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Larry Levitt

@larrylevitt.bsky.social
13K followers 407 following 854 posts

Executive Vice President for Health Policy, KFF. Cal Bear. www.kff.org/person/larry-levitt

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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Juliette Cubanski @jcubanski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In many states, enrollees in United’s AARP PDPs will face substantially higher premiums, with monthly premium increases of $50 or more in most states for AARP Medicare Rx Preferred and in many states for AARP Medicare Rx Saver. These plans enroll more than 2 million non-LIS enrollees in 2026.
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Juliette Cubanski @jcubanski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
There will be no $0 premium PDPs for enrollees not receiving low-income subsidies in 2027. KFF analysis shows 28% of non-LIS PDP enrollees are in $0 premium plans this year. They will all face higher premiums in 2027. www.kff.org/medicare/med...
kff.org
Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026 | KFF
The Medicare Part D program provides an outpatient prescription drug benefit to 56 million older adults and people with long-term disabilities in Medicare who enroll in private plans. This brief analy...
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Juliette Cubanski @jcubanski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The overall number of stand-alone prescription drug plans will drop from 360 to 312, with two plans (HealthSpring Extra and SilverScript Choice) pulling out of multiple regions. Humana remains the only insurer offering three PDPs in all 34 PDP regions.
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Juliette Cubanski @jcubanski.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
CMS has just released information about Medicare drug plan offerings for 2027, emphasizing stability. Some quick top-level analysis about the stand-alone Part D drug plan market to follow. ⬇️ www.cms.gov/newsroom/pre...
cms.gov
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced significant premium savings for millions ...
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Lynne Cotter @lynnemargalit.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
We @kff.org pulled public drug prices from peer countries to compare to TrumpRx.gov. Results here: www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-tr...
TrumpRx.gov prices for brand-name drugs are about as likely to be higher as lower compared to average prices in other wealthy countries, among 32 drugs analyzed
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New: Are TrumpRx drug prices the lowest in the world? No. Many brand name drugs are cheaper than the average in other wealthy countries, but about an equal number are more expensive. www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-tr...
healthsystemtracker.org
How TrumpRx brand-name drug prices compare to other countries - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
The analysis focuses on the 39 brand-name drugs listed on the TrumpRx site that do not have generics or biosimilars available in the U.S., of which 32 had publicly available prices in one or more of t...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
As @axios.com notes this morning, this is very much a health care election. Both Democrats and Republicans are attacking the health care industry, but many Republicans have the political baggage of votes to cut Medicaid and opposition to enhanced ACA subsidies. @cookpolitical.com
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 22/09/2026
Deciding what health care gets covered largely falls to insurers. KFF polling finds prior authorization is the single biggest burden insured adults say they face beyond cost. KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social weighs whether the savings are worth the impact of delays & denials on patients & providers.
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KFF @kff.org · 17/09/2026
Insurers take a cut of every premium dollar for overhead and profit. The question isn’t just whether they profit, but whether we’re getting value in return. KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social breaks down how administrative costs and profit varies across private markets and Medicare.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
New Census numbers show the number of people uninsured held steady in 2025. BUT...That's before enhanced ACA premium subsidies expired, causing millions of people to drop coverage this year. And before Medicaid cuts start to hit next year. www.census.gov/library/publ...
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Adrianna McIntyre @adrianna.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
One thing I'm unclear on: Are these rebates only going to those *currently enrolled* in unsubsidized coverage? If so, does nothing to help the people who dropped coverage because they could no longer afford it without the enhanced subsidies.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
President Trump says he'll send $500 rebates to almost 1 million ACA enrollees who don't receive premium subsidies. These are middle-income people who lost subsidies when Congress did not extend enhanced tax credits, and are now paying in many cases thousands of dollars more.
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 10/09/2026
Costly health insurance premiums strain employers & consumers alike. But it’s underlying healthcare spending that’s driving costs. KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social looks at how hospital consolidation & employer demands for broad networks affect insurers’ ability & willingness to control prices.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
New federal data from the Quarterly Services Survey show hospital revenues were up 9.9% in the second quarter compared to last year. That is what's at the root of the affordability crisis in health care. www.census.gov/services/ind...
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Arielle Zionts @ajzionts.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Also, drought, which causes crop failures, animal deaths and financial losses which in turn can trigger mental health issues. The South Dakota ag department made a post about this, with general and ag-related mental health resources: www.facebook.com/SDDANR/posts...
facebook.com
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
@amyactonoh.bsky.social told me that when she visited with a bipartisan group women farmers a few months ago she expected them to mainly talk about tariffs and the cost of fuel and fertilizer. Instead, they poured out their health care woes. www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
politico.com
Democrats see political gain in Ohio’s health care pain
Surging costs and plummeting insurance coverage could give Ohio Democrats their best chance in years to win back power.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Many farmers are facing a double whammy this year: Rising diesel prices, plus higher health insurance costs after Congress allowed enhanced ACA premium subsidies to expire.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
President Trump's deals with drugmakers are hard to evaluate since they're not public, but he has made a very public push on drug prices. That said, the current drop in drug prices likely has as much if not more to do with the law passed by Democrats for Medicare drug price negotiation.
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 13/08/2026
On the Health Care Rounds podcast, KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social discusses the health care system’s focus on short-term costs at the expense of long-term savings. Listen to the full episode for more on health cost concerns in the U.S.: bit.ly/3TUN5nM
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
New: When patients appeal prior authorization denials by health insurance companies, the denials often get overturned. The problem is, few people appeal. www.kff.org/patient-cons...
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 11/08/2026
KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social joined @npr.org’s The Indicator from @planetmoney.bsky.social to discuss what KFF polling shows about voters’ concerns over health care costs and how they could shape the midterm elections. Listen to the full episode: n.pr/4xxe478
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Who the public trusts for health information. www.kff.org/public-opini...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Will a Medicaid enrollee who suffers from seizures and addiction, and became homeless after losing his job, be able to navigate the process to prove he's too frail to work? That's the kind of question hanging over the implementation of a new Medicaid work requirement. @k-hought.bsky.social
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Medicare for All is the only health reform policy that truly fits on a bumper sticker. Incremental policies are inherently more complicated to explain. The ACA did much more than ban pre-existing condition exclusions, but that part was easy for people to grasp.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Medicare for All advocates talk about universal coverage, no premiums and out-of-pocket costs, administrative savings, and eliminating insurance profits. Opponents talk about higher taxes, more government control, and giving up your current insurance plan. All of that is true.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
If Abdul El-Sayed wins the Michigan senate primary next week, I suspect we're going to be talking a lot more about Medicare for All.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We don't have real-time data showing the number of people uninsured with enhanced ACA premium subsidies expiring, but these reports from hospitals of more patients unable to pay their bills is a pretty good indication of what's happening. @reedabelson.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/b...
nytimes.com
After Obamacare Cuts, Hospitals Are Treating More Uninsured Patients
More people who lost coverage after congressional Republicans ended enhanced federal subsidies are now seeking care in emergency rooms and unable to pay bills.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Open enrollment for Medicare Part D drug coverage begins October 15.
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Alice Miranda Ollstein @alicemiranda.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The Trump admin is in court *today* defending its new rule requiring Medicaid patients with cancer and other chronic illnesses to prove they're too sick to work to maintain their insurance. 25 states and DC are asking a judge to block the rule. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
politico.com
Trump and Democratic states clash in court over who’s too sick to work
Medicaid eligibility will soon hinge on how the government defines “medical frailty.”
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
ACA enrollment has dropped in every state, except New Mexico. What's special about New Mexico? They are the only state to fully replace the extra federal premium subsidies that ended this year. www.kff.org/affordable-c...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
New: With enhanced ACA premium subsidies expired and Medicaid cuts phasing in, the Congressional Budget Office expects the share of the population uninsured to rise above 10% for the first time since the ACA was implemented. www.cbo.gov/publication/...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
A story from our news operation about patients getting caught up in errors in Medicaid computer systems, operated by a private contractor. This is a symptom of a health insurance system that has become mind-numbingly complex.
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
Seth Trueger @mdaware.org · 20/07/2026
"but taxes would go up!" ok but premiums would go down even more
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
I see lots of mentions of the cost of Medicare for All. But, it actually wouldn't necessarily increase health spending, and could actually decrease it. What it would do -- which would be controversial -- is redistribute health care spending from premiums and out-of-pocket costs to taxes.
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Adrianna McIntyre @adrianna.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
New white paper from myself + colleagues: Implementation of Medicaid Work Requirements: Key Design Considerations and Strategies to Minimize Avoidable Coverage Loss hsph.me/Medicaid-Wor... We synthesize evidence in the peer-reviewed and gray literature to identify key lessons + recommendations
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 20/07/2026
The public outcry over high drug prices overshadows what’s happening in hospitals, which account for 40% of of the growth in national health spending from 2022 to 2024. @larrylevitt.bsky.social explores the reasons and implication in @jamahealthforum.com: on.kff.org/3T945pQ
Quote from Larry Levitt, KFF Executive Vice President for Health Policy. It says, "Drug prices are high, and it's important to address them... But, if we want to meaningfully restrain underlying health care costs, we need to do what bank robber Willie Sutton said... and go where the money is - hospital pricing."
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 17/07/2026
High drug prices are in the public spotlight more than hospital prices, even though hospitals account for a much larger share of national health spending. @larrylevitt.bsky.social examines 4 reasons why in his latest @jamahealthforum.com column: on.kff.org/3T945pQ
Quote from Larry Levitt, KFF Executive Vice President for Health Policy. It says, "Drug prices are high, and it's important to address them... But, if we want to meaningfully restrain underlying health care costs, we need to do what bank robber Willie Sutton said... and go where the money is - hospital pricing."
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Sarah Karlin-Smith @sarahkarlin-smith.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Even though the US spends more per person on health care relative to other high-income countries, it is not because individuals in the US use more health care…Higher health care spending in the US compared with other countries is due to higher prices
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Why is there a whole lot more talk about drug prices than hospital prices? Paraphrasing bank robber Willie Sutton: If we want to restrain health spending, we have to go where the money is -- hospitals. @jama.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
jamanetwork.com
Why Do We Hear More About High Drug Prices Than About Hospital Prices?
This JAMA Forum discusses the potential reasons why high drug prices get more attention in US society than high hospital prices.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
New: Voters are more likely to think there's a lot of fraud in the tax system, defense contracts, and foreign aid than in health programs. They perceive the least fraud in the ACA Marketplaces. www.kff.org/public-opini...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
There is fraud in private insurance and government health programs, including the ACA. That doesn't negate the fact that many people have lost insurance this year after the expiration of enhanced premium subsidies. These are real people showing up in news reports and our surveys.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The ACA is not in a death spiral. Enrollment is down by 3 million after Congress did not extend enhanced premium subsidies. And, insurers are raising premiums as healthier people drop coverage. But, the original ACA premium subsidies remain, cushioning against these changes.
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KFF @kff.org · 09/07/2026
The U.S. spends more on health care than other large wealthy nations — and costs keep climbing. KFF’s @larrylevitt.bsky.social explains how we got here, who bears the consequences, and why reining in spending systematically may be central to the next big health care debate 🎥
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Reposted by Larry Levitt
KFF @kff.org · 09/07/2026
Heading into the 2026 midterms, KFF polls show health care affordability is a top issue for voters. Why & how did care get so expensive? KFF’s new three-part video series looks at rising U.S. health spending from macro drivers to the pressures on everyday Americans. 🎥 on.kff.org/healthcosts
A blue background with a balloon labeled "Health Spending" at the top. Text below reads: "How Unaffordable is Health Care? Heading into the 2026 midterms, KFF's polls show that health care affordability is a top issue for voters. Why and how did care get so expensive? A new three-part video series looks at rising U.S. health spending from macro divers to the pressures on everyday Americans. Swipe to learn more." At the bottom right, the KFF logo is displayed.An infographic titled "Health Care Unaffordability at the Macro Level" by KFF. The top section features a stylized stack of money with the text "U.S. Health Spending." The bottom section contains text that says: The U.S. spends more on health care than other large, wealthy nations. Concerns about rising costs aren't new, yet somehow we keep paying the bill. KFF’s Larry Levitt explains how we got here, who bears the consequences, and why reining in spending systematically may be central to the next big health care debate." The KFF logo is in the bottom right corner.An infographic titled "The True Cost of Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance" by KFF. The top section features a woman with brown hair holds a card labeled "Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance" with various details like name, group, and urgent care costs. The bottom section contains text that says: More people get coverage through work than any other source, but that paycheck deduction is only a fraction of the total cost. KFF’s Matt Rae unpacks the full cost of employer-sponsored insurance — and why it may be the bigger health care affordability story hiding in plain sight. The KFF logo is in the bottom right corner.
An infographic titled "How Affordable is the Affordable Care Act?" by KFF. The top section features a hand arranging Scrabble tiles on a board to form the words "ACA Affordable Care Act." The hand is placing a question mark tile after "affordable.". The bottom section contains text that says: The expiration of the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits at the start of 2026, combined with rising insurer premiums, put a spotlight on health care affordability that extends beyond Marketplace enrollees. KFF's Cynthia Cox looks at the ACA's record and the broader underlying question it raises: what's a fair price to pay for health care? The KFF logo is in the bottom right corner.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
This year middle-income ACA enrollees lost eligibility for subsidies when Congress didn't extend them, seeing their out-of-pocket premiums jump. Next year most will be facing additional double digit premium increases based on preliminary insurer filings. www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-mu...
healthsystemtracker.org
How much and why ACA Marketplace premiums are going up in 2027 - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
For 2027, across 77 insurers participating in the ACA Marketplaces from the 16 states and DC, the median proposed premium increase is 14%.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
There's a resurgence in enthusiasm for Medicare for All as progressive candidates succeed in Democratic primaries. It's the rare health care policy that fits on a bumper sticker, though there's not yet a clear path to passage. @axios.com @maya-goldman.bsky.social www.axios.com/2026/07/06/d...
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Scott Hulver @scotthulver.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
CMS is proposing to lower Medicare reimbursement for 340B drugs by almost $5 billion in CY2027. Because the proposal is budget neutral, those $5 billion will be redistributed to all hospitals through higher payments for non-drug outpatient services.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
If you need help navigating the new Medicaid work requirement in Nebraska -- the first state to implement it -- you can call the helpline between 8 am and 5 pm. Hopefully, you have a job that gives you the flexibility to call during the workday.
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
At the bicentennial in 1976, the U.S. spent 7.6% of GDP on health care compared to 6.2% in other high-income countries. Now, we spend 17.2% of GDP on health care vs. 11.2% in comparable countries. www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collec...
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Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Reading this story from our news program, @kffhealthnews.org, it's no wonder that @kff.org polling shows prior authorization as the public's number one burden in getting health care beyond affordability. kffhealthnews.org/health-care-...
kffhealthnews.org
She Struggled To Get a Lifesaving Drug Even After Insurers Vowed To Help - KFF Health News
Margaret Hvatum ended up in the hospital after her insurer denied coverage of a medicine she relies on to boost her immune system. Hvatum got entangled in the preapproval process, which the insurance ...
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