Here, we look back at the 10 issues KFF has closely tracked this year and summarize some of the key findings.
Medical bills continues to be a burden for many Americans: Family health insurance premiums for employer coverage rose 7% this year to nearly $24,000, making it a burden for many workers at small employers. Our series “Dying Broke” focused on how older Americans struggle to pay for long-term care. The health care affordability crisis continues to plague Americans and remains a top issue heading into the 2024 election.And in the meantime anti-obesity drugs Although it has received a lot of attention, coverage, cost, and access are unknown. More than 100 million Americans, or 41% of adults, pay for medical care. can't pay.
access to abortion And even after the Supreme Court's decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade, contraception remained a top issue for voters. We tracked state abortion policies and lawsuits throughout the year, and also looked at contraceptive rights across the United States.Our newsroom will keep you updated on how this issue is unfolding nationally and in the state. Abortion also played a role in Congressional debates over the reauthorization of PEPFAR, America's signature program that provides HIV prevention and treatment services to millions and saves more than 25 million lives over 20 years.
medicaid enrollment The price has started to decline and further decline is expected. The annual survey of state Medicaid directors shows that state Medicaid enrollment will decline by 8.6% in state fiscal year 2024 as state Medicaid agencies continue to lift pandemic-related continued enrollment protections. It turns out that each state is forecasting this. As of Dec. 13, more than 12 million people have had their enrollment removed from Medicaid due to termination. Net enrollment declines will then be smaller as some companies have restored coverage. At the same time, North Carolina just this month joined 39 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding its Medicaid program to cover low-income adults.
Medicare drug price negotiations begin It was approved as part of last year's anti-inflation law, but was highly debated by the pharmaceutical industry. Medicare's open call ended Dec. 7, and we heard from Medicare beneficiaries about their marketing practices, how they explore options, and what their coverage looks like.Many seniors update their plans Automatically.
Covid was still a problem But as the COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor showed, Americans have started to worry less about the pandemic and the possibility of getting sick. While many black and Hispanic adults expected to get the booster shot, interest in getting the latest booster waned, even though most white adults did not. Additionally, after the public health emergency ended in May, finding and paying for a booster became confusing for many and required a “cheat sheet” to figure it out. Ta.
false alarm Health issues continue to be prevalent across the board, and according to KFF, at least 4 in 10 people say they have heard each of 10 specific false claims, even though those claims are definitely true. Relatively few people believe that it is. Mostly it's just uncertainty, creating a “confused middle class” with access to reliable information from trusted sources, such as doctors and local TV news.
Promoting health equity This issue remains a top priority for health policy experts and researchers. Six in 10 Black adults, nearly half of American Indian, Alaska Native and Hispanic adults, and 4 in 10 Asian adults report being insulted by a healthcare provider or staff, according to a new KFF research study. respondents say they are preparing for the possibility of this and/or feel insulted. At least once in a while, you must pay close attention to your appearance to ensure that you are treated fairly when seeking medical attention. KFF Health News continues coverage How do health conditions differ by race and ethnicity?
Is everything old new? And at the end of the year, we heard from former President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) that they wanted to replace or change this policy. Affordable Care Act (ACA). According to a KFF poll, Americans broadly support the ACA, with more than twice as many Democratic voters (70%) as Republican voters (32%) saying the ACA is very important for candidates to discuss. The answer is that it is a serious problem. Additionally, this year he has seen a record increase in enrollments in the ACA Marketplace. KFF Health News investigated the issue in “What is Health?” podcast Episodes and their related summaries media coverage.
