Podcasts about Affordable Care Act

Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, especially as you approach the transition from earning a paycheck to relying on your savings. The early phase of retirement brings unique challenges, and it's no surprise that there are plenty of misconceptions that can lead you astray. In this episode, we break down five of the most prevalent retirement myths, share insights from working with clients, and offer practical guidance to help you make confident, personalized decisions for your future.   1. "I'll Spend Less In Retirement Than When I Was Working"   This is one of the most widespread assumptions—and financial media often reinforces it by suggesting you'll only need 70-80% of your pre-retirement income. However, the reality is often quite different. In early retirement, spending typically increases as retirees suddenly have more time for activities, hobbies, and travel that were perhaps squeezed out during their working years. Parental obligations can linger, with adult children sometimes relying on financial assistance well into their late twenties or thirties. Unexpected repairs, long-postponed home improvements, or even a burst of "retirement honeymoon" spending are common. Recognizing these patterns, and planning for them, can help set more realistic expectations for your retirement budget.   2. "I Don't Have Time to Recover from a Market Downturn Anymore"   It's natural to become risk-averse as retirement nears; no one wants to see years of savings diminished by a bear market. Today's retirees are living longer than previous generations—often enjoying 25, 30, or even 35 years in retirement. This expanded timeline means you still have the potential (and perhaps the need) to ride out stock market fluctuations and recover from downturns. Avoiding growth assets altogether in favor of perceived "safety" may actually represent a different kind of risk: the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation.   3. "I'll Only Spend Interest and Never Touch My Principal"   This "live-off-the-interest" approach may have worked in an era of higher interest rates, but it's limiting in today's environment. We advocate for a total-return strategy: you draw from a mix of interest, dividends, and capital gains as appropriate. This helps maximize your spending potential and accounts for variable needs and market fluctuations. Clinging to the old mindset of never spending principal may feel safer, but it can artificially constrain your quality of life and generosity toward loved ones or causes you care about.    4. "I Shouldn't Retire Before 65 Because of Health Insurance"   Many people believe they must keep working until Medicare eligibility at 65 due to concerns about the high cost and complexity of health insurance. While the Affordable Care Act and COBRA have shifted the landscape, these options are often misunderstood or overlooked. Model retirement scenarios and run cost estimators to see if pre-65 retirement is out of reach or if it might be achievable—perhaps with an added planned expense for private insurance or by using available subsidies. Make decisions based on personalized numbers, not generalizations or fear. Sometimes, paying for private health insurance can be a worthwhile trade-off for earlier retirement and the memories made with family and friends.   5. "I Don't Need to Worry About Long-Term Care—I'll Just Stay in My Home"   It's tempting to imagine that aging in place solves long-term care needs, but the reality is that nearly 80% of retirees require some form of long-term care eventually. Whether it's in-home assistance or moving to a residential community, the costs are significant—often $80,000 per year or more, and potentially much higher for round-the-clock or specialized care. Failing to plan for these expenses may burden loved ones and potentially result in less-than-desired care options. Medicaid is not a reliable fallback for most financially secure retirees.   Outline of This Episode   01:53 Why early retirement often brings increased spending  05:26 Rethinking life expectancy reality 06:44 Discussing financial planning strategies 09:25 Misconception about living off interest 13:22 Financial plan modeling: test scenarios to see if earlier retirement is feasible 17:13 Importance of clarifying care intentions before a crisis arises     Resources & People Mentioned   7 Common Misconceptions about Retirement Planning | CCRRBC Inheritocracy by Eliza Filby About the Affordable Care Act | HHS.gov Medicare Finances: A Perspective on the 2026 Trustees Report       

