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Louise Norris

@louisenorris.bsky.social
4.1K followers 440 following 486 posts

Health policy analyst. Health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, health care reform. I write for healthinsurance.org, medicareresources.org, Verywell.com, and healthinsurancecolorado.net. She/Her

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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
If your income is a little above 400% FPL and you don't get a subsidy to blunt these increases, make sure you understand how contributions to retirement accounts and/or an HSA will lower your ACA-specific MAGI: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/how-mig...
healthinsurance.org
How might my tax deductions affect the size of my ACA premium subsidy?
Learn how tax-deductible contributions to an IRA, HSA, or self-employed health insurance deduction might lower your MAGI and boost the amount of your ACA premium tax credits.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Here's my overview of the average rate increases that individual market insurers have proposed in each state for 2027 (before subsidies), and what they mean for consumers: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/health-...
healthinsurance.org
Health insurance premium increases for 2027: Proposed rates by state and what consumers should know
Proposed 2027 health insurance premiums are rising across much of the U.S. See requested rate increases by state and what they mean for consumers.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Can AI help you shop for health insurance? Maybe, but you don't know what you don't know, and AI can sound very sure of itself even when it's wrong. Here's what happened when I tested some AI tools: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/can-ai-...
healthinsurance.org
Can AI help you shop for health insurance?
Can AI help you choose health insurance? Learn five ways AI can get Marketplace plans, subsidies, Medicaid eligibility, and state rules wrong, and what you can do instead.
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Reposted by Louise Norris
healthinsurance.org @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Thinking you could use AI to shop for a health insurance plan or calculate your subsidy? @louisenorris.bsky.social explains five ways artificial intelligence could get your results wrong. www.healthinsurance.org/blog/can-ai-...
healthinsurance.org
Can AI help you shop for health insurance?
Can AI help you choose health insurance? Learn five ways AI can get Marketplace plans, subsidies, Medicaid eligibility, and state rules wrong, and what you can do instead.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Based on the 2027 rate filings available thus far, it's looking like another year of double-digit premium increases for the individual market. But 2027 will not be a repeat of 2026, and here's why: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/health-...
healthinsurance.org
Health insurance premium increases for 2027: Proposed rates by state and what consumers should know
Proposed 2027 health insurance premiums are rising across much of the U.S. See requested rate increases by state and what they mean for consumers.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
If you had a healthcare plan from Innovative Partners (Innovative Health Plan and Healthcare Plan) or American Collective (ACLP Health Plan) at any time in 2026, you have a special enrollment period on HealthCare.gov through Aug. 10: www.innovativereceiver.com
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
2027 health insurance rate filings aren't yet public in most states. But there are already at least 7 insurers that have said they're exiting the health insurance Marketplace at the end of 2026, affecting more than 636k enrollees across 17 states: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/health-...
healthinsurance.org
Health insurers are exiting the Marketplace again. Should consumers be worried?
Why are insurers leaving the ACA Marketplace? New exits by Cigna and others highlight growing concerns about enrollment and affordability in 2027.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I'll be watching this closely over the coming months. So far, we're seeing a lot more exits than entries for 2027. That's not unexpected, given the regulatory changes that have resulted in an individual market risk pool that's smaller, sicker, and less stable.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Every year, some insurers leave the Marketplace and others join. For the last several years, there's been a solid mix of both. But so far, we're seeing a lot more exits than entries for 2027. We last saw that in 2017-18. Here's my overview: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/health-...
healthinsurance.org
Health insurers are exiting the Marketplace again. Should consumers be worried?
Why are insurers leaving the ACA Marketplace? New exits by Cigna and others highlight growing concerns about enrollment and affordability in 2027.
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Reposted by Louise Norris
Laura Packard @laurapackard.com · 11/05/2026
Prior Authorization: The Insurance Denial System Blocking Your Treatment #CareTalk live @mirandayaver.bsky.social explores w/ me @healthcarevoices.org @mswmedia.com & @louisenorris.bsky.social @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social Diane-Just Care answer your health insurance q’s
youtube.com
Prior Authorization: The Insurance Denial System Blocking Your Treatment #CareTalk
Every year, tens of millions of Americans are denied the medical care they've already paid for - not by their doctors, but by their insurers. Miranda Yaver P...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Under legislation enacted last week, Mississippi joins Indiana in offering a tax credit to employers that provide their employees with ICHRA benefits: www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/ind...
healthinsurance.org
What is an individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA)?
An individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA) is a new type of health reimbursement arrangement, available as of 2020, in which employers of any size can reimburse employees for some...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Starting to see effectuated enrollment numbers from state-run Marketplaces, showing a trend toward lower effectuated enrollment. When all is said and done, 2026 Marketplace enrollment is going to drop by a lot more than the "only 1.2 million" that showed up at the end of open enrollment.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
If you browse the health insurance and retirement forums on Reddit, you'll see A LOT of questions from people wondering what to do about health insurance if they retire before age 65. There are options! Here's my overview of what you need to know: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/your-gu...
healthinsurance.org
Your guide to early retirement health insurance options
Health insurance for early retirees: how to bridge the gap to Medicare with Marketplace plans, Medicaid, COBRA, or spouse coverage.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
In nearly every state, the percentage of Marketplace enrollees who picked Bronze plans increased for 2026. Last year, 30% of enrollees chose Bronze plans. This year it was 40%. Here's my overview of what this means for consumers, & why this shift happened: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/bronze-...
healthinsurance.org
Bronze health plan popularity surges in Marketplaces
Higher premiums and reduced subsidies are pushing Marketplace shoppers toward Bronze plans in 2026. Learn why enrollment is shifting and what it means for consumers.
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 30/03/2026
🚨🚨🚨 BINGO: CALLED IT, DAMMIT. "funding Cost Sharing Reduction payments" is exactly what would kill #SilverLoading. It would reduce *gross* premiums modestly but would result in ~300,000 more people losing coverage and dramatic premium hikes for millions more. www.axios.com/2026/03/30/g...
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) is reviving an idea that was considered last year to fund Affordable Care Act payments known as cost-sharing reductions.
The Congressional Budget Office previously found the move would lower overall benchmark ACA premiums by 11% but result in 300,000 more uninsured people.

It would have the effect of cutting the subsidy amount that some enrollees receive, thereby increasing out-of-pocket premium costs, while saving the government over $30 billion.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
Now that all Bronze and Catastrophic Marketplace plans are HSA-qualified, a lot more people are eligible to contribute to an HSA. But you don't have to go with the HSA administrator your health plan recommends. healthinsurancecolorado.net/why-your-ins...
healthinsurancecolorado.net
Why Does Your Insurance Company Recommend an HSA Administrator?
Your insurance company didn’t pick that HSA administrator because it’s the best one for you. They picked it because it’s the one they’re partnered with.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
11 state-run Marketplaces have published detailed enrollment numbers, and 9 of them saw an increase in the percentage of enrollees picking Bronze plans for 2026. Here's my overview, including why the other 2 did not: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/bronze-...
healthinsurance.org
Bronze health plan popularity surges in Marketplaces
As consumers face decreased access to Marketplace health insurance subsidies for 2026 plans – and higher net premiums for consumers who continue to be
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
If you're retiring before age 65, health insurance is one of the factors you'll need to consider. Here's my summary of what to keep in mind: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/your-gu...
healthinsurance.org
Your guide to early retirement health insurance options
Health insurance for early retirees: how to bridge the gap to Medicare with Marketplace plans, Medicaid, COBRA, or spouse coverage.
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Reposted by Louise Norris
Edwin Park @edwincpark.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
As my colleague Andy Schneider explained there is a complex administrative process CMS has to follow to preemptively withhold or retrospectively disallow federal #Medicaid funding for a state like MN. It would be unlawful to just unilaterally halt federal funding: ccf.georgetown.edu/2026/01/16/c...
ccf.georgetown.edu
CMS Weaponizes Fraud Against Medicaid in Minnesota
On January 6, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, sent a letter to the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, notifying him that his state’s Medicaid agenc...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
18 states already have reinsurance programs for their individual health insurance markets, & Oklahoma plans to join them in 2028: www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/rei... Reinsurance is more important now than it was for the last 5 years, since premium subsidies are no longer available >400% FPL.
healthinsurance.org
What is reinsurance? | healthinsurance.org
Reinsurance is essentially insurance for insurance companies. Just like individuals count on their insurance company to cover a portion of their medical bills if and when they have a claim, reinsuranc...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
There are currently 21 fully state-run health insurance exchanges, and nine of those have debuted since 2020. For next year, Oregon will join them, and Oklahoma the following year. Here's my overview: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ty...
healthinsurance.org
What type of health insurance exchange does my state have?
As of the 2026 plan year, there are 21 fully state-run health insurance marketplaces (SBMs), two state-based marketplaces that use the federal platform (SBM-FP), and 28 fully federally run marketplace...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
There are currently 21 fully state-run health insurance exchanges, and nine of those have debuted since 2020. For next year, Oregon will join them, and Oklahoma the following year. Here's my overview: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ty...
healthinsurance.org
What type of health insurance exchange does my state have?
As of the 2026 plan year, there are 21 fully state-run health insurance marketplaces (SBMs), two state-based marketplaces that use the federal platform (SBM-FP), and 28 fully federally run marketplace...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
For Marketplace health insurance enrollees with household income over 400% of FPL, the "subsidy cliff" has returned this year, because Congress didn't extend the subsidy enhancements that had been in place for the past five years. Here's my overview: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/marketp...
healthinsurance.org
Marketplace enrollees face return of the ‘subsidy cliff’ in 2026
Congress did not extend enhanced Marketplace subsidies at the end of 2025. Now, hundreds of thousands of Marketplace enrollees are experiencing the return of the so-called “subsidy cliff.”
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Open enrollment for 2026 individual/family health insurance has ended everywhere except DC. If you're in DC, you can still enroll, but today is the last day! www.healthinsurance.org/aca-marketpl...
healthinsurance.org
District of Columbia Health Insurance Marketplace | 2026 ACA Guide
Explore the ACA health insurance Marketplace in the District of Columbia for 2026 coverage. Discover available plans, eligibility requirements, enrollment dates, and how to apply for coverage.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Open enrollment for individual health insurance has ended nearly everywhere. But it continues through Feb. 4 in DC. And people eligible for Connecticut's new state-funded subsidies have a special enrollment period: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ar...
healthinsurance.org
What are the deadlines for the ACA's open enrollment period?
ACA open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 in most states, but some have different deadlines. Check your state’s ACA enrollment dates.
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Shefali Luthra @shefali.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Citing fear of ICE, pregnant immigrants in Minnesota are -skipping prenatal care -requesting home births, even when not medically advised -going w/o adequate food Many are experiencing complications providers say can be stress-onset: diabetes, high blood pressure, and even water breaking early
19thnews.org
Fear of ICE is keeping pregnant immigrants in Minnesota from critical care
Health care providers in Minnesota said pregnant patients are having more complications linked to stress. But fear of immigration agents is keeping them from prenatal care.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Here's my detailed overview of what has happened to Marketplace enrollees' premiums in 2026, due to the expiration of federal subsidy enhancements at the end of 2025: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/how-sun...
healthinsurance.org
How sunsetting ARP’s subsidy enhancements is affecting ACA subsidy amounts
We look what's happening to Marketplace health insurance subsidy availability and size now that the subsidy enhancements instituted under the American Rescue Plan have sunsetted.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
So many inconsistencies and unworkable proposals.
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healthinsurance.org @healthinsuranceorg.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
@louisenorris.bsky.social, analyst at healthinsurance.org, spoke with @wsj.com regarding the significant increase in ACA plan premiums, and how for some families monthly premiums are now more than a mortgage payment. Read more at: www.msn.com/en-us/health...
msn.com
MSN
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Such an important article. Auto-renewed enrollees may not be willing or able to pay the (much higher) 2026 premiums. We won't have early 2026 effectuation numbers until this summer. And with 90-day grace periods, policies won't terminate until April. Drop offs are coming, but it will take time.
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Seth Trueger @mdaware.org · 15/01/2026
problems with the plan aside, it's… not a plan. it's a plan to maybe make a plan.
The administration released no legislative text nor timeline for related congressional action and did not indicate whether Republican leaders support the proposal, even as health care costs loom as a central issue in this year’s closely contested midterm elections. Asked how the proposal would advance in Congress, administration officials said it was a “broad architecture” intended to guide lawmakers on next steps.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
Great overview from @xpostfactoid.bsky.social on how to get your ACA-specific MAGI into the subsidy-eligible range if you're otherwise a little over the 400% of FPL "subsidy cliff" xpostfactoid.substack.com/p/gift-of-th...
xpostfactoid.substack.com
Gift of the malleable MAGI: Getting on the right side of the subsidy cliff
As Republicans have restored the ACA's income cap on subsidies for now, those with projected income modestly over the 400% FPL cap should look for legal ways to reduce the income that counts
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Anytime there's a gun tragedy in the U.S., GOP lawmakers point to the need for better access to mental health care.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
This is the year to keep paying attention. Definitely make sure you're enrolled, and tomorrow is the deadline for that in most states. But then stay tuned to see if anything changes at the federal level. We could still see some type of enhanced subsidies reinstated for 2026.
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 14/01/2026
👀 RED vs. BLUE: Who's seeing the biggest #ACA coverage losses? www.patreon.com/posts/148169...
patreon.com
Red vs. Blue: Who's seeing the biggest ACA coverage losses? | Charles Gaba
Get more from Charles Gaba on Patreon
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Timothy McBride @mcbridetd.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
It was predicted that if the ACA marketplace premium subsidies ended then many would drop their coverage. Open Enrollment is still underway but 800,000 have already declined to sign up. In 11 states signups for ACA marketplace plans dropped by more than 10% open.substack.com/pub/siftinga...
open.substack.com
ACA Signups Drop over 800,000 in 2026, as consumers face increase in premiums
Second interim report shows effects of higher ACA marketplace (Obamacare) premiums; customers less likely to sign up for plans in 2026 than one year ago
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Unless you're in Idaho, you still have until at least Jan. 15 to pick a health plan for 2026. Here's what you need to know as we approach that deadline, including details about how the "subsidy cliff" works: www.healthinsurance.org/blog/what-ca...
healthinsurance.org
What can you do if you’re feeling Marketplace sticker shock?
The expiration of ACA subsidy enhancements is driving higher 2026 Marketplace premiums. See who’s affected and what consumers can still do.
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 08/01/2026
As a reminder, the Senate version would supposedly include:
2 yr extension
Income cap 700% FPL
$5 premium not $0
Patient option to get enhanced $ in HSA instead of toward premium
Possible CSR funding in yr 2
Hyde big problem still, unclear where leaders come down
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 08/01/2026
UPDATE: As the House prepares for the *final* vote on a clean 3-yr extension, some potential big news on the Senate side. As I wrote about yesterday, additional Hyde language sounds like the biggest roadblock on the Senate version. x.com/sarahnferris...
Sarah Ferris
Verified

@sarahnferris
·
1h
News - GOP senators privately expressed willingness to sidestep abortion fight in ACA compromise bill during today’s meeting, per sources

They told Dems they are OK keeping Hyde as is - bucking House R leaders and abortion groups 

Big deal - this has been holding up talks
Sarah Ferris
Verified

@sarahnferris
GOP senators also urged House Rs to drive up the yes votes on today’s big ACA vote in the House to fuel momentum
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
In most states, the end of open enrollment for 2026 health insurance is next week, on Jan. 15. After that, you won't be able to get coverage or make a plan change without a qualifying event. Here's an overview of states with different deadlines: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ar...
healthinsurance.org
What are the deadlines for the ACA's open enrollment period?
ACA open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 in most states, but some have different deadlines. Check your state’s ACA enrollment dates.
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
There are 10 states where you can still sign up for health insurance with a January 1 effective date: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ar...
healthinsurance.org
What are the deadlines for the ACA's open enrollment period?
ACA open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 in most states, but some have different deadlines. Check your state’s ACA enrollment dates.
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 29/12/2025
📣 IMPORTANT: "But How Many Have PAID???" Revisited: #ACA enrollment drop-off won't be fully known for months: acasignups.net/25/12/29/how...
acasignups.net
"But how many have PAID?" Revisited: Enrollment drop-off won't be fully known for months
Long ago in a galaxy far, far away, during the first batcrap insane 2014 Open Enrollment Period, a common refrain from Republicans looking to attack the newly-ramping up healthcare law was to demand "...
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
There are 10 states where you can still sign up for health insurance with a January 1 effective date: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ar...
healthinsurance.org
What are the deadlines for the ACA's open enrollment period?
ACA open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 in most states, but some have different deadlines. Check your state’s ACA enrollment dates.
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Adrianna McIntyre @adrianna.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Wyoming, which has been projected to lose $115M in federal rural Medicaid funding in the next decade will receive $205M from the rural health fund for FY2026.
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Wesley Sanders @wsanders.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
All of them have powerful lobbyists trying to convince policymakers that they’re not the problem, someone else is. They all say “oh if you got rid of me you only save 5-10% so you wouldn’t fix it.“ and usually those claims are true… physician salaries are <5%, insurer margins are regulated, etc.
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Wesley Sanders @wsanders.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
The problem with universal health care in the US isn’t that it is impossible - it’s that there’s no one silver bullet that that would suddenly fix it. tons of powerful, moneyed interest - doctors, hospitals, insurers, pharma, and the universe of vendors supporting them
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 27/12/2025
@xpostfactoid.bsky.social is awesome. Here's more details on how dramatic a difference Premium Alignment can make when it comes to #ACA coverage: charlesgaba.substack.com/p/there-will...
charlesgaba.substack.com
There Will Be Graphs: A deeper dive into how 14 states are dramatically mitigating the expiring tax credits
tl;dr version: A lot of people are eligible for Gold plans at a bargain or dirt-cheap Bronze plans
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Joan Alker @joanalker1.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
@georgetownccf.bsky.social is hiring! We are looking for a Research Fellow (JD or MA required) to work on a new project tracking the implementation of Medicaid work reporting requirements. This will be a two year position. Details available here: ccf.georgetown.edu/about-us/jobs/
ccf.georgetown.edu
Jobs
CCF is Hiring! Research Fellow The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families is seeking a legal/policy analyst for a new project focusing on state implementation of new federally-mandated...
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Formerly Richard Mayhew @dmaanderson.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Big eligibility shock for #ACA as pricing and enrollment rules for AI/AN individuals are v different
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Louise Norris @louisenorris.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
Open enrollment for Marketplace coverage is ongoing everywhere except Idaho. And there are 13 states where you can still get a January 1 effective date: www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-ar...
healthinsurance.org
What are the deadlines for the ACA's open enrollment period?
ACA open enrollment for 2026 coverage runs Nov. 1 – Jan. 15 in most states, but some have different deadlines. Check your state’s ACA enrollment dates.
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