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Trump Team’s Use of Arcane Budget Rule Threatens Medicaid Coverage
Coverage for hundreds of thousands of Arkansas Medicaid enrollees next year is in question after the Trump administration refused to renew a key state waiver. The state might not be the last to have to adjust to an arcane rule change under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard
Americans are feeling the strain already with less than three weeks to go until the expiration of COVID-era tax credits that have helped many people pay for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Trump to send $500 rebate checks to nearly one million Obamacare enrollees
A day after promising to send $5,000 dividend payments to all Americans, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he would distribute $500 rebate checks to nearly one million Affordable Care Act enrollees in 30 states.
Sticker shock: 85,000 Pennsylvanians drop Obamacare health insurance in 2026
Roughly 1 in 6 Pennsylvania Obamacare plan enrollees dropped health coverage for 2026 due to “unprecedented cost increases,” the state’s...
President Trump’s $90 Medicare rebate rolls out, but millions aren’t eligible. Critics see a political stunt.
President Donald Trump says his administration will make one-time payments of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion.
House passes GOP health bill without subsidies
The vote all but assures that out-of-pocket premiums will more than double for roughly 20 million ACA enrollees.
Medicaid Work Rules Exempt the ‘Medically Frail.’ Deciding Who Qualifies Is Tricky.
People on Medicaid deemed “medically frail” won’t need to meet new federal requirements that enrollees work 80 hours a month or perform another approved activity. But state officials are grappling with how to interpret who qualifies under the vague federal definition, which could affect millions.
Report: Majority of ACA enrollees are cutting back on food to afford health insurance
The expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies has left marketplace enrollees scrambling — and a new Kaiser Family Foundation survey captures the damage in stark terms.
Medicare Advantage star ratings 2027: Winners and losers
Medica and Humana saw the greatest increases in the share of enrollees with plans that earned high star ratings.
Trump administration to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees
The vice president cited fraud
Double-digit increases await Pennsylvania Obamacare enrollees
For the second year in a row, Pennsylvanians with individual health insurance through the Affordable Care Act will see an average double-digit increase...
House passes narrow health care package; sets up a vote on EPTCs in January
The House yesterday passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act (H.R. 6703), legislation to expand association health plans, increase transparency requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, and fund cost-sharing reductions for some Health Insurance Marketplace enrollees. The measure advanced by a 216-211 vote and will now move to the Senate for consideration.
How should states reach out to Medicaid enrollees affected by changes? Our research gives a hint
Experts ask: How can we better reach out to people facing Medicaid renewal deadlines and support them through the paperwork requirements?
Vance pushes for health fraud legislation in the Senate
The White House is working with Senate leadership to get health care fraud legislation over the finish line before the end of the congressional session, Vice President JD Vance said Tuesday during an announcement about cracking down on health care fraud. As part of that announcement, Vance said the Trump administration has removed about 760,000 enrollees […]
Trump emails Medicare enrollees about $90 payment, touts his policies
The unusual move, which comes weeks before the midterm elections, has been derided by Democrats and advocates as a stunt.
CVS Health’s Aetna to Pay $117.7 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations
Aetna was accused of submitting false patient diagnosis data for its Medicare Advantage Plan enrollees in order to get higher monthly payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
New Report Examines How States Can Protect Pregnant/Postpartum Enrollees from Losing Health Coverage Due to Work Reporting Requirements (And Why We Should Still Be Worried)
As awareness has grown about the new Medicaid work reporting requirements (WRRs) that have already been put in place in some states but are mandated to begin January 1 of next year, it has created layers of confusion about who will be required to report work hours. Our new report on pregnant women and WRRs […]
Many Obamacare enrollees have switched to cheaper bronze plans. Here's why that could be risky.
Bronze plans — the lowest tier of Affordable Care Act coverage — offer lower premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs.
Congress leaves for holidays without deal to extend health care subsidies: Here's how it affects you
Monday marked the deadline for Covered California enrollees to select their health plans for 2026, with many waiting until the last minute, hoping for congressional action. But with Congress now on break, those who rely on Affordable Care Act coverage will see premiums climb significantly in the new year.
Medicare will start covering weight-loss drugs on July 1 for the first time. Here’s what you need to know
Millions of Medicare enrollees will gain their first-ever coverage for drugs for weight loss under a temporary pilot program that launches July 1.
Obamacare rolls shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows
Ohio and Oklahoma each lost nearly one-third of their enrollees over the past year.
Higher cost, worse coverage: Affordable Care Act enrollees say expiring subsidies will hit them hard
Costs are poised to jump.
Medicare opens door to covering blockbuster drugs for weight loss
Some Medicare enrollees may soon be able to access super-popular drugs for obesity under a voluntary model program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Tuesday. Eligible beneficiaries will only have to pay $50 a month.
Trump’s Hunt for Undocumented Medicaid Enrollees Yields Few Violators
Federal health officials have ordered states to reverify the immigration status of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees. After seven months, findings from five states show the reviews have uncovered few immigrants without legal status who are improperly receiving benefits.
Why health insurance is getting more expensive
The spike in what ACA enrollees pay will be acute, but workplace insurance is getting more expensive, too.
Rising healthcare costs are reshaping Ohio's midterm elections
A drop in Obamacare enrollees has raised concerns about healthcare costs.
A cancer survivor hoped to work — then she lost her Medicaid disability coverage
Patients with disabilities have long struggled with administrative hoops, blunders, and confusion when trying to qualify for federally subsidized health coverage because of their illness. Now, new federal Medicaid work requirements mean states face the additional task of deciding who qualifies for a medical exemption. That means reviewing medical cases for an even larger swath of Medicaid enrollees.
Affordable Care Act premiums are set to spike. A new poll shows enrollees are already struggling
A new survey of Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollees finds that many are already struggling with the high cost of health care
ACA fraud crackdown removing 760,000 enrollees is squeezing health insurer profits
Shares of Centene, Molina, Elevance, and UnitedHealth have all fallen since Vice President JD Vance announced the removals last week
100K new veterans sign up for VA health care amid 'landmark improvements'
Veterans Affairs has recorded 100,000 new health care enrollees already this year, hitting the milestone faster than in six of the last seven years, the department said this week.
Midterm Election Update: Medicaid Changes
Major federal changes to Medicaid eligibility and financing from the 2025 reconciliation law are coming, including new work requirements that will affect millions of Medicaid enrollees. KFF’s fact sheet provides an overview of what has changed, what is still ahead, and what the public thinks about Medicaid heading into the midterms.
Tips for covering Medicare open enrollment
It's that time of year again when traditional Medicare enrollees can change their Part D prescription drug plan, move from a Medicare Advantage plan back to original Medicare, and in a handful of states, switch Medigap plans.
US Senate rejects dueling health care bills. How Iowa senators voted:
The US Senate rejected a bill to extend expiring ACA subsidies, leaving little time to stop health care premiums from spiking for Obamacare enrollees.
69,000 drop NJ marketplace health plans after enrolling
Nearly 14% of enrollees dropped marketplace health plans since open enrollment closed on Jan. 31, and others downgraded coverage.
When it comes to health insurance, federal dollars support more than ACA plans
Subsidies. Love ’em or hate them, they dominated the news during the Affordable Care Act’s sign-up season, and their reduction is now hitting many enrollees in the pocketbook.
States Rush To Figure Out How To Enforce Trump's Medicaid Work Requirements
By Rachel Spears and KFF Health News HealthDay ReportersFRIDAY, May 1, 2026 (HealthDay News) — State officials remain unsure how to enforce a requirement for many adult Medicaid enrollees to show they’re working — even as one state launches its program this week. They’re taking a variety of ...
Concerns raised after officials reject renewal of waiver authorizing Arkansas’ ‘private option’ for health insurance
Federal officials' decision to reject Arkansas' request to renew a waiver authorizing the state's Medicaid expansion program has raised concerns among officials and experts about what will come next for the state's healthcare system and the program's more than 200,000 enrollees.
Medicare will start covering weight-loss drugs on July 1 for the first time.
Millions of Medicare enrollees will gain their first-ever coverage for drugs for weight loss under a temporary pilot program that launches July 1.
Millions risk health coverage as they skip paying higher Obamacare premiums
A new report showed about 14% of Affordable Care Act enrollees didn't pay their premiums in January, signaling that millions more could be losing health coverage in the coming months.
Cost and utilization of inpatient mental health and substance use treatment - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Approximately 1 in 5 people with private health insurance have any mental illness, and 1 in 20 have a serious mental illness. This brief examines inpatient mental health and substance use treatment admissions in 2023 among adults aged 18-64 with large employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Private insurance enrollees constitute roughly a quarter (26%) of mental […]
Obamacare sign-ups are steady, but warning signs emerge
While sign-ups are above 2024, some states are concerned about higher terminations, fewer new enrollees and more consumer calls for help. If Congress fails again to extend enhanced subsidies in January, they say enrollment could drop.
Trump stays on sidelines as GOP falters in push to unite on healthcare plan
Republicans have two weeks to decide on Obamacare subsidies affecting 24 million enrollees, while President Donald Trump takes a hands-off legislative approach.
Trump’s Medicaid Work Rules Force States To Scrap Plans and Rework Systems
By Rachana Pradhan and Samantha Liss | KFF Health News The Trump administration’s rollout of a federal mandate that millions of Americans on Medicaid must work or risk losing health benefits will force states to scrap months of preparation, according to advocates for Medicaid enrollees and ...
Trump promises $500 Obamacare rebate checks for 1M enrollees in 30 states
The White House alleges they were overcharged by the Biden administration for exchange fees
State Health Department Begins to Prepare Medicaid Patients for New Work Requirements
As Montana nears its July 1 deadline to begin implementing new community engagement requirements for Medicaid expansion enrollees, the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) is hosting informational webinars to inform patients of the changes. During the first webinar Tuesday afternoon, Jessie Counts, human services executive director for the department, went […]
Illinois alerts more than 700,000 people they will or could lose public health insurance
The state has mailed letters to thousands of Medicaid enrollees who are low-income or have a disability. They could lose coverage as soon as Oct. 1 due to legislation that President Trump signed into law last year.
Florida lost 450,000 ACA enrollees in 2026 as premiums rose an average of 37% nationally, new data shows
ACA enrollments in Florida dropped in 2026, but the decrease was smaller than anticipated.
140,000 Missourians are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage under a new rule. One enrollee is suing
A new lawsuit challenges Medicaid regulations set to go into effect Jan. 1 that could hinder access to healthcare for people with chronic conditions. A Kansas City-based nonprofit says its client qualifies but struggles to clear administrative hurdles.
Regulatory investigations reveal systemic failures among Commercial California Health Plans in delivering timely behavioral health care
Commercial California health plans are failing enrollees who need access to behavioral health services for mental health and substance use disorder care, recent investigations have shown. Across three rounds of investigations, the California Department of Managed Health Care found 70 Knox-Keene Act violations and 35 barriers to care across 14 health plans, spanning national, regional, and county-based plans.
Walmart is partnering with a nonprofit insurer to sell Medicare Advantage plans
The co-branded plans will be available to more than 2 million Medicare enrollees in two states when open enrollment begins Oct. 15
Medicare Beneficiaries with Multiple and Complex Health Needs Face Challenges
New KFF polling focuses on the health care access and affordability challenges among adults with multiple or complex health conditions, including older Medicare beneficiaries. The results suggest important opportunities for policymakers to strengthen Medicare access and affordability. Medicare Beneficiaries Often Have High Health Needs Many Medicare enrollees have multiple or serious health conditions. More than […]
‘Open your mail’: Pennsylvania begins notifying over 700,000 Medicaid enrollees about work requirements
In Philadelphia, city officials have plans to increase awareness and support services for residents who will be affected by the Medicaid changes.
MAJOR MEDICAID LAWSUIT
Medicaid Enrollees Challenge Rule Threatening Coverage for People With Serious Health Conditions
Hundreds of Hawaii residents could lose Obamacare health insurance benefits in fraud crackdown
Hawaii’s ACA marketplace is run on the federal exchange Healthcare.gov, so the state doesn’t know how many of Hawaii’s enrollees are caught up in Trump's national fraud sweep.
More than 3 million Medicare Advantage enrollees need to find new plans for 2027 in third year of turmoil
Millions of senior citizens and other enrollees will have to find new Medicare Advantage plans because their policies are being terminated, while others could have to pay more for their coverage and care.
Federal health insurance enrollees will pay 10.9% more, on average, toward premiums in 2027
The Office of Personnel Management published information about plan options and premium rates for 2027, ahead of the upcoming Open Season this fall.
Policy Changes Bring Renewed Focus on High-Deductible Health Plans
Policy changes, anticipated increases in premium costs for enrollees, and new standards for health savings accounts may encourage consumers to seek out plans with lower premiums but higher deductibles. This issue brief explores the features of bronze and catastrophic plans, coverage and costs, and the complicated choices consumers face.
What Americans are giving up to afford ACA health insurance, according to a new poll
A new KFF survey shows many Americans who had Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance last year are struggling with high health costs. The findings come three months after the expiration of enhanced tax credits that had offset most enrollees' monthly premiums.
Video Man says his ACA health insurance went from $18 to $650 per month
Colorado resident Andrew Ellis, an Affordable Care Act enrollee, said he had to switch health care plans to a lower rate that reduced his coverage.
BYU vs Abilene Christian Preview: BYU Huge Favorite Once Again
BYU continues its home stand when they welcome Abilene Christian to the Marriott Center Friday night. This is a Quad Four game for BYU and the first since the end of Fall Semester. KJ Perry and Abdullah Ahmed are both able to join the team now as mid-year enrollees. KJ Perry must redshirt this semester, […]
Trump bucks and the politics of mailing checks
The checks started going out last week, nearly one million of them, and mostly to battleground states. With a return address for the U.S. Treasury and a letter enclosed signed by President Donald Trump, these one-time checks for $500 were ostensibly government rebates for Obamacare enrollees who overpaid. In the accompanying letter, however, Trump attacks his predecessor and talks about his record in office on an important issue he’s not polling well on, which makes it seem more like the most expensive political mailer in U.S. history. The average piece of direct mail costs between 30 cents and $3, according to Mail Processing Associates, a print, mail, and fulfillment company. At $500 a pop plus roughly 50 cents each to issue the paper check, the cost of Trump’s healthcare mailer sent to more than 950,000 enrollees comes in at more than $475 million. Trump’s midterm healthcare message “For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare dot gov,” Trump wrote in the letter. “That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!” In the letter, Trump makes false and misleading claims about his administration’s record on healthcare costs, an issue Democrats have a 20 point advantage on over Republicans, according to a recent poll from KFF, a nonpartisan health policy think tank. Trump touts his administration’s TrumpRX program, which he claims is “delivering massive discounts.” However, new research from KFF found that of a selection of drugs available on the TrumpRX platform, just five were the lowest price, while 13 were the highest price. Trump also falsely claims in the letter that he’s fighting to lower healthcare costs. In reality, average monthly premium payment costs for enrollees rose 58% under Trump while marketplace sign-ups declined 5%, per KFF. Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, it’s estimated 10 million more Americans will be uninsured by 2034. You get a check and you get a check and you get a check Trump’s long promised cash outs to his fans, from his days as a casino operator and gameshow host to his presidency. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the first Trump administration made the unprecedented move to put Trump’s name on checks that went out under the CARES Act (notably the $500 refund checks this time around don’t feature Trump’s name). Ever since, Trump’s been chasing that high. In his second term, Trump’s promised more stimulus that never arrived, like refund checks from DOGE cuts and tariffs, while he said at his party’s convention last month that he’d give out $5,000 checks to everyone if Republicans win in November. In reality, DOGE overstated its cost cutting and Trump’s government actually now spends more than former President Joe Biden’s, while Trump’s tariffs actually grew the trade deficit. His proposal for $5,000 checks would add about $1.2 trillion to the national debt. The problem is there’s no money to give. These $500 checks — plus $90 Medicare rebate checks also going out as well as $250 deposited this week in some Trump Accounts for kids courtesy Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and his wife Susan — represent the closest Trump’s going to get to making good on his promise to deliver cash fast. And the checks seem especially targeted. Though the $500 checks went out to enrollees in one of 30 states that use the federal HealthCare dot gov marketplace, a Reuters review found 71% of the payments, or $339 million, went to enrollees in 13 states that have the most competitive elections for governor and U.S. Senate. Most Americans don’t buy it Could Trump bucks sway the election? An Economist-YouGov poll found 57% of U.S. adults doubt Trump will deliver on his promise for $5,000 checks, compared to 21% who do. “I’m waiting on my DOGE check and I’m still waiting on my tariff check,” one 2024 Trump voter who’s since turned on him told a recent focus group. “It felt like kind of trying to buy people’s votes, which honestly felt like in elementary when the class president was like, hey we’re going to take you to the water park if you vote for me. It’s like, I don’t think it works like that.” But for voters in swing states who got a check, it could still matter. One survey published in 2022 found receiving a physically personalized check in the mail during the pandemic was associated with a much greater self-reported likelihood of voting for Trump in 2020, and those gains mainly came from out partisans. The issue for Trump comes if these checks are mostly going to Obamacare enrollees whose premiums have gone up by more than just $500 since he took office and who view the money as something like a bribe before the election rather than an actual long-term solution to lowering household costs. Spending $500.50 per mailer would be absurd as a normal campaign expenditure, but since Trump’s checks and letter are a government rebate, his campaign and super PAC didn’t have to spend a dime and he got out his message regardless. If enough voters in key states are swayed by the one-time payment, it could prove to be the best $0 the Trump campaign spent. Subscribe [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ Why independent candidates are making independence central to their brand ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 6 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/why-independent-candidates-are-making) [ ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) [ These designers and grocery nerds will brand Mamdani’s NYC grocery stores ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Hunter Schwarz · Oct 2 [ Read full story ](https://www.yellopolitics.com/p/these-designers-and-grocery-nerds) Trump wants to turn his first-ever golf course into a government course for presidents
The Federal Government’s $33.6 Trillion Health Care Problem
The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) latest report on federal health-insurance subsidies estimates the federal government will subsidize health coverage by approximately $2.4 trillion in 2026, by $3.9 trillion by 2036, and by a total of $33.6 trillion over the intervening decade. For all the focus on health care costs in the United States, CBO’s new […]
Analysis-Vance's fraud crackdown may raise costs for US health insurers, enrollees
NEW YORK, Oct 2 (Reuters) - A crackdown on Obamacare health insurance could raise prices for US consumers and insurers by removing healthy, low-cost enrollees, adding pressure to a shrinking marketplace.
ACA subsidy cuts to hit Texas border counties the hardest
In the Rio Grande Valley, 98% of ACA enrollees received an advanced premium tax credit that lowered their monthly payments. Those subsidies will decrease Jan. 1.
The health care affordability wars
The Senate will vote on competing health care bills today, and both Democrats and Republicans claim their plans are the more affordable option for tens of millions of enrollees.
Medi-Cal Enrollees Prepare for New Community Engagement Requirements; Health Net Launches "Get Informed, Stay Covered" to Educate Members
Health Net commits $1 million to public information effort to help eligible residents maintain Medi-Cal coverage under new federal and state rules SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --...
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?
Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.
Vance's fraud crackdown may raise costs for US health insurers, enrollees
A crackdown on Obamacare health insurance could raise prices for US consumers and insurers by removing healthy, low-cost enrollees, adding pressure to a shrinking marketplace.
Trump promises $500 Obamacare rebate checks for 1M enrollees in 30 states
The White House alleges they were overcharged by the Biden administration for exchange fees
Illinois alerts more than 700,000 people they will or could lose public health insurance
The state has mailed letters to thousands of Medicaid enrollees with low incomes or a disability. They could lose coverage as soon as Oct. 1 due to legislation that President Donald Trump signed into law last year.
Health Savings Accounts Can Be a Bad Deal for Low-Income Marketplace Enrollees
In the wake of their actions that have worsened health care affordability, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have pushed to expand health savings accounts (HSAs). But this doubles down on an inequitable coverage model.
Trump administration to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees
The vice president cited fraud
State Variations in the Role of the Reproductive Health Safety Net for Contraceptive Care Among Medicaid Enrollees
This KFF analysis uses 2023 T-MSIS Research Identifiable Files to look at where reproductive-age female Medicaid enrollees received their last contraceptive visit by state. Overall, more than four in 10 (43%) female Medicaid enrollees received their last contraceptive visit of 2023 at a safety net provider, which includes Planned Parenthood clinics, community health centers, state and local health departments, and Indian health services, but there is wide variation by state.
Trump administration to remove 760,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees over fraud claims
White House officials allege these individuals were fraudulently enrolled in the program or do not exist. Vice President Vance said the move would save $2.2 billion.
Health insurer Centene to stop participating in Arkansas’ Medicaid expansion
DHS will transfer enrollees in the three Centene plans to other plans for which they are eligible, an agency spokesperson said.
CT announces AI regulations for state employee health plans
The new rules apply to enrollees in state employee health plans and the CT Partnership Plan for municipal and other public-sector employees.
OPM to crack down on ineligible health insurance enrollees
In an effort to cut spending on ineligible participants, OPM outlined an expanded verification process for family members of health insurance enrollees.
50,000 enrollees in Nevada’s benefit program could see health premiums double, union said
A Police Employees’ Benefit Program board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, in Carson City.
Stauber votes for Republican health care bill
The bill does not extend enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act. If left to expire on Dec. 31, 22 million ACA enrollees would see their monthly health insurance premiums double on average.
Health Brief: Exclusive | Inside the new health price transparency rules
Plus: Trump’s checks to Medicare enrollees could complicate year-end health care negotiations,
Trump’s hunt for undocumented Medicaid enrollees yields few violators
The Trump administration sent states the names of hundreds of thousands of Medicaid enrollees with orders to determine whether they were ineligible based on immigration status.
Democrats urge OPM to scrap plans for ‘unprecedented’ access to feds’ health data
Citing “legal, ethical and security concerns,” lawmakers demanded that OPM end its efforts to collect claims-level health data on federal insurance enrollees.
Louisiana prepares to pay more to its remaining private Medicaid plans
The Louisiana Department of Health has proposed new, larger contract extensions for the four health insurance companies that will remain a part of the Medicaid program. The deals were shared with state lawmakers Thursday and will follow the exit of two private companies that are leaving the state — and up to 580,000 enrollees — by the end of the year.
Savion Hiter names Michigan football's fastest player
Michigan running back Savion Hiter reveals which early enrollee has impressed him most, naming Travis Johnson as the team's fastest player.
IRS releases health savings account expansion details under Trump's 'big beautiful bill'
IRS releases health savings account expansion details under President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill." What it means for ACA health plan enrollees.
US health insurance costs to rise by 114% for millions as subsidies expire
More than 20 million people in the United States will face sharply higher health insurance costs as of January 1 after enhanced tax credits that helped enrollees in the Affordable Care Act afford coverage…
Health care, food aid enrollees down as deeper federal cuts loom
Three Republicans from NJ stand by their votes as nutrition program loses 5% of recipients and almost 70,000 residents drop insurance
Affordable Care Act enrollment shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows
Ohio and Oklahoma each lost nearly one-third of enrollees, according to new federal data that provides the first complete 50-state breakdown of sharp enrollment declines following the expiration of enhanced subsidies.
100K new veterans sign up for VA health care amid 'landmark improvements'
Veterans Affairs has recorded 100,000 new health care enrollees already this year, hitting the milestone faster than in six of the last seven years, the department said this week.
9% of ACA enrollees go uninsured after enhanced subsidies expire, poll finds
Many Americans face financial pressures after Affordable Care Act enhanced premium subsidies expired at the end of 2025.
Trump's $90 Medicare rebate rolls out, but millions aren't eligible. Critics see a political stunt
President Donald Trump says his administration will make one-time payments of $90 per person to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion.
Is it legal? Trump promises Medicare and ACA checks without Congress ahead of midterm elections
President Trump is promising $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare seniors and $500 refunds to nearly 1 million ACA enrollees, bypassing Congress and raising legal questions from Democrats.
Most ACA enrollees cutting back on food, household needs to pay for health care: Poll
A little more than half of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace enrollees reported cutting back on spending for food, clothing and other basic household items to afford health care that’s be…