Ohio just landed at number one on CNBC's 2026 list of the best states for business, the first time it has ever finished first. In this Ohio Edition of the Purple Political Breakdown, Radell Lewis follows the money and the power lines behind that ranking, and breaks down who is actually on your 2026 ballot in Ohio's 11th and 12th Congressional Districts. We get into Elon Musk's five million dollar check to V PAC: Victors, Not Victims, the super PAC backing Vivek Ramaswamy, and the billionaire donors behind its nearly forty two million dollar haul (Jeff Yass, Ratmir Timashev, Bill Ackman, and Ross Stevens). Plus Ramaswamy's twenty five million dollar loan to his own campaign, the Secretary of State flag on more than five hundred thousand dollars in unitemized spending, Amy Acton's small-dollar contrast, and Sherrod Brown breaking with the building trades to hit Jon Husted over data centers in the Senate race. Statehouse Watch covers the three hundred fourteen million dollars Ohio has made leasing public land to fracking, the new college syllabus rules under Senate Bill 1, the Medicaid anti-fraud law Senate Bill 315, and the Rooster case, where blogger D.J. Byrnes faces an October jury trial over an image texted to State Senator Jerry Cirino. County of the Week is Allen County and Lima, where Google's five hundred million dollar data center has neighbors up in arms. District Watch, so you know who you are voting for: Ohio 11 (Cleveland): incumbent Democrat Shontel Brown versus Republican Mike Kirchner, with independent Cortney Peterson also on the ballot. Ohio 12 (central and eastern Ohio): incumbent Republican Troy Balderson versus Democrat Jerrad Christian, a 2024 rematch. Plus the latest AARP poll showing tight Governor and Senate races, and Ohio's nation-leading drop in Affordable Care Act enrollment after enhanced subsidies expired. Political solutions without political bias, building a better Ohio on the way to a better America. PODCAST NETWORK ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly '30 For US' conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. 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Our analysts Andrew Sheets and Mark Schmidt unpack why U.S. healthcare feels so expensive and the potential impacts of rising hospital costs.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Andrew Sheets: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Andrew Sheets, Global Head of Fixed Income Research at Morgan Stanley. Mark Schmidt: And I'm Mark Schmidt, Head of Municipal Strategy at Morgan Stanley. Andrew Sheets: And today on the program, a discussion into one of the biggest mysteries in one of the biggest sectors of the economy. We're talking about healthcare costs. It's Friday, July 17th at 2pm in London. Mark Schmidt: At 9am in New York. Andrew Sheets: So, we're talking today about healthcare, which represents roughly a fifth of the U.S. economy, the bulk of job creation over the last several years, and in my view, honestly, one of the biggest inflation paradoxes that we see in the market. On the one hand, the high cost of healthcare is taken as a given, and it's something that many Americans still struggle with financially. But if you look at the official inflation data in the U.S., healthcare costs have been lower than normal, and that's been true now for a number of years. So, what's going on? How do we tie this together? And Mark, you just wrote a report that tries to do exactly that. So, what did you hope to accomplish with this report? Mark Schmidt: You're absolutely right. It's hard to underline enough just how large healthcare is to the U.S. economy overall. Americans spend nearly $6 trillion on healthcare. That's more than the GDP of the entire country of Germany. And if we think about prices, Americans pay more. A knee replacement, for example, costs $25,000 in the United States. That same procedure costs just $6,000 in France. Common heart treatments that would cost $3,000 in Germany or $10,000 in Australia cost $34,000 in the U.S. It also matters for everyone's local community. Healthcare jobs have been growing twice as fast as the rate of job growth in the economy overall. And those are good jobs. They pay above average wages. For many Americans these days, the most secure path to the middle class is a career in healthcare. Now, this may seem a little bit arcane, but it probably hits close to your portfolio as well. Earlier in the year, when we took a look at how equity separately managed accounts invest, they typically have a core overweight to healthcare. And even though American prices may seem like an American issue, many of the largest and most profitable healthcare companies in the world are actually headquartered in Europe. So, whether you're sitting in New York or sitting in London, the price of American healthcare probably matters to you. But as you noted, Andrew, it does feel like a paradox because although Americans cite healthcare costs as one of their top concerns, and although healthcare spending is growing at 6 percent a year or more, the official inflation data says that healthcare prices are in check. And at one point earlier in the year, healthcare inflation, according to official data, even dipped below 3 percent. It just didn't make a lot of sense, and that's why we got together with our colleagues across equities, fixed income research, public policy, and economics to dig into what was actually going on. Andrew Sheets: So, Mark, let's dig right into that. I mean, it seems like a perfect encapsulation of the so-called Main Street versus Wall Street perception of the economy. So, what's going on? How does one kind of square those two numbers? Mark Schmidt: The easiest way to understand it is that you can't walk through a grocery store and figure out the price of a knee replacement. And that's true both for you and me. It's also true for the government. They have to survey hospitals and health insurance companies. The trouble is that the prices that health insurance companies pay hospitals, well, those are trade secrets. So, at any given point in time, even for the best government economists, it's not entirely clear what the price trends are. And that's why when you look at the official data, healthcare inflation typically has relatively lumpy jumps in the series. You could see several months of 0.1 or 0.2 percent official growth in healthcare inflation. Or as earlier this week, you could see certain categories jump to 0.4 or even 0.8. Andrew Sheets: Another element, Mark, that you talked about in the report is that people are also consuming more healthcare. So, talk a little bit about that. How that factors into this dynamic, and again, is that just going to be the new normal as the population ages and we tend to spend more on healthcare as we get older? Mark Schmidt: That's right. The good news is that we're living longer lives. The bad news is that means that we have more chronic healthcare conditions to deal with. The good news is that more procedures can be done in outpatient settings, and those, generally speaking, are cheaper. The bad news is that inpatient care, inpatient prices go up as the complexity of procedures that actually happen in a hospital setting increase significantly. When you balance it all out, it's a situation where, thankfully, the United States and most Americans have the means and the wealth to pay more for healthcare. The flip side of that is that they are paying more for healthcare, and that's why we think that the recent softness in healthcare inflation is actually too good to be true. Andrew Sheets: Something that jumped out at me from this report, Mark, was just how important hospitals are in this equation. And the experience of the patient and the experience of the hospital can be different economically. And that difference can also matter for how this shows up in official inflation and government statistics.So, you know, it would be helpful maybe just to walk the listener through. If I go into the hospital and I need knee surgery. You know, how does that look like from my perspective in terms of paying for it, assuming I have health insurance through my employer? How could that look like to the hospital? And how could that look like coming out the other end into the official government statistics? Mark Schmidt: Well, of course, Andrew, the first thing that you do when you break your leg is you call six hospitals and shop around for the cheapest price, right? Andrew Sheets: [Laughs] Of course. Mark Schmidt: So that's actually the problem because when you get care, you're not in a place to ask about the price. And frankly, even if you asked your doctor or nurse what the price is, they probably wouldn't know. Not only is it not their job to know the price, but all of those negotiations happen after the fact – with the prices that the insurance companies negotiate with the hospitals. After COVID, hospitals had a lot more costs to spread out among the people who were coming in the door, and so they raised prices across the board, not just for procedures that were related to respiratory illness. Naturally, insurance companies noticed that, and they started to push back. So long after you get a cast for your broken leg – and by the way, I wish you a speedy recovery – insurance companies end up going back and forth negotiating with your doctors for exactly how much they should pay you. And although these prices were loosely set well before you walked in the door, the exact way it gets billed and coded? Well, let's just say there's a lot of back and forth. For a well-run hospital, the cost of talking to and ultimately getting reimbursement from your insurance company, that alone could be 2 to 4 percent of revenue. And in especially complex cases, that whole negotiation can eat up 5 to 7 percent of the total bill. You're also right to flag that hospitals really are still the central point of the U.S. healthcare system. Americans spend $2 trillion in a hospital setting. And hospitals overwhelmingly coordinate care for both primary, specialty, and pharmacy services. Andrew Sheets: Mark, another issue I wanted to ask you about was the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, and how those programs fit into the story? Mark Schmidt: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act included a variety of measures to slow the overall growth rate of healthcare. Now, for all the reasons we just discussed, that's probably warranted. The Affordable Care Act is another wrinkle. Enhanced subsidies, which were already set to expire – did in fact expire at the end of last year. And as a result, more Americans are now uninsured. It remains to be seen how that impacts overall costs. In the United States, when you have a health emergency, a hospital is legally obligated to treat you because of a 1990s law called EMTALA. Even if you can't pay, the system eventually does. Historically, uncompensated care costs have been passed on to individuals and companies with insurance. For now, however, it remains to be seen whether these changes in law and in the overall number of people with insurance will cause healthcare prices to rise or fall. Andrew Sheets: And Mark, just for the broad-based implications of this, right? It's fair to say that in any health insurance system, there are some people who consume a lot more healthcare. They're unhealthy or they're unlucky. And there are some who consume a lot less. And, you know, this is something where that overall coverage question matters. Because if you have things that reduce the number of otherwise healthy people who are in those healthcare pools, it can raise the cost for everybody else. Those people who were in some ways subsidizing the higher consumers of healthcare are no longer there. Is that a fair way to frame it, do you think? And are there potential changes given some of these legislative actions that could lead to changes of what the pool looks like – and what overall costs could look like? Mark Schmidt: That's a great point. And healthcare is probably the only part of our economy where you would say, "Thank goodness I did not get my money's worth." As we think about it… Andrew Sheets: [Laughs] Very true. Very true. Mark Schmidt: As we think about it, most young and healthy people are going to be paying more for their health insurance than they receive in healthcare. Again, that's a good thing. Because American healthcare prices are so much higher than anywhere else in the world, paying in more than you get back? Well, that hits the wallet harder in America than it does in other countries. And that's why for many people – choice – choosing how much health insurance to have and how much to pay for it, really is central to keeping the American economy dynamic. The flip side, however, is that as Americans get older, more people have Medicare. Now, Medicare is pretty good if you have it. But the catch is that Medicare prices, according to most independent estimates, do not fully reimburse for the cost of care. So, as more seniors take up more beds in a hospital, that means that commercial prices, the prices for people who have private insurance through their employer, are likely to rise even faster. Andrew Sheets: So, Mark, I think a good place to close it out and kind of bring this all together is a really important conclusion of this report – is that hospitals have been absorbing a number of these rising costs of healthcare through lower margins for the hospital. And that has resulted in lower ultimate inflation because the inflation is measured out the other side, out ultimately what the hospital earns. And if you could just maybe talk a little bit more about that. To what extent have those margins been compressed? And what that might mean for things going forward? Mark Schmidt: That's right. We dug into the finances for hundreds of not-for-profit hospitals in the United States. They are facing higher costs and shrinking margins. Historically, hospitals have partially passed on expense increases of this magnitude. Now, in their conversations with insurance companies, the biggest benchmark setting of prices happens once every two to three years. So, we're not going to see hospital prices show up in the inflation data overnight. But when we look at hospitals across the country, their budget information and their guidance is consistent with firming prices. Andrew Sheets: Great. Thank you so much, Mark. I've really enjoyed the conversation. Mark Schmidt: Thanks for having me, Andrew. Andrew Sheets: And thank you for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please share it with a friend or colleague today. And rate and review us on wherever you listen. It helps more people find the show.

Ads blame congressman for insurance coverage losses Before Cait Conley won the Democratic primary in June to set up a clash with Rep. Mike Lawler for the U.S. House district that includes Philipstown, a group called Empire State Voices had already been buying ads criticizing the two-term Republican congressman's record on health care. In a February video that ran on YouTube, a woman identified as "Tracey from Pearl River" (Lawler's hometown) recounted draining her 401K after being denied coverage for cancer, and then regaining insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. She was afraid Lawler "wants to take that away." In a YouTube ad that ran from late April to May, "Karen from Peekskill" accuses Lawler of cutting the Medicaid her parents rely on to "give tax breaks to billionaires." Lawler countered this month with an ad on Facebook and Instagram: "When premiums were on the line, Rep. Mike Lawler crossed party lines to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits that keep coverage affordable for NY-17 families." But the extension of those Affordable Care Act credits did not pass Congress. That failure and changes to the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill that could cut Medicaid enrollments by millions of people are two of the major themes as Conley, Democrats and advocacy groups target Lawler in November's midterm elections. His seat is considered a toss-up and is one of Democrats' main targets as they seek to regain control of the House, which has 218 Republicans, 212 Democrats, one independent and four vacancies. Their success may depend in part on the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill, which President Donald Trump signed on July 4, 2025. The legislation, which Lawler voted for, extended tax cuts set to expire at the end of last year; temporarily raised to $40,000 (from $10,000) the amount of state and local taxes that can be deducted on federal returns; and allowed workers to temporarily deduct up to $25,000 in tips. But its provisions were also projected to cause 7.8 million people to lose Medicaid coverage by 2034. The bill also affected the health care exchanges New York and other states established when President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in 2010. A year after the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the effects on health care coverage are starting to emerge. New York said that because of cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill, the state's no-premium, no-deductible Essential Plan for low- and middle-income residents could no longer cover households earning between 200 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level. The estimated 450,000 people who lost coverage include individuals earning $31,920 or less annually and four-person households earning up to $82,500. Most of the affected enrollees — including an estimated 13,987 in District 17 and 15,656 in District 18, which includes Beacon — have until Aug. 30 to find subsidized health insurance on New York State of Health, the state's health exchange. But unlike their Essential Plan coverage, monthly premiums and deductibles will be required. Danielle Holahan, the executive director for the exchange, told New York Focus, a statewide news organization, that 150,000 to 200,000 Essential Plan users will be unable to buy insurance on the exchange or get coverage through their employers. Their dilemma, which took effect July 1, was the subject of a Facebook ad from a group called Families Over Billionaires. It featured state Assembly Member Dana Levenberg, whose district includes Philipstown. Calling the One Big Beautiful Bill the "big ugly bill," Levenberg charged that Lawler "lied to us. Not once, not twice but three times you voted to cut Medicaid, and you don't represent the people, you represent Donald Trump and all his flunkies." Rep. Mike Lawler, whose House district includes Philipstown, said in an interview with News12 on Wednesday (July 15) that he was arrested on St. Patrick's Day in 2012 on suspicion of drunk driving. At ...

Governor Josh Shapiro and President Donald Trump are both scheduled to speak at the Army War College in Carlisle today. They're attending the Pennsylvania defense and infrastructure summit put together by Senator Dave McCormick. Trump is expected to highlight his investments in military spending. McCormick is using his summit to announce billions in investments in Pennsylvania industries. On the American debate over how much to spend on defense, U.S. Representative Scott Perry says he supports a one-time investment to jumpstart military production, but he warns about a ballooning federal budget.Governor Josh Shapiro is praising advocates from Pittsburgh who he said helped secure the first state budget increase for Pennsylvania's rape crisis centers in five years. Thirty-one percent of Pennsylvanian woman are unaware of the preventive services available at no cost under the Affordable Care Act. The Governor's Advisory Commission on Women is launching a statewide informational tour to tell them about accessible services.Pennsylvania lawmakers want to make it easier for homeowners to build backyard cottages, garage apartments, and other accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.Rabbittransit is getting ready to implement a new fare collection system later this month.  Changes are coming to the Capital Region, Gettysburg, Shippensburg and York routes.U.S. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania is bringing power brokers to the Keystone State by hosting a two-day summit on national defense industries. It's taking place at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle.Governor Josh Shapiro has secured a $20.3 million investment from Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials to expand operations and create 42 new jobs in Berks County.The number of measles cases in Pennsylvania has grown to 105 this year. The latest outbreak, over the past few months, is within a 7-county area surrounding Lancaster County where there have been 55 confirmed cases.It's been one year since public media's federal funding was revoked. Thanks to our community, we're still here for you and looking toward the future. Join the thousands of members who are building a stronger WITF. Go to  www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you. 

US Representative Tom Suozzi (D NY3) talks about national politics and his call for Democrats to embrace patriotism and defend capitalism in the wake of DSA victories. Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 17: Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) speaks with members of the media outside the U.S. Capitol on December 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. Four Republicans Representatives join Democrats to sign a petition forcing a vote on legislation that will extend premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk www.LearningLeader.com New Book - The Price of Becoming - www.LearningLeader.com/Becoming This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. My guest: Ezekiel J. "Zeke" Emanuel, MD, PhD, is a prominent oncologist, bioethicist, and health policy expert. Currently Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, he was instrumental in shaping the Affordable Care Act and served as the founding chair of the Department of Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health. Key Learnings Zeke's dad was called "Speedy." He was a Chicago pediatrician who worked 24-hour call, walked so fast the nurses had to run to keep up, and had a rule: the fourth child in any family was free. He recognized the financial strain on families and just wouldn't charge. Zeke's mom was the definition of the anti-helicopter parent. At the playground, she sat on the bench. At the beach, she dropped the boys off with a blanket and a snack. "You go play. Something goes wrong? Okay, that's how it goes." That's how three future powerhouse leaders learned to negotiate, create, and figure it out. The Emanuel brothers' group text is full of bragging. Zeke posted his 51.9 VO2 max score at 68 years old, asking, "Do I win in the family?" His kids replied that they don't even read the articles Zeke and Rahm forward anymore. Close doesn't mean uncompetitive. A dozen years ago, Zeke wrote his most famous article, "Why I Hope to Die at 75." He still stands by it. The point wasn't that he wants to die. The point is that after 75, he won't take medical treatments meant to prolong life.  By age 75, 30% of adults have Alzheimer's or cognitive impairment. By 80, it's 40%. Zeke doesn't want to be remembered as a doddering old man who can't recognize his own family. Living a long time is a means, not an end. It's not the goal of life. It's what allows you to be present, engaged, and useful for the years you have. Biohacking is a lie: It suggests you know better than millions of years of evolution and the entire medical profession. The body isn't about maxing. It's about balance. Too much immune response gives you autoimmunity. Too little makes you sick. The body finds health in the median. You're not going to be perfect over decades. Wellness isn't a four-minute figure skating routine graded on execution. It's a lifetime practice. So build habits you enjoy and can sustain without thinking about them. Zeke's six simple rules for a long and healthy life: Don't be a schmuck. Avoid activities riskier than driving. Smoking, vaping, base jumping, climbing Everest. Talk to people. The number one predictor of a long, happy life. Expand your mind. Travel. Talk to the chef. Learn something new. Eat your ice cream. Moderation over perfection. Fermented foods and fiber. Move. Aerobic, strength, and flexibility. All three. Sleep like a baby. You can't will it. But you can create the conditions. The Harvard Adult Development Study followed people for 85 years. John F. Kennedy was in it. Ben Bradlee was in it. The finding: close friends and being married correlated with the healthiest, longest, happiest lives. Not exercise. Not diet. Relationships. Having no close friends is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That's how bad loneliness is for you. It's not just psychological. It's physical. Introverts get the same happiness boost from social interaction as extroverts. A University of Chicago study by Nicholas Epley found that introverts assume they won't enjoy talking to strangers on their commute. They were wrong. When they did it, they were just as happy as extroverts. Take the headphones off. Zeke has been telling people this since the iPod era. Random encounters increase your surface area for luck, learning, and connection. You never know who you're going to meet or what they might tell you. To be interesting, you have to be interested. Zeke asks to meet the chef at every great restaurant. He asks his Ethiopian Uber driver which tribe he's from. He talks to the person on the plane. It's virtuous. Good for you AND good for them. Zeke's hero is Ben Franklin. Franklin came back to America at 80 after negotiating the end of the Revolutionary War. The first thing he did was build a library for his curiosity and a dining room for his social dinners. That's the way to live. The wellness trifecta: hosting a dinner party with curious people. You're eating good food. You're getting together with people. Your mind is being stretched by great conversation. Three benefits from one activity. Zeke is anti-wellness-industrial-complex. Peptides from your corner store: disaster, unregulated, no idea what's in them. Testosterone replacement therapy without a real deficiency: bad idea, accelerates prostate cancer. Growth hormone for aging: promotes cancers. That's being a schmuck. Sleep is the one wellness practice you can't will yourself into. You can only build the conditions for it. Dark room. Cool temperature. No caffeine or alcohol eight hours before bed. Phone in another room. Read a book. Everything else is up to your body. Ice cream actually decreases your risk of type 2 diabetes. The fat content softens the glycemic response. Plus, you usually eat it with other people. Social eating matters. Zeke's champagne moment a year from now: finishing his next book on how to fix the American healthcare system, and turning 70. Reflection Questions Are you optimizing for length of life, or for the quality of years you actually get?  When was the last time you turned your headphones off, introduced yourself to a stranger, or asked to meet the chef?  Who are the friends you rely on for social interaction? Not casual acquaintances, but the ones who lift your health, longevity, and happiness. When did you last make plans with them? More Learning #607 - Dr. Meg Meeker - Raising Resilient Kids (Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters) #690 - Austin Kleon - Why Activated Leaders Win #682 - Will Guidara - Adversity is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Sen. Mitch McConnell’s monthslong absence is complicating GOP efforts to pass a spending bill. The Washington Post’s Jarrell Dillard explains how the missing vote has stalled a key committee. Maine Democrats are racing to replace Graham Platner in the Senate race ahead of a convention deadline, after his campaign collapsed amid sexual-assault allegations. The Maine Morning Star’s Eesha Pendharkar breaks down who’s vying to replace him. Millions of Americans dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage after pandemic-era subsidies expired. The Associated Press’s Ali Swenson details how the trend varied among states. Plus, the roommate of Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer says the suspect regretted his actions, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is being drained again, and the women’s Wimbledon final is set. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Brad Woodhouse joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his career in politics and how Protect Our Care is working to protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid from repeal, cuts and sabotage.

A judge Thursday sentenced a former Homeland Security agent to seven years in federal prison for making child sex abuse videos. He's one of three Minnesota-based law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty last year to child sex abuse image crimes.17,000 Minnesotans left the Affordable Care Act marketplace over the past year, according to figures provided by MNsure. With a major midterm election just months away, political campaigns are in full fundraising mode.

Welcome back to a special encore presentation of Turn on the Lights! As we continue our transition series, our new host, Dr. Philip, has hand-selected one of our most-listened-to and impactful conversations from the archives to highlight once again. Dr. Philip brings back to attention this conversation with Dr. Ben Sommers on how Medicaid work requirements and reduced ACA subsidies are driving coverage losses through administrative barriers, with far-reaching consequences for patient health and the stability of safety-net hospitals and communities. Summary: Millions of Americans could lose health coverage in the coming years, and the consequences may be more profound than most people realize. In this episode, Dr. Ben Sommers, the Huntley Quelch Professor of Health Care Economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women's Hospital, talks about how new federal policies, including Medicaid work requirements and the rollback of Affordable Care Act subsidies, are reshaping access to health insurance in the U.S. Drawing on extensive research, he explains why these changes are expected to increase uninsured rates without meaningfully boosting employment. Dr. Sommers also shares evidence from prior state experiments showing that administrative red tape, not a lack of willingness to work, drives coverage loss. He outlines the ripple effects on patient health, safety-net providers, and hospitals, especially in rural and underserved communities. Tune in to understand what these policy shifts mean for patients, providers, and the future of the U.S. health care system. Things You'll Learn: New federal policies could result in more than 15 million Americans losing health insurance over the next decade. Medicaid work requirements do not meaningfully increase employment but do lead to significant coverage losses due to administrative barriers. Evidence from Arkansas shows that most people who lost Medicaid coverage were eligible and already working or exempt, but were tripped up by reporting requirements. Losing health insurance is associated with worse health outcomes, delayed care, increased financial strain, and higher rates of preventable death. Expanding health coverage increases overall system spending, but it delivers substantial benefits in terms of health, stability, and longevity for individuals and families. Reduced Medicaid funding and rising uninsured rates will place a severe strain on safety-net hospitals and providers, especially in rural and underserved areas. Changes to ACA marketplace subsidies and Medicaid rules will affect patients, providers, and communities in phases, with political and health system consequences unfolding over several years. Resources: Follow the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on LinkedIn and explore their website! Learn more about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wednesday, July 8, 2026   Today, the Maine Democratic Party is weighing its options for selecting a new candidate should Graham Platner drop out; a Trump-appointed judge blocks the government from getting the names of 2020 Georgia election workers; new data shows that Obamacare enrollment has dropped dramatically over the past year; a new lawsuit shows the United States shared asylum application details with Iran; an Afghan national who fought with US forces has died in ICE custody; the family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard is demanding answers; Belgium beats and then trolls the US Men's National Team on Monday night; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans   Thank You, IQBAR Text DAILYBEANS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply.  Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: Miles TaylorDefiance.org The Latest Breakdown:The Breakdown | Todd Blanche Could Be in Contempt Days Ahead of His Confirmation Hearing Stories Bernie Sanders Calls on Graham Platner to Drop Senate Bid After Rape Allegation | The New York Times Federal judge rejects Trump administration effort to get names of 2020 election workers in Fulton County Obamacare rolls shrank dramatically in many states over the past year, new federal data shows | AP News New lawsuit alleges U.S. shared asylum application details with Iran | NPR The family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard demands release of video | AP NewsGood TroubleContacting U.S. Senators | Senate.gov →Show up for our Libraries - action.ala.org →goodtroubleliveson.org/ July 17-19 →How to help those impacted by the Venezuela earthquakes|AP →Oppose House Amendment to Defund the Peace Corps! →Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance -  Open For Comments →Stand With Minnesota →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsThe Bloggess | Jenny Lawson Sistrum - Lansing, Sister Singers Network dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship information Tour - DANA GOLDBERGTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans   →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ The Daily Beans is donating $10,000 and invites you to give what you can to support their life-affirming work - Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71 More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.  Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A new report finds much higher premiums on the horizon for Affordable Care Act customers. The AP's Jennifer King has more.

New federal data first reported by The Associated Press show roughly 2.6 million fewer Americans were enrolled in Obamacare plans this February compared with a year earlier. While the Trump administration points to a crackdown on fraudulent signups, independent analysts say the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies and new eligibility restrictions also contributed to the decline. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AP's Lisa Dwyer reports on a steep drop in the number of people covered by the Affordable Care Act.

Today in The Update Journal, we ask the important questions: have the Mets hit rock bottom, or did Citi Field secretly install a basement just for emotional damage? After getting swept in a doubleheader by the Cubs at home, the Mets have officially entered the “somebody check the warranty on this team” phase of the season. At this point, the fan base isn't even asking for a winning streak — just basic baseball functions, like catching the ball, throwing the ball, and not turning every inning into a group therapy session.Then, on the summer watchlist, Interview With the Vampire finally brings Claudia into the picture, and my blood pressure immediately files a complaint with HR. She's here, she's terrifying, she's fascinating, and someone should probably keep a doctor on standby because this child vampire does not enter a story quietly. She kicks the door open, changes the emotional temperature of the whole series, and reminds everyone that sometimes the most dangerous person in the room is the one who just got here.And finally, school is out, summer camp is moving in, and the building has gone from “final week chaos” to “field trip clipboard season” in record time. The pencils are down, the permission slips are up, and somewhere, a staff member is already trying to figure out how we went from graduation tears to camp schedules, water days, and organized summer madness before we even finished cleaning out the last classroom.In the headlines on #TheUpdate this Monday, Pride Month celebrations peaked with big parades in New York, San Francisco and some other cities on the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall uprising, which accelerated and transformed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.A long and dangerous heat wave will blast a large swath of the central and eastern United States this week, the National Weather Service said, with temperatures rising ahead of the July Fourth holiday and feeling even hotter because of the high humidity that's arriving with it.And about 3 million fewer people in the United States had Affordable Care Act health insurance plans in February compared with the same time last year, according to new federal data.

About 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act insurance plans in February compared to last year. Much of the drop is likely due to the end of pandemic-era enhanced subsidies, which resulted in higher premiums. And ACA premiums are only likely to increase next year. Plus, starting tomorrow, Medicare will begin covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. And, as we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we'll look back at the economic moments that defined the first 50 years of our nation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Millions drop ACA insurance as premiums rise

About 3 million fewer people had Affordable Care Act insurance plans in February compared to last year. Much of the drop is likely due to the end of pandemic-era enhanced subsidies, which resulted in higher premiums. And ACA premiums are only likely to increase next year. Plus, starting tomorrow, Medicare will begin covering GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. And, as we prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we'll look back at the economic moments that defined the first 50 years of our nation.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace Morning Report is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.Stories featured in this episode:Millions drop ACA insurance as premiums rise

Hour 1 Segment 1 Tony Katz returns to his show and comments on Vice President JD Vance’s dealings with Iran. Hour 1 Segment 2 Tony reacts to comments from Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy. Hour 1 Segment 3 Tony is joined by William Jacobson, Cornell law professor, to discuss elections and mail-in ballots. Hour 1 Segment 4 Has more from the Epstein files been revealed? Tony wraps up the first hour commenting on it. Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony kicks off the second hour commenting on the issues with temporary protected status. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony talks about the Left being upset that the latest Artemis crew is all-male. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony gives his remarks on the Affordable Care Act and the effects of Mamdani’s rent free in New York. Democrats are upset at the World Cup being successful in the United States. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour laughing at gay liberals supporting “Palestine.” Hour 3 Segment 1 Tony opens the final hour reacting to the decision regarding mail-in ballots. Hour 3 Segment 2 Tony gives his thoughts on more Supreme Court rulings. Hour 3 Segment 3 Tony reacts to the statistic that 25 million people between the ages 18 and 25 still live with their parents. Hour 3 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the show commenting on the “peace talks” with Iran. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 2 Segment 1 Tony kicks off the second hour commenting on the issues with temporary protected status. Hour 2 Segment 2 Tony talks about the Left being upset that the latest Artemis crew is all-male. Hour 2 Segment 3 Tony gives his remarks on the Affordable Care Act and the effects of Mamdani’s rent free in New York. Democrats are upset at the World Cup being successful in the United States. Hour 2 Segment 4 Tony wraps up the second hour laughing at gay liberals supporting “Palestine.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 8 million Americans have lost health insurance over the past year, according to new federal enrollment data and an analysis by Georgetown University. Democrats blame changes to last year's health care law, while Republicans say the reforms reduce government spending and strengthen Medicaid. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3446: Rynda Chappell-Wilk highlights a surprisingly flexible Health Savings Account strategy: qualified medical expenses can be reimbursed years or even decades after they were incurred, as long as proper records are kept. By allowing HSA funds to remain invested and grow tax-free while paying medical costs out of pocket, this approach can create a powerful pool of tax-advantaged money that may provide valuable flexibility in retirement and income-planning decisions. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.financialfinesse.com/2017/10/17/the-health-savings-account-strategy-that-not-enough-people-are-talking-about/ Quotes to ponder: "If you qualify for a subsidy for your health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, you should be aware that your subsidy is only good up to certain income limits." "You can also take the money out for non-medical expenses after you turn age 65 and pay income tax on the withdrawal but incur no penalty." "If you can fund part of your lifestyle with HSA money (which won't increase your AGI), you may be able to pay less tax on your social security income." Episode references: Health Savings Accounts (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3446: Rynda Chappell-Wilk highlights a surprisingly flexible Health Savings Account strategy: qualified medical expenses can be reimbursed years or even decades after they were incurred, as long as proper records are kept. By allowing HSA funds to remain invested and grow tax-free while paying medical costs out of pocket, this approach can create a powerful pool of tax-advantaged money that may provide valuable flexibility in retirement and income-planning decisions. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.financialfinesse.com/2017/10/17/the-health-savings-account-strategy-that-not-enough-people-are-talking-about/ Quotes to ponder: "If you qualify for a subsidy for your health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, you should be aware that your subsidy is only good up to certain income limits." "You can also take the money out for non-medical expenses after you turn age 65 and pay income tax on the withdrawal but incur no penalty." "If you can fund part of your lifestyle with HSA money (which won't increase your AGI), you may be able to pay less tax on your social security income." Episode references: Health Savings Accounts (IRS): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Michael Chernew, professor at Harvard Medical School, back to the pod to discuss the recently released National Health Expenditures Projections for 2025–34 from the Office of the Actuary (OACT) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Related Links:National Health Expenditure Projections, 2025–34: Strong Utilization Growth Initially, Legislative Impacts Later (Health Affairs)The NHE Projections Through 2034: Growth Assumptions, Policy Consequences (Health Affairs Forefront)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

New information is coming out on alleged political influence by Governor Stitt.Oklahoma is losing another insurer for coverage of the Affordable Care Act.A controversial tax plan to save Norman's Sooner Mall fails in city council.You can find the KOSU Daily wherever you get your podcasts, you can also subscribe, rate us and leave a comment.You can keep up to date on all the latest news throughout the day at KOSU.org and make sure to follow us on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram at KOSU Radio.This is The KOSU Daily, Oklahoma news, every weekday.

As millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage following federal cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, states are searching for new ways to prevent medical debt before it starts. In this episode of Tradeoffs, economist Neale Mahoney explains the research into strategies for relief from high healthcare costs and evaluates policy fixes to protect consumers. Guest(s):Neale Mahoney, professor of economics, Trione Director of Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Stanford University.Learn more: Read the full reporting and explore additional resources on our website.Want more Tradeoffs? Join more than 5,500 readers who trust Tradeoffs for clear, deeply reported health policy insights. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter.Tradeoffs helps you cut through the noise with clear, deeply reported journalism on the forces driving health care's toughest choices — reporting you won't find anywhere else. If our work helps you stay informed, support it with a donation today.This episode was produced by Melanie Evans, edited by Ryan Levi and Dan Gorenstein, and mixed by Andrew Parrella.The Tradeoffs theme song was composed by Ty Citerman. Additional music this episode from Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound.Tradeoffs reporting for this story was supported, in part, by Arnold Ventures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Roger breaks down IRMAA Medicare surcharges and why retirees should understand them without letting them dominate retirement planning decisions. He explains how the income thresholds work, common planning mistakes to avoid, and what happens if you cross into a higher premium bracket. Listener questions cover gifting strategies with adult children, Social Security claiming options for spouses, health insurance before Medicare, long-term care planning, combining finances later in life, and the tax treatment of gifts. OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN(00:00) Roger introduces IRMAA Medicare surcharges and explains why understanding them can help avoid surprises and unforced planning mistakes.RETIREMENT TOOLKIT(01:28) Roger breaks down IRMAA Medicare surcharges, explaining when they apply, why they matter, and how retirees can avoid being caught off guard by higher Medicare premiums. LISTENER QUESTIONS(15:11) John asks whether purpose-driven gifts to adult children impose the giver's values and how to balance generosity with expectations.(26:50) Joe asks how Social Security spousal benefits work when one spouse delays claiming until age 70.(31:50) Paul asks whether it's possible to wait until getting sick before enrolling in Affordable Care Act coverage.(33:41) Paul asks about using a Roth IRA as a self-funded long-term care reserve instead of purchasing long-term care insurance.(38:53) Suzanne asks for advice on combining finances in a later-life marriage between two retired widows.(45:43) Dave asks whether recipients of financial gifts owe taxes on the money they receive.SMART SPRINT(47:21) Roger's challenge this week: take a break from planning and simply enjoy life.ON THE BOOKSHELF(47:46) Kevin Lyles reviews The Stimulated Mind: Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age by Dr. Tommy Wood.REFERENCESlivewithroger.com — Register for Noodle Live on June 18!Submit a Question for RogerSign up for The NoodleON THE BOOKSHELFThe Stimulated Mind: Future-Proof Your Brain from Dementia and Stay Sharp at Any Age by Tommy WoodNote: The opinions expressed are for informational purposes only and should not replace personalized advice from licensed professionals.  

The Author Events Series presents Ezekiel J. Emanuel | Eat Your Ice Cream  In Conversation with Maiken Scott  Everyone wants to live a full and healthy life-and every day brings a tidal wave of attention-grabbing misinformation, faddish ideas from ''wellness'' influencers, and bizarre advice from news outlets over-extrapolating the results of tiny, outlier studies. The ''Wellness Industrial Complex'' prescribes conflicting and complicated regimens while promising us more time to enjoy in the future-though it sure is demanding a lot of time right now. But what actually matters most to our health and longevity? What has the most robust, actionable evidence? What's the junk you can skip In Eat Your Ice Cream, renowned physician Ezekiel J. Emanuel argues that life is not a competition to live the longest and that ''wellness'' shouldn't be difficult; it should be an invisible part of one's lifestyle that yields maximum health benefits with the least work. Dr. Emanuel cuts through the noise with wit and good humor, giving readers just what they need: simple, high-impact, evidence-based guidelines on such issues as alcohol consumption, food and nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental acuity, and social engagement. Resisting the tide of the latest trends to extend life at all costs, Eat Your Ice Cream reveals that many of the tools for a long, healthy and meaningful life are already within reach. Pairing common sense with uncommon wisdom based on his decades of expertise and experience, Dr. Emanuel helps us consider which lifestyle changes are worth making and how to most easily implement them for longer, healthier, and happier lives. Readers will come away with greater clarity and a deeper understanding of what really matters for well-being-connection, purpose, and sustainable choices backed by rigorous science. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD is a vice provost and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. A bioethicist, health policy expert, and oncologist, he was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. He is a regular guest on CNN and MSNBC and often contributes to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Atlantic. He lives in Washington, DC. Maiken Scott is the host and executive producer of WHYY's The Pulse - a weekly, national health and science radio show and podcast that explores the people and places at the heart of health and science. The show airs on more than 120 public radio stations across the country and its podcast is presented by NPR. Before hosting The Pulse, Maiken covered behavioral health for WHYY. Because you love Author Events, please make a donation when you register for this event to ensure that this series continues to inspire Philadelphians. Books will be available for purchase at the library on event night! All tickets are non-refundable. (recorded 1/13/2026)

Healthcare is one of the biggest unknowns in any FIRE plan. If you're considering early retirement, self-employment, or leaving a traditional job, understanding health insurance costs could save you thousands of dollars per year and prevent costly planning mistakes. In this episode, we break down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance, premium tax credits, MAGI planning, and how healthcare costs vary by state. We also walk through a healthcare cost estimator tool that can help you project future expenses and build a more resilient financial independence plan. Resources Featured in the Episode: Healthcare Cost Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/healthcarecosts/ 2026 Tax Projection: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/income-tax-projection/ How Health Insurance Works in Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/how-health-insurance-works-in-early-retirement-and-self-employment-2026/ How to Plan for Healthcare Over Early Retirement Blog Post: https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/planning-for-healthcare-costs-over-a-decades-long-early-retirement/ To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you're starting. Let's get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No-nonsense advice on sleep, diet, exercise, social connection, keeping your brain sharp, and not being a schmuck. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD is a Vice Provost and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. A bioethicist, health policy expert, and oncologist, he was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. He is a regular guest on CNN and MSNBC and frequently contributes to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Atlantic. His new book is Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. In this episode we talk about: Why longevity shouldn't be the goal — and what to aim for instead The single most powerful intervention for a long, healthy life (hint: it's not exercise) The neuroscience of friendship: how social connection literally changes your brain and body Six practical, science-backed rules for living well — from an oncologist with nothing to sell Why ultra-processed food and sugary drinks are doing more damage than almost anything else The case for eating ice cream (yes, really) — and why moderation is the new discipline What retirement does to your brain, and how to protect your cognitive function as you age ChatGPT as a diagnostic tool — and what a doctor actually thinks about that Why the wellness industrial complex is making you worse, not better Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris This episode is sponsored by:  BiOptimizers: Magnesium Breakthrough delivers seven forms of magnesium to support your nervous system, stress response, and daily recovery. Try it risk-free with their 365-day guarantee — head to bioptimizers.com/happier and use code HAPPIER for 15% off plus free gifts at checkout. Eight Sleep: The Pod automatically heats and cools your bed, tracks your sleep without a wearable, and their testing shows users get up to 34% more deep sleep. Use code DanHarris at eightsleep.com/danharris for up to $350 off the Pod 5, with a 30-day trial if it's not for you.

Throughout her career, Nancy Pelosi has known how to get things done: whipping up votes, negotiating bills, and, in what is probably her crowning achievement, pushing through the Affordable Care Act as speaker of the House. At the end of her current term, she plans to retire, after nearly 40 years in Congress. Hanna Rosin recently sat down with Pelosi at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, in Seattle, to talk about the midterms, if Democrats could take back Congress, and what exactly she was thinking when she ripped up a speech at the State of the Union.  Also, a special announcement about Radio Atlantic. - - - Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You'll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senate Democrats hope to highlight rising healthcare prices by forcing a vote on the Trump administration's changes to the Affordable Care Act before the midterm elections. Meanwhile, Alabama is the latest state to try to cut off residents' access to medication abortion via telehealth. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Sheryl Gay Stolberg of The New York Times, and Anna Edney of Bloomberg News join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute and Liz Fowler of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to discuss the idea of ending the employer health insurance tax exclusion.  Plus, for “extra credit” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week that they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Trump Bought Tobacco Stocks and Raked In Industry Donations as FDA Eased Standards,” by Darius Tahir.  Sheryl Gay Stolberg: KFF Health News' “Tennessee Pharmacies Sell Potent Ivermectin, Led by Anti-Vaccine Doctor Who's Taken ‘Bucketloads,'” by Brett Kelman and Rachana Pradhan.  Anna Edney: Politico Magazine's “Inside Trump's Reversal on HIV,” by Alice Miranda Ollstein and Megan Messerly.  Lauren Weber: The Atlantic's “AI Is Taking Over Hospitals,” by Benjamin Mazer.  

Ilyce Glink, CEO of Think Glink, joins Bob Sirott to explain what a Roth IRA is and why younger generations are investing in them for their retirement. She also shares details about the different Affordable Care Act plans and her advice about which company is supplying your insurance.

More than a million people dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage this year after Congress let enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expire. That number is likely to rise significantly as the year goes on. And for the first time in years, the number of insurers offering ACA plans has dropped, too. We'll dig in. Also on the show: the global wait for fertilizer and the challenges of the teen summer job market.

More than a million people dropped their Affordable Care Act coverage this year after Congress let enhanced pandemic-era subsidies expire. That number is likely to rise significantly as the year goes on. And for the first time in years, the number of insurers offering ACA plans has dropped, too. We'll dig in. Also on the show: the global wait for fertilizer and the challenges of the teen summer job market.

In this episode, the speaker takes a critical look at the 17th Amendment, which was ratified in 1913, and argues that it has led to a significant shift in the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The amendment, which allows for the direct election of senators, was initially intended to address corruption and backroom deals in the Senate, but the speaker claims that it has had the opposite effect.The speaker presents a compelling case that the 17th Amendment has led to a nationalization of the Senate, where senators are now accountable to national donors and special interest groups rather than their home states. This has resulted in a system where the interests of the states are often overlooked, and the federal government is able to exert its power without being held accountable by the states. The speaker also highlights the example of the Affordable Care Act, where senators from states that were suing to block the law were still able to vote for it, demonstrating the disconnect between the Senate and the states.The speaker argues that the original design of the Constitution, which gave the states a significant role in the selection of senators, was a deliberate attempt to balance the power between the federal government and the states. They propose a solution that involves repealing the 17th Amendment and returning the selection of senators to the state legislatures, with the added provision of a recall mechanism to ensure that senators remain accountable to their states.If you're interested in learning more about the unintended consequences of the 17th Amendment and how it has impacted the balance of power in the US, tune in to this episode to hear the speaker's thought-provoking arguments and insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Hamilton, Partner and Employee Benefits Practice Leader at Hotchkiss Insurance, an independent insurance agency based in Texas. With nearly two decades of experience in corporate finance and employee benefits, Chris helps employers navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, reduce costs, and gain greater control over their health plans by moving beyond traditional insurance models. In addition to his work at Hotchkiss Insurance, Chris is the founder of Benefits Insider, an educational platform dedicated to helping employers understand how healthcare financing really works. Through practical case studies, industry analysis, and real-world examples, he empowers business leaders to make more informed decisions about employee benefits and healthcare spending. Recognized as the 2025 BenefitsPro Advisor of the Year, Chris has become a leading voice on healthcare transparency, employer-sponsored health plans, and cost-containment strategies. He regularly contributes to podcasts, conferences, and educational content designed to simplify one of the most misunderstood areas of business. This conversation explores: How Chris got started in the healthcare and employee benefits industry The unintended consequences of the Affordable Care Act on employers and healthcare  The incentives that drive insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and other healthcare stakeholders Alternative approaches to controlling healthcare costs  Why are healthcare costs continuing to rise, and what can employers do to take back control of their benefits strategy? Tune in to hear Chris's practical insights into the healthcare system and how businesses can create more efficient, cost-effective plans for their employees. Connect with Chris: Personal Website Hotchkiss Insurance LinkedIn Youtube Tiktok

Health Affairs Publishing's Jeff Byers welcomes Alison Barkoff of George Washington University to the pod to explore the evolving landscape of Medicaid work requirements. They break down who is impacted by these policies, how the requirements are structured across states, and the real-world challenges of implementation. The conversation also explores concerns about administrative burden, potential coverage losses, and what these changes mean for beneficiaries, policymakers, and providers.Topics covered:What Medicaid work requirements are and how they workWho qualifies—and who may lose coverageState-level variations and policy designAdministrative complexity and compliance challengesPotential impacts on access to care and health outcomesJoin us on June 23 for an exclusive Insider virtual event examining how antitrust policy in health care is evolving at both the federal and state levels, featuring insights from Katherine Gudiksen, Leemore Dafny, and Nathan Hostert.Related Links:Medical Frailty Rule Contravenes HR 1, Burdens The Health Care System, And Threatens Public Health (Health Affairs Forefront)States balk at the high price of Medicaid work requirements amid budget crunch (POLITICO PRO)Sign up for Health Affairs' free newsletter to catch up on our new articles, podcasts, and events.

As predicted, the expiration of enhanced tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act health plans is causing many people to lose coverage for failing to make premium payments. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. responded angrily to a New York Times article suggesting he's not actively engaged in the work of his sprawling department. Lauren Weber of The Washington Post, Lizzy Lawrence of Stat, and Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law join KFF Health News' Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews KFF's Tricia Neuman, who is retiring this month as a senior vice president and the executive director of the Program on Medicare Policy. Visit our website for a transcript of this episode.Plus, for “extra credit,” the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: KFF Health News' “Anguished Parents. Doctors in Tears. Utah's Long Measles Outbreak Takes a Toll,” by Amy Maxmen. Sandhya Raman: CIDRAP's “Two Sisters, One Virus: A Family Devastated by HPV,” by Liz Szabo. Lizzy Lawrence: The Chicago Tribune's “One Plastic Surgeon. Eight Women Dead,” by Christy Gutowski and Gregory Royal Pratt. Lauren Weber: ProPublica's “The Milkman,” by Annie Waldman. 

A late spring freeze may mean less fruit and higher prices for Pennsylvanians. Some farms are adjusting their business strategies to recoup their losses. Healthcare company UPMC cut 500 positions Tuesday. A spokesperson said UPMC laid off 200 employees and eliminated another 300 vacant positions as part of a routine reassessment.A new Trump administration grant program is designed to increase the amount of electricity the country gets from coal. The program has the potential to impact Pennsylvania.We're learning more about U-S Steel's announcement that it plans to invest more than $2 billion in the Mon Valley Works.The Shapiro Administration is cracking down on AI chatbots which have been posing as doctors.Enrollment in Pennsylvania's Affordable Care Act marketplace for discounted health insurance coverage has dropped by 160,000 Pennsylvanians.Funding for victims' services in Pennsylvania are facing cuts – after a drop in white-collar prosecutions under the Trump Administration. That translates into a drop in federal funding – since funding for services to crime victims comes primarily from fines and penalties paid by those convicted of white-collar crimes.In uncertain times, our community counts on facts, not noise. Support the journalism and programming that keep you informed. Donate now at www.witf.org/givenow. And thank you.  

Healthcare is all about who is going to pay for it. Because if you can't afford to go to the doctor, you probably won't until it becomes an emergency – which isn't good for the patient or the system. This is a particular problem in rural Tennessee. When there's a hiccup in the system, rural systems may shutter.Healthcare Hollow is a WPLN series that takes an in-depth look at the crisis of rural hospital closings.In this episode, we're focused on who is going to pay for care in rural Tennessee. Those residents are more likely to rely on TennCare (the state's version of federal Medicaid). Post-COVID policy changes have resulted in more people losing TennCare coverage. At the same time, fewer people are keeping insurance under the Affordable Care Act because of the expense.This episode is part of our Healthcare Hollow series, made possible, in part, by the NIHCM Foundation.GuestsGordon Bonnyman, staff attorney & co-founder, Tennessee Justice CenterJackie Shrago, ACA marketplace volunteer navigatorSarah Boden, independent healthcare journalist with KFFKelly Insana, vice president of marketing & communications, Tennessee Hospital Association

Newt talks with Elle Minarik, from the Paragon Health Institute, about their new report, “The Persistent Obamacare Enrollment Fraud” which details the widespread fraud and improper enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange plans, driven by enhanced federal subsidies, weak verification systems, and misaligned incentives for insurers and intermediaries. Paragon Health Institute’s analysis compares Census data on people with incomes between 100–150% of the federal poverty level to the number of highly subsidized enrollees, estimating that 6.2 million people are enrolled in heavily subsidized plans despite not having incomes in that range. They project about $25 billion per year in improper Obamacare enrollment by 2026, with at least $75 billion over the last three years, and note that in one year alone $40 billion in federal payments went to insurers for “zero-claim” enrollees who never used their coverage. Improper enrollment is highly concentrated in non–Medicaid expansion states, especially Florida and Texas, which together account for 63% of projected improper enrollees in 2026; five states including Florida, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina account for 78%.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About this episode:   Two health policy experts could not disagree more about the Affordable Care Act. Yet they're working together to tackle what they see as a root cause of unaffordability. In this episode: A 1954 change to federal tax code made employer-provided health benefits tax-free, incentivizing employers to cover workