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KFF
@kff.org
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The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
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Teaching, studying or need to understand health policy for your work?

Explore major issues in U.S. health policy with our resource, Health Policy 101, with updated chapters that address the latest policy changes: https://on.kff.org/4n11NT5
Promotional image for KFF displaying updated "Health Policy 101" documents with text "We've updated Health Policy 101" on a stylized blue background.
November 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
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How has health policy changed this year?

Our Health Policy 101 resource has been updated to address the latest developments, including legislation, Supreme Court cases, and vaccine and public health changes. https://on.kff.org/hp101
Graphic announcing the update of 'Health Policy 101' with text and images of documents related to health care policies, including Medicaid 101, The Affordable Care Act 101, and The Politics of Health Care and Elections. Logo of KFF at the bottom right.
November 28, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
Medicare Advantage covers over half of eligible Medicare beneficiaries and costs the government more per enrollee than traditional Medicare.

Our explainer demystifies how Medicare Advantage plans are paid and summarizes proposals to change the payment system: https://on.kff.org/48kv71k
Bar chart titled "Payments to Medicare Advantage Plans Have Consistently Exceeded What Spending Would Have Been if Enrollees Obtained Coverage through Traditional Medicare, 2007—2025." The chart shows the aggregate annual amount of higher spending for beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
kff.org
ACA Marketplace open enrollment started on Nov. 1.

Find answers to almost 200 FAQs (150 in Spanish) about applying for marketplace plans, the enhanced premium tax credits, special enrollment opportunities, and more: https://on.kff.org/4fzAviF
Infographic titled 'Frequently Asked Questions About the ACA Open Enrollment,' featuring a series of common inquiries about health insurance options, credits, and eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, presented in a visually engaging format with speech bubbles and the KFF logo.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kff.org
Recent State Department guidance instructs officials to consider a broad range of health conditions when reviewing visa applications to enter the U.S.

Almost half of noncitizen adults in the U.S. have a condition that could be considered under this guidance: https://on.kff.org/44yuobM
Chart titled "Almost Half of Noncitizen Adults Report A Health Condition that Could be Considered in Visa Determinations, But They Are Less Likely to Have These Conditions Than Citizens." The chart shows the health conditions reported by noncitizen and U.S. citizen adults that could influence visa determinations, detailing percentages for conditions like obesity, diabetes, asthma, depression, anxiety, cancer, heart disease, stroke, and more. Data from KFF Analysis of 2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Sample Adult Interview.
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
⚡ The Trump administration closed out the second round of Medicare’s Drug Price Negotiation Program this week.

KFF’s @jcubanski.bsky.social explores the implications. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/4ac0sG3
KFF graphic featuring a quote from Juliette Cubanski, KFF Deputy Director, Program on Medicare Policy. It says, “While Republicans in Congress have largely opposed the IRA and Medicare drug price negotiation, President Trump appears to be embracing it. With this latest announcement, the Trump administration can take credit for delivering lower drug prices in Medicare, while Democrats can take credit for creating the Medicare drug price negotiation program in the first place.”
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
kff.org
Given how much Medicaid spends on home care, and the optional nature of most programs, cuts to home care could occur as states look for ways to respond to reductions in federal spending, impacting waiting list sizes: https://on.kff.org/48fSeu7
Bar chart shows the number of people in 1000s on home care waiting or interest lists by whether or not states screens people on any waiting lists for eligibility prior to adding them to the list. The chart shows that a disproportionate number of people on waiting lists for home care live in states that don’t assess eligibility for people waiting.
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
⚡ KFF’s Zachary Levinson writes about the site-neutral payment reform included in the CMS’s 2026 final outpatient prospective payment system rule under traditional Medicare. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/4odNESQ
KFF graphic featuring a quote from Zachary Levinson, KFF Project Director, Project on Hospital Costs. It says, “The Administration’s change to reimbursement for drug administration services represents a step forward in implementing site neutral payment reforms but is modest compared to some of the more sweeping options raised by MedPAC and others.”
November 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
kff.org
The share of Medicare Advantage enrollees with a chart review record varied substantially across the largest insurers.

