Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

New federal ACA open enrollment numbers are out today. Sign-ups are down roughly 1.2 million to 1.3 million compared with last year.

State officials say coverage losses are likely to grow in the coming months as more people struggle to make premium payments and plans get terminated.

Would you be open to chatting? Working on a broader story on these kinds of disputes.

Predicting a substantial bump in uncompensated care for ER docs this year

New federal ACA open enrollment numbers are out today. Sign-ups are down roughly 1.2 million to 1.3 million compared with last year.

State officials say coverage losses are likely to grow in the coming months as more people struggle to make premium payments and plans get terminated.

Hi there. I’m working on a story related to this dispute. Would you be open to chatting? Thanks!

Hi there. I’m working on a story related to this. Are you free to chat? Thanks so much!

Hi there. I’m working on a story about this trend. Are you free to chat? Thanks!

Hi there. Have you been personally affected by the dispute? Thanks!

💉Per a CMS official, this does not include Botox for cosmetic use.

Medicare doesn't cover cosmetic Botox, but the drug has several medical uses, including treatment for chronic migraines, overactive bladder, muscle stiffness and lazy eye.

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.

A closer look at state-level ACA sign-up data shows that many enrollees are choosing the cheapest plans, with high deductibles, raising concerns among health experts that more people could delay or skip care.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Medicare will negotiate the price of Botox and 14 other drugs this year The drugs up for price negotiations include cancer and diabetes drugs, as well as medications for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced the next round of prescription drugs up for Medicare price negotiations. The list includes Botox and the GLP-1 drug Trulicity.

Medicare will negotiate the price of Botox and 14 other drugs this year The drugs up for price negotiations include cancer and diabetes drugs, as well as medications for Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

NEW: The Trump administration on Tuesday announced the next round of prescription drugs up for Medicare price negotiations. The list includes Botox and the GLP-1 drug Trulicity.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Would you be open to chatting about this? Feel free to DM me to exchange contacts. Thanks!

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.

A closer look at state-level ACA sign-up data shows that many enrollees are choosing the cheapest plans, with high deductibles, raising concerns among health experts that more people could delay or skip care.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Health insurance CEOs grilled on high costs of care in back-to-back House hearings During the hearings, Republicans and Democrats also blamed each other for soaring health care costs.

NEW: Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pressed health insurance CEOs on premium hikes, prior authorization rules and claim denials in back-to-back House committee hearings Thursday, zeroing in on how the insurers’ decisions are affecting patients right now.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

California wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy linked to autism risk in children The new research focused on exposure to PM 2.5, tiny particles that can lodge deep in the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

A large Southern California study suggests breathing wildfire smoke while pregnant — particularly late in pregnancy — may be linked to a slightly higher autism risk in kids.

The strongest links showed up during stretches of smoky days.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Trump announces health care plan to cut costs, but it needs Congress' approval The plan, released the same day Affordable Care Act open enrollment ends in most states, offered few details and largely restated proposals Trump has previously outlined.

The Trump administration just announced a plan aimed at lowering health care costs in the U.S.

The plan, however, lacks key details and largely restates proposals President Donald Trump has previously outlined.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

ACA sign-ups fall as higher premiums push people off plans Nationally, sign-ups are down more than 800,000 from last year.

Today is the final day of ACA open enrollment in most states.

Sign-ups are running more than 800,000 lower than last year, based on national data.

States report many people who are enrolling are opting for Bronze plans — lower premiums, but higher deductibles.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

ACA sign-ups fall as higher premiums push people off plans Nationally, sign-ups are down more than 800,000 from last year.

Today is the final day of ACA open enrollment in most states.

Sign-ups are running more than 800,000 lower than last year, based on national data.

States report many people who are enrolling are opting for Bronze plans — lower premiums, but higher deductibles.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

ACA sign-ups fall as higher premiums push people off plans Nationally, sign-ups are down more than 800,000 from last year.

NEW: As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act insurance comes to an end, people are moving to cheaper plans or dropping their coverage entirely, according to state and federal data.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Health care will get more expensive for some in 2026 — and cheaper for others People covered by Obamacare and Medicaid may see health care costs rise, but for people on Medicare, Biden-era negotiated drug prices are set to go into effect.

What lies ahead for health care in 2026
by @berkeleyjr.bsky.social @nbcnews.com

Yes, thank you’d Please DM me. Chatting in the afternoon is just fine and he give estimates if that isn’t too much trouble.

Hi there. I‘m health reporter with NBC News. I’m working on a story related to Medicare drug pricing negotiations. Lower prices for the first 10 drugs are going into effect on Jan. 1. Eliquis is among the drugs on the list. Do you have a moment today or tomorrow to chat? Thanks!

Centrist Republicans revolt, signing a petition to force a vote on Obamacare funding The Affordable Care Act subsidies are still expected to expire at the end of this year, however, raising insurance premiums for millions of Americans.

LATEST: Rebelling against their leaders, four House Republicans sign onto a “discharge petition,” giving Democrats the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on a three-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire for millions of Americans on Dec. 31.

FDA says it may relax warning label rule for dietary supplements Supplements aren’t reviewed for safety and effectiveness, but disclaimers about health benefits are required on products.

FDA says it may relax warning label rule for dietary supplements

by @berkeleyjr.bsky.social

Bronze plans are up about 5% compared to this time last year, said Pat Kelly of Your Health Idaho. Most of that shift — about 4.5 percentage points — is coming from silver plans, and 1 percentage point is coming from gold.

“That increase in bronze is a strong indicator of affordability concerns.”

With Obamacare premium hikes, more people opting for no coverage or cheaper plans Early state data reflects signs of financial strain for people who can’t afford to pay hundreds of dollars more in monthly premiums once enhanced federal subsidies expire at the end of the year.

NEW: More people appear to be walking away from Obamacare coverage or switching to cheaper plans for 2026 compared to this time last year, according to early enrollment data from several states.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

CDC advisory panel rolls back universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation The change upends decades of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and goes against widespread public health consensus.

CDC advisory panel rolls back universal hepatitis B vaccine recommendation
www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-...

Novo Nordisk still sees potential for GLP-1 drugs for Alzheimer’s, despite trial setback GLP-1 drugs, which include Ozempic and Wegovy, have become one of the most closely watched experimental approaches for slowing Alzheimer’s — a disease with few treatment options.

NEW: Novo Nordisk says it still thinks GLP-1 drugs could be a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s, despite two major trials last month that found an older drug similar to Ozempic had no effect in slowing early-stage disease.

www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

Hopes fade in Congress for a health care deal before premiums soar in January Billions of dollars in tax credits under the Affordable Care Act are poised to expire at the end of the year. Lawmakers in both parties say they're nowhere close to a deal to renew them.

NEW: Hopes fade in Congress for a health care deal before premiums soar in January

Two weeks before recess, they're nowhere close.

Senate to vote on a bill of Dems' choosing; expected to fail.

Enhanced ACA funds set to expire, as many Republicans want.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...