharp reversal after years of downplaying the issue. Their admission is part of a final push to persuade Republicans to…...

2+ hour, 39+ min ago (318+ words) With President Donald Trump winning the battle to end subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), millions of Americans are set to lose their health insurance in 2026 and tens of millions are set to see their insurance premium rise skyrocket. The ACA subsidies and Medicaid coverage were at the core of the budget standoff between Trump and Democrats. Even as the government shutdown became the longest in history, Democrats maintained they would not pass the Trump-endorsed budget bill that would raise health insurance premiums by ending ACA subsidies and remove another 11 million Americans from Medicaid coverage over the next decade. But, eventually, eight Democrats broke ranks in the Senate and joined Republicans to pass the bill without any extension of ACA subsidies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has promised to hold a vote on a plan to extend ACA subsidies…...

3+ hour, 58+ min ago (533+ words) India's life-insurance sector made a strong rebound in November, with new-business premiums increasing by 23 per cent year-on-year to Rs 31,119.6 crore. A favourable base effect and a smoother adjustment following the GST waiver for individual life policies further supported this upswing. Although the annual renewal rate for group policies eased, the sector's overall trajectory remains positive. India's Life-Insurance Sector Makes Strong Rebound, New-Business Premiums Surge 23% To "31,119.6 Crore India's life-insurance sector made a strong rebound in November, with new-business premiums increasing by 23 per cent year-on-year to Rs 31,119.6 crore. A favourable base effect and a smoother adjustment following the GST waiver for individual life policies further supported this upswing. Although the annual renewal rate for group policies eased, the sector's overall trajectory remains positive. New Delhi: India's life-insurance sector made a strong rebound in November, with new-business premiums increasing by 23 per cent year-on-year…...

5+ hour, 8+ min ago (79+ words) Updated Dec 12, 2025, 10:45 IST HDFC Life Presents Life Sessions | Making Life Insurance Affordable & Accessible IndiGo Row: "Travel Vouchers + "5k10k: Is This The Cost Of People's Distress? | Newshour PMs "Warm Call With Trump: Trade, Energy & Defence Discussed; Headway On Trade, Tides To Turn? Lobby' Sulks Epic Meltdown Over Film Dhurandhar; Pakistan Targeted, 'Ecosystem' Hurt? | Newshour Ecosystem "Search For Politics Over Dhurandhar; Anti-Pak Script "Villain For Lobby? |India Upfront...

5+ hour, 21+ min ago (320+ words) Costs for employer-sponsored health insurance plans outpaced inflation across all states from 2023 to 2024, according to an issue brief. No states saw decreases in premiums "Employer-sponsored insurance remains the backbone of health coverage in the United States, but it is becoming increasingly unaffordable for employers and their employees," SHADAC Director Elizabeth Lukanen said in a press release issued in conjunction with the issue brief "As policymakers look for solutions to curb the growing healthcare affordability crisis, addressing the decades-long trend of increasing costs in employer-sponsored insurance must be part of the conversation." According to the analysis, annual premiums for family coverage offered through employers increased to $24,540 in 2024, a bump of more than $600 from 2023 Premiums for individuals increased by more than $300 to $8,486 year over year Employer-sponsored health plan costs exceeded the national average in some states, SHADAC noted For example, Delaware employers…...

5+ hour, 22+ min ago (633+ words) The recent federal government shutdown was an unnecessary political gesture. However, it did, albeit in a roundabout way, help highlight what is wrong with health care in this country. The debate this time was over whether to extend COVID-era Affordable Care Act subsidies and premium tax credits. Those subsidies, like the debate over whether to continue them, are merely a symptom of a far bigger structural problem. Those subsidies were not an existential "lifeline" for millions of patients but for insurance companies. The issue that imposed the most extended government shutdown in history " which furloughed government employees, delayed flights and kept military service members from being paid " was entirely over the insistence of maintaining subsidies to insurance companies to bail out unaffordable ACA plans. This ignores the bigger issues. If premiums are going up, why are they going up? It…...

5+ hour, 56+ min ago (681+ words) ICHRAs may help employers and employees manage rising premiums and the loss of extended tax credits, according to expert insights from Ben Light. Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) may offer employers and employees a customizable health coverage alternative amidst rising premiums and as extended tax credits expire. Health coverage premiums are expected to increase by a median of 18% in 2026 across 312 insurers participating in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, approximately 11% higher than last year.1 Considering that extended tax credits are set to expire at the end of this year, employers and employees have much to consider when renewing their plans.1 ICHRAs allow employers to set a flexible budget for employee health coverage reimbursements based on age, health status, and dependents. Employees also benefit because they can select their own ACA marketplace insurance that fits their health care needs and…...

5+ hour, 56+ min ago (505+ words) Democrats move to extend ACA subsidies as enrollment closes, leaving consumers uncertain about premiums, coverage, and alternative health options. Emergency departments, hospitals, and community providers may experience increased uncompensated care burdens. People predicted to forego insurance are likely to turn to safety-net hospitals or rural facilities that are already operating with narrow margins.4 These hospitals would then be forced to scale back services, thus further limiting access to underserved communities.4 Aside from going uninsured, Light also predicts many people will turn to their employers to subsidize their loss of coverage. But employers may also see an increase in renewals, leading industries and groups to seek alternative benefit packages for employees in a competitive labor market.5 "Providers have effectively become subprime lenders, shouldering much of the risk for care before deductibles are met," Light explained in a written interview with AJMC....