Brad VanGorkom LISW

KFF's estimate that out-of-pocket ACA premiums will increase if enhanced tax credits expire by an average of 114% has been widely reported. But, it varies a lot, especially by income. Here's what increases look like in dollar terms -- from $378 at $18,000 to $1,836 at $45,000.

As the ~discourse~ seems to bend interminably towards Republicans trying to figure out how they can (further) HDHP-ify ACA coverage, it's worth revisiting what is probably our best (most rigorous) study on the effect of deductibles in health insurance.

academic.oup.com/qje/article-...

Calculator: ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credit The ACA's enhanced premium tax credits are set to expire at the end of 2025. This calculator estimates how much out-of-pocket premiums would increase for families if Congress does not extend the credits. The projected premium increases are estimated bas...

NEW: Our calculator is now updated to include 2026 average benchmark silver premium data.

ACA Marketplace open enrollment starts Nov. 1. Estimate how much more you would pay in premiums with and without the enhanced premium tax credits: https://on.kff.org/4olBSa4

The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, combined with premium increases by ACA insurers, will mean that 22 million subsidized ACA enrollees will see an average out-of-pocket premium increase of 114%.

If I'm elected Governor, we are going to reverse the privatization of Medicaid.

About Half of Adults with ACA Marketplace Coverage are Small Business Owners, Employees, or Self-Employed | KFF This analysis estimates that 48% of adults under age 65 with individual market coverage are either employed by a small business with fewer than 25 workers, self-employed entrepreneurs, or small business owners. Because the vast majority of this coverage...

Since most individual market coverage is bought via the ACA Marketplaces, changes to the ACA — including the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits — would have significant implications for small business owners’ and workers’ health care costs: https://on.kff.org/3HSj0jb

Opening of Iowa mosque becomes a celebration of refugees' resilience and interfaith unity (RNS) — ‘From the very beginning, we did not feel like strangers. We did not feel like outsiders,’ said a leader of the mosque, whose inauguration drew some 15,000 celebrants.

Iowa’s newest purpose-built mosque stands only 150 miles from the nation’s oldest.
religionnews.com/2025/10/01/o...

In the debate over extending the enhanced ACA Marketplace tax credits, there has been no discussion of their benefit for children's coverage. The enhanced credits helped increase child Marketplace enrollment (under age 18) by 2.5X to 2.6 million between 2020 & 2025 (based on open enrollment data).

Opening of Iowa mosque becomes a celebration of refugees' resilience and interfaith unity (RNS) — ‘From the very beginning, we did not feel like strangers. We did not feel like outsiders,’ said a leader of the mosque, whose inauguration drew some 15,000 celebrants.

Mosque leaders said future plans for the land include a community center, housing, a playground and a memorial commemorating victims of the Srebrenica genocide.
religionnews.com/2025/10/01/o...

#SoProud

ICE detains Des Moines Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts Iowa's largest school district had "no confirmed information" on why ICE detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent since 2023.

Breaking news from Des Moines: ICE has detained Dr. Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Iowa's largest school district.
The Des Moines Public Schools said "We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps."
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/09/26/i...

KFF estimates the changes could leave 68,000 Iowans without health insurance.

From “Who was the first pirate?” to “How does your body make poop?” — kids ask questions that make us think. One 71-year-old reader wrote us to tell us they really enjoyed the answer to that last one. Send your child’s question (plus their name, age, and city) to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com

From “Who was the first pirate?” to “How does your body make poop?” — kids ask questions that make us think. One 71-year-old reader wrote us to tell us they really enjoyed the answer to that last one.

Send your child’s question (plus their name, age, and city) to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com

IDALS invests $200k in farms to food banks program • Iowa Capital Dispatch IDALS announced Thursday it was investing $200,000 into a program that helps food banks purchase from local farmers.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced it was investing $200,000 into the Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program, which helps food banks purchase from local farmers, Cami Koons reports. iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/idals...

Luther College research team surveys Iowa cemeteries for possible unmarked burials • Iowa Capital Dispatch Students and faculty at Luther College spent the summer surveying three pioneer cemeteries to identify potential unmarked graves.

Work completed ahead of the new school year by veteran and aspiring anthropologists at Luther College could help locate now-forgotten burial sites and survey archeological finds before putting shovel to dirt, Brooklyn Draisey reports.
iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/04/l...

#soproud #bluecy

There's a clear choice in the August 26 election Bruce Lear: GOP candidate Chris Prosch has embraced religious nationalism and promoted a film that bashed mainline Christian denominations.

New post: Bruce Lear spotlights GOP candidate Chris Prosch's history of embracing religious nationalism ahead of the August 26 special election in Iowa Senate district 1.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/08/21/t...

Attendance drops, fear rises in immigrant churches as Trump takes over DC WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘I never thought I had one day to cancel Sunday worship because it is not safe for our Latino siblings to come to church. But here we are … ,’ wrote one pastor on Facebook.

NEW from @alejacorazonhm.bsky.social and me: As Trump seeks to flood DC’s streets with federal agents and troops, churches are seeing attendance drops, fear, and detentions.

Seven members of one church have been detained — including an usher on his way to worship. religionnews.com/2025/08/19/a...

"Dumb enough to be honest." Guilty 🤷

Second death at state-run care facility triggers $30,000 fine • Iowa Capital Dispatch For the second time in eight months, the state-run Woodward Resource Center has been fined for contributing to the death of a resident.

For the second time in eight months, the state-run Woodward Resource Center for disabled individuals has been fined for failing to check on, and provide CPR for, residents who subsequently died. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/08/15/s...

#CuriousKids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

Good fences aren't always what make good neighbors • Iowa Capital Dispatch After her neighbor was hospitalized for a stroke, she did what neighbors do -- corral wayward lambs and geese and befuddle the city kids.

From guest columnist Mary Swander: After her neighbor was hospitalized for a stroke, she did what neighbors do -- corral wayward lambs and geese and befuddle the city kids. -- Via Iowa Writers' Collaborative.

Consolation for Life’s Darkest Hours: 7 Unusual and Wonderful Books that Help Children Grieve and Make Sense of Death From Japanese pop-up magic to Scandinavian storytelling to Maurice Sendak, a gentle primer on the messiness of mourning and the many faces and phases of grief.

7 unusual and wonderful children's books to help kids (and the inner child we each carry) navigate grief and loss www.themarginalian.org/2015/03/23/b...

What Role Do Immigrants Play in the Rural Workforce? | KFF This data note examines the role that immigrants play in the rural workforce, particularly in industries disproportionately filled by immigrants, including health care, agriculture, construction, and ...

New analysis by @kff.org finds that immigrants make up 3X the share of physicians and surgeons in rural America than their share of the rural population/total workforce (14% vs. 5%). They also play outsized roles in agriculture, construction, and service occupations.
www.kff.org/racial-equit...

Healthcare Program Enrollment by U.S. Congressional District

A reminder that I've completely updated my main House District healthcare enrollment spreadsheet.

You can quickly look up total estimated enrollment in ACA exchange plans, Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, Employer/Other coverage & Uninsured for all 435 House districts + DC

docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

US military chaplaincy marks 250 years of providing spiritual support to service members (RNS) — Chaplains serve in hospitals, hospices and manufacturing plants, and while chaplaincy researchers see commonalities among them, there are also key differences in the military.

For 250 years, U.S. military chaplains have offered spiritual support in times of war and peace. Today, we honor their legacy and evolving role.
religionnews.com/2025/07/28/o...

Iowa's public media prepare for funding cuts made in rescission package • Iowa Capital Dispatch The Iowa public broadcasting services will lose millions under the rescissions bill that was supported by all members of Iowa's delegation.

Iowa Public Radio expects to lose roughly $1 million and Iowa PBS $3.5 million because of the rescissions bill, which covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 as well as the following year, Robin Opsahl reports.

What Privacy and Protection Standards are in Place for Medicaid Enrollees’ Personal Data?  | KFF This policy watch discusses the data privacy protections in Medicaid and the implications of breaches or violations of those protections.

As outlined in our @kff.org policy watch, federal and state laws and regulations provide protections designed to safeguard Medicaid applicant and enrollee data. These protections limit the use and sharing of personal information for administering the program.
www.kff.org/policy-watch...

Trump administration hands over nation's Medicaid enrollee data, including addresses, to ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will gain access to personally identifiable information for all of the nation’s 79 million Medicaid enrollees.

BREAKING: ICE officials will gain access to personally identifiable information for all Medicaid enrollees, according to an agreement obtained by the AP.

#Medicaid fraud is rarely committed by so-called undeserving individuals, but mostly by organizations attempting to get rich. today's #BBB is a huge step in the wrong direction.