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Right here’s a glance again at 10 problems KFF tracked intently this yr with a few of our most sensible findings summarized:
Well being care prices proceed to be a burden for lots of American citizens: From our data appearing that circle of relatives medical insurance premiums for employer protection rose 7% to nearly $24,000 this yr—and turned into unaffordable for lots of staff at small employers — to our collection on “Dying Broke” interested by how older American citizens battle to pay for long-term care—the well being care affordability disaster continues to plague American citizens and stay a most sensible issue going into the 2024 election. And, whilst anti-obesity medicine captured numerous consideration, protection, value, and get right of entry to is unclear. Greater than 100 million folks in The usa—41% of adults—have scientific expenses they can’t pay.
Get admission to to Abortion and birth control remained most sensible issues for electorate following the Superb Courtroom’s determination to overturn Roe v. Wade final yr. We tracked state abortion insurance policies and litigation right through the yr, and likewise explored the right to contraception around the U.S. Our newsroom dove into how the problem is taking part in out nationally and in the states. Abortion additionally performed a job in Congressional discussions about reauthorizing PEPFAR, the U.S.’ signature program to offer HIV prevention and remedy products and services to thousands and thousands, saving greater than 25 million lives over twenty years.
Medicaid enrollment started to dip, with additional drops anticipated. Our annual survey of state Medicaid administrators discovered that states be expecting nationwide Medicaid enrollment will decline through 8.6% in state fiscal yr 2024 as state Medicaid companies proceed to unwind pandemic-related steady enrollment protections. As of Dec. 13, greater than 12 million folks had been disenrolled from Medicaid because of unwinding. Some therefore regained protection, so the web enrollment decline shall be decrease. On the identical time, North Carolina simply this month expanded their Medicaid systems to hide low-income adults, becoming a member of 39 different states and the District of Columbia.
Medicare drug value negotiations started, which have been licensed as a part of final yr’s Inflation Aid Act, however with vital debate through the drug business. Medicare open enrollment concluded on Dec. 7, and we heard from Medicare beneficiaries about their perspectives on advertising and marketing practices, on the lookout for choices, and their protection. Many seniors let their plans renew automatically.
Covid used to be nonetheless a factor however American citizens started to fret much less concerning the pandemic, and their probabilities of getting ill, as our COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor confirmed. Hobby in getting the most recent booster waned although maximum Black and Hispanic adults anticipated to get it whilst maximum White adults didn’t. Plus, following the top of the general public well being emergency declaration in Might, discovering a booster and paying for it used to be complicated for lots of, prompting a “cheat sheet” to assist determine it out.
Incorrect information endured to be prevalent throughout well being problems, and KFF found that a minimum of four-in-10 folks say they’ve heard every of 10 particular false claims however reasonably few consider the ones claims are without a doubt true. Maximum are merely uncertainty, which creates a “muddled middle,” that may be reached with dependable knowledge from relied on resources, reminiscent of medical doctors and native tv information.
Advancing well being fairness stays a most sensible factor for well being coverage mavens and researchers. New survey research from KFF confirmed that six-in-10 Black adults, about part of American Indian and Alaska Local and Hispanic adults, and four-in-10 Asian adults say they get ready for imaginable insults from suppliers or group of workers and/or really feel they will have to be very cautious about their look to be handled moderately throughout well being care visits a minimum of probably the most time. KFF Well being Information additionally endured its coverage of the way well being results fluctuate in keeping with race and ethnicity.
The entirety previous is new once more? And, to near out the yr, we heard from former President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), that they wish to exchange or adjust the Reasonably priced Care Act (ACA). KFF’s polling presentations that American citizens widely toughen the ACA, with greater than two times the proportion of Democratic electorate (70%) than Republican electorate (32%) pronouncing it’s an important factor for the applicants to speak about. Plus, there’s been record enrollment within the ACA market this yr. KFF Well being Information explored the problems in its “What the Well being” podcast episode and in its abstract of linked media coverage.
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