NPR Topics: Health Policy https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=g-s1-148086 Understand health insurance and costs, Medicare and Medicaid updates, drug pricing, and reproductive health policy with NPR. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:23:51 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Topics: Health Policy https://www.npr.org/sections/health-policy What's gone up even faster than gas or rent? The cost of caregiving A new study from AARP shows caregivers' out-of-pocket costs rose about 60% in the last five years. Wed, 28 Oct 2026 09:05:33 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/28/nx-s1-6019319/caregiving-costs-aarp-affordability https://www.npr.org/2026/10/28/nx-s1-6019319/caregiving-costs-aarp-affordability

A new study from AARP shows caregivers' out-of-pocket costs rose about 60% in the last five years.

(Image credit: Tyler Russell)

]]> Kat McGowan Is your Medicare Advantage plan ending next year? Here's what to know Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7, and for as many as 5 million seniors, it will be important to log on and pick a new plan. Sat, 24 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/24/nx-s1-6014612/medicare-advantage-open-enrollment-cancelled-plan https://www.npr.org/2026/10/24/nx-s1-6014612/medicare-advantage-open-enrollment-cancelled-plan

Medicare open enrollment runs through Dec. 7, and for as many as 5 million seniors, it will be important to log on and pick a new plan.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

]]> Emily Pisacreta Advocates fight for expanded lung cancer screening guidelines Health advocates argue that lung cancer screening guidelines should expand beyond smoking history to factor in risks like family history and radon exposure. Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:44:03 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/23/nx-s1-6009225/advocates-fight-for-expanded-lung-cancer-screening-guidelines https://www.npr.org/2026/10/23/nx-s1-6009225/advocates-fight-for-expanded-lung-cancer-screening-guidelines Health advocates argue that lung cancer screening guidelines should expand beyond smoking history to factor in risks like family history and radon exposure.

]]> Yuki Noguchi High health costs squeeze workers, even if you have good insurance through a job About 157 million Americans get their health insurance through work. A survey of employers shows a moderate price uptick this year, but workers still say health costs are a top concern. Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/22/nx-s1-6008153/health-insurance-costs-kff-commonwealth https://www.npr.org/2026/10/22/nx-s1-6008153/health-insurance-costs-kff-commonwealth

About 157 million Americans get their health insurance through work. A survey of employers shows a moderate price uptick this year, but workers still say health costs are a top concern.

(Image credit: The Good Brigade/Digital Vision)

]]> Selena Simmons-Duffin After booting 760K off ACA health plans, the Trump administration adds some people back The Trump administration provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:06:21 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/10/15/nx-s1-6002957/aca-fraud-trump-health-insurance https://www.npr.org/2026/10/15/nx-s1-6002957/aca-fraud-trump-health-insurance

The Trump administration provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway.

(Image credit: Stefani Reynolds)

]]> Julie Appleby Steep drop in number of people with Affordable Care Act health coverage, analysis finds Enrollment in Healthcare.gov and the other marketplaces is plunging by 5 million, the new paper from KFF finds. Last year, Congress failed to make a deal to keep the coverage more affordable. Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5825887/affordable-care-act-health-insurance-price https://www.npr.org/2026/05/19/nx-s1-5825887/affordable-care-act-health-insurance-price

Enrollment in Healthcare.gov and the other marketplaces is plunging by 5 million, the new paper from KFF finds. Last year, Congress failed to make a deal to keep the coverage more affordable.

(Image credit: Patrick Sison)

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