Like Weekly News Roundup?
Subscribe to our popular podcast Code WACK! and donate to support our work!
New Code WACK! episode
“We took a Hippocratic Oath with the idea that we were going to help to improve the lives of patients and to do no harm. And then this ‘financial instrument,’ which is not bound by the Hippocratic Oath, decides whether or not we can actually do the things that we want to do.” —Dr. Erica Rowe Urquhart
When Insurers Play Doctor
Featuring
Erica Rowe Urquhart, MD
Find us on Apple podcasts, our website or your favorite podcast platform.
________________________________________
Breaking News in Healthcare Reform
“…sellers working for insurance companies … will snare new recruits into Medicare Advantage plans, possibly omitting in their sales pitches that they will be locked into an MA plan and could face great difficulty returning to traditional Medicare and buying a supplement policy if things go wrong – as they often do.”
Broken Promises: Deceptive Marketing Practices in Medicare
Informed Comment | F. Douglas Stephenson | November 1, 2025
“The public’s desire to get medical treatment that they’ve already paid insurance companies for triggered a Wall Street meltdown earlier this year, with stock prices dropping sharply as investment analysts and business journalists fretted that private looting of the healthcare system might end.”
Don’t Worry, Wall Street Journal — Health Insurers Are Profitable!
FAIR.org | John Canham-Clyne | October 31, 2025
“The government shutdown fight over Affordable Care Act credits is a major small business issue, as half of all ACA marketplace enrollees are small business owners, self-employed entrepreneurs or small business employees.”
Health Insurance Premiums Rising for Main Street Business Owners, Employees, with Little Relief in Sight
CNBC | Cheryl Winokur Munk | October 31 2025
“Nationwide, if the enhanced tax credits expire, premiums are expected to more than double on average. For older adults nearing retirement, the increase could be significantly higher than that.”
60-Year-Olds Brace for Insurance Hikes of Up to $48K: ‘I’m Terrified’
Investopedia | Peter Gratton | October 31, 2025
“Over half of all enrollees who would be cut off from subsidies are between the ages of 50 and 64.”
Older Adults at Risk if ACA Subsidies Expire
Medicare Rights Center | Lindsey Copeland | October 30, 2025
“[Voters] blame health insurance companies the most for their medical debt (63%), followed by pharmaceutical companies (12%) and hospitals (9%). Just 3% place the blame on doctors or patients.”
Voters Lack Trust in Health Insurers, Decry Medical Debt
Healthcare Finance News | Jeff Lagasse | October 28, 2025
“Medicare Advantage enrollees on average had access to just under half (48%) of the physicians in their area who were available to people enrolled in traditional Medicare in 2022, a new KFF analysis finds.”
Medicare Advantage Enrollees Have Less Access to Doctors: Study
Axios | October 28, 2025
“Eighty-one percent said they supported the creation of a state-funded health plan that would give residents a more affordable option than commercial plans.”
Many Voters Say Health Care Unaffordable, Are Open to New Insurance System: Poll
The Hill | Joseph Choi | October 27, 2025
____________________________________________
Shining a light on ongoing inequities in health care
and the impact they have on vulnerable individuals and communities.
Our podcast Code WACK! brings to life the failures of America’s healthcare system with stories, commentary and analysis.
Our Weekly News Roundup shares news and views about health policy, health equity and healthcare reform (from non-paywalled news sources)
Our Media page connects you to doctors, advocates and experts in health economics and health policy.
Our Resources page provides a wealth of additional resources including links to legislation and studies.
Keep up with the Medicare for All movement
Subscribe to Code WACK!
Apple Google Amazon Spotify Subscribe
Podcasts Podcasts Music for emails
Or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!
And follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Subscribe for email updates.