"The deadline for extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies is approaching this month. This is happening even as consumers who depend on the ACA Marketplace are faced with the tough decision. Should they forego health plans that will no longer be affordable for them once the subsidies expire or hope that Congress will reach a bipartisan agreement to extend the subsidies until workable alternatives can be hashed out and approved?"
"With 93% of ACA Marketplace plan members ( 22 million people) relying on tax credits set to expire at the end of the year and open enrollment scheduled to close December 15, "We're between a rock and a hard place," as Arundhati aptly put it. At the time of recording, the Senate was expected to vote December 9 on whether to extend the subsidies."
"The conversation also focused on the latest efforts to make drugs more affordable, particularly GLP-1 drugs. Discounting these costly drugs could pave the way for a big reduction in the prevalence of chronic diseases associated with obesity, which lines up with the MAHA initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. But these efforts also raise questions. The drugs are only effective for keeping weight off if the people taking them also change their lifestyles to include more exercise and healthier diet options."
The Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that subsidize Marketplace coverage are facing an imminent expiration, risking loss of affordable plans for roughly 22 million enrollees. Open enrollment closes December 15 while congressional action on subsidy extensions remains uncertain, with a Senate vote anticipated in early December. Lawmakers facing reelection are proposing alternatives such as expanded use of health savings accounts. Policymakers are also considering drug affordability measures, including GLP-1 price reductions tied to a MAHA initiative led by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. Questions remain about long-term effectiveness, required lifestyle changes, and supply chain capacity for increased drug demand.
Read at MedCity News
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