While chart reviews can be used to both add and remove diagnoses, the far more common outcome is additional diagnoses. https://on.kff.org/3XRl2Ec
Bar chart showing the share of Medicare Advantage enrollees with a chart review record, varying widely among insurers. CVS Health Corporation leads with 86%, followed by Elevance Health Inc. at 82%, UnitedHealth Group, Inc. at 77%, Centene Corporation at 73%, Humana Inc at 34%, and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. at 27%. Data sourced from KFF analysis of CMS Medicare Advantage encounter data, 2020, sample 2022.
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
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1 in 6 Medicare Advantage enrollees had a diagnosis added on a chart review that increased federal payments to their insurers.

Chart reviews, which aren't used in traditional Medicare, are among the largest contributors to higher payments to MA plans. https://on.kff.org/3XRl2Ec
An informational graphic from KFF displaying statistics on Medicare Advantage Enrollees. It shows that 17% had a diagnosis that increased federal payments to their Medicare Advantage Plan. 1% had a diagnosis removed in a chart review.
November 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
kff.org
Most home care services are delivered through Medicaid waiver programs.

Of the 50 responding states (including D.C.), 44 manage waiver costs through limits on total enrollment (37 states) or total spending (15 states): https://on.kff.org/48so73J
Bar chart shows the number of states reporting each type of cap on waiver spending or enrollment for any home care waiver, among the 49 states and DC that responded to the survey. The chart shows that nearly all states manage Medicaid home care spending with caps on spending or enrollment or by limiting services.
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kff.org
President Trump has largely eliminated entry of refugees and asylees into the U.S. and Congress passed new restrictions on their access to assistance programs — changes that could exacerbate the health and socioeconomic challenges refugees and asylees face. https://on.kff.org/3XMHQF6
Line graph showing annual U.S. refugee admissions and admissions ceiling from 2016 to 2026. Admissions ceilings fluctuate, hitting 110,000 in 2017, a sharp decline thereafter and peaking at 125,000 from 2021 to 2025. It drops to 7,500 projected in 2026.
November 23, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kff.org
Prior authorization review frustrates patients and physicians, but we likely can’t just eliminate it.

President and CEO @drewaltman.bsky.social discusses why, and why the focus is now instead on “doing it smarter.”

Read the full column: https://on.kff.org/3K6Fhun
Quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman. It says: “In our fragmented health system, with no great way to control costs or limit unnecessary care, we seem to be stuck with prior authorization review…The tradeoffs and potential costs of eliminating prior authorization have driven most payers in a different direction: don’t eliminate it, ‘do prior authorization smarter.’” This quote is from Drew’s latest Beyond the Data column.
November 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
#ICYMI: The KFF-@nytimes.com survey finds 41% of immigrants now fear they or a family member could be detained or deported — up from 26% in 2023.

Unease is not limited to those who are undocumented: Fear has increased the most among lawfully present immigrants and naturalized citizens.
KFF range plot showing percent of immigrants who say they ever worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported, from 2023 and 2025. Reported by total, and immigration status. The chart shows an increase across all immigrants from 2023 to 2025.
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kff.org
During the last major reduction in federal Medicaid spending, all states reduced spending on home care by serving fewer people, cutting benefits, or reducing payment rates.

States may use similar methods in the future: https://on.kff.org/48so73J
Bar chart shows the number of states reporting each type of cap on waiver spending or enrollment for any home care waiver, among the 49 states and DC that responded to the survey. The chart shows that nearly all states manage Medicaid home care spending with caps on spending or enrollment or by limiting services.
November 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
⚡ KFF’s Drishti Pillai reacts to a notice the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued that it will begin sharing Medicaid data it receives from states with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration enforcement. https://on.kff.org/3LVA1dK #QuickTake
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
kff.org
Forty-one states have waiting or interest lists for people seeking home care through Medicaid.

In 2025, 29 states reported an increase in their home care waiting lists, while only 12 states reported a decrease:https://on.kff.org/48fSeu7
Bar chart shows the number of people in 1000s on home care waiting or interest lists by whether or not states screens people on any waiting lists for eligibility prior to adding them to the list. The chart shows that a disproportionate number of people on waiting lists for home care live in states that don’t assess eligibility for people waiting.
November 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
kff.org
Medicaid’s significant spending on home care and the mechanisms available to limit this spending could spur states to cut home care services in response to the recently-enacted reconciliation law: https://on.kff.org/48so73J
Bar chart shows the number of states reporting each type of cap on waiver spending or enrollment for any home care waiver, among the 49 states and DC that responded to the survey. The chart shows that nearly all states manage Medicaid home care spending with caps on spending or enrollment or by limiting services.
November 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
kff.org
We’ve updated our ACA Marketplace FAQs to provide information about the latest policy changes, including changes to who is eligible to purchase marketplace plans or get financial assistance.

Learn more: https://on.kff.org/4fzAviF
Infographic titled 'Frequently Asked Questions About the ACA Open Enrollment,' featuring a series of common inquiries about health insurance options, credits, and eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, presented in a visually engaging format with speech bubbles and the KFF logo.
November 21, 2025 at 6:08 PM
kff.org
Between 2024 and 2025, total enrollment in waiting and interest lists for home care through Medicaid increased by 14%, and is over 600,000 in 2025.

Federal cuts to Medicaid could change waiting list sizes again: https://on.kff.org/48fSeu7
Bar chart shows the number of people in 1000s on home care waiting or interest lists by whether or not states screens people on any waiting lists for eligibility prior to adding them to the list. The chart shows that a disproportionate number of people on waiting lists for home care live in states that don’t assess eligibility for people waiting.
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
kff.org
40% of immigrant adults — and 77% of likely undocumented immigrants — say immigration-related worries have led to negative health impacts since January, including stress, sleep problems, or worsening chronic conditions. https://on.kff.org/47OUlWR
Chart showing the percentage of immigrants who have experienced negative impacts due to immigration-related worries since January 2025, broken down by status: total immigrants, naturalized citizens, lawfully present immigrants, and likely undocumented immigrants. Categories include increased stress, anxiety or sadness, problems sleeping, worsening health conditions, and at least one of these impacts. Source: KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants.
November 21, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
⚡ KFF’s Hagere Yilma explains how recent changes to the CDC’s website language falsely asserting that a link between vaccines and autism cannot be ruled out may introduce ambiguity that online narratives can exploit. #QuickTake https://on.kff.org/3LXftBv
KFF graphic featuring a quote from Hagere Yilma, KFF Senior Manager, Health Information & Trust. It says, “...these findings illustrate how uncertainty about vaccines and autism persists even after decades of research, and how shifts in official language can interact with that uncertainty. Polling shows most people are not firmly committed to false beliefs but remain unsure, while media monitoring suggests that changes in guidance often become focal points for online narratives framing prior statements as misleading.”
November 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
kff.org
Prior authorization review frustrates patients and physicians, but we likely can’t just eliminate it.

In his new column, President and CEO @drewaltman.bsky.social discusses why, and why the focus is now instead on “doing it smarter.” https://on.kff.org/3K6Fhun
Quote from KFF President and CEO Drew Altman. It says: “In our fragmented health system, with no great way to control costs or limit unnecessary care, we seem to be stuck with prior authorization review…The tradeoffs and potential costs of eliminating prior authorization have driven most payers in a different direction: don’t eliminate it, ‘do prior authorization smarter.’” This quote is from Drew’s latest Beyond the Data column.
November 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
kff.org
Immigrants report significant health and economic challenges:

Nearly half say they struggle to pay for housing, food, or health care — up from 31% in 2023.

40% of immigrants, and 77% of likely undocumented immigrants, say immigration-related worries have negatively impacted their health since Jan.
Infographic with two pie charts comparing struggles faced by immigrants. The left chart shows 47% of immigrants report difficulties in paying for health care, rent/mortgage, or food in the last 12 months. The right chart displays that 40% of immigrant adults experienced increased stress, anxiety or sadness, problems eating or sleeping, or worsening health conditions related to immigration concerns since January 2025. Sourced from 2025 KFF/New York Times Survey of Immigrants.
November 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
kff.org
ACA marketplace premiums are going up an average of 26%. What enrollees will pay could go up an average of 114%.

How can both of those numbers be right?
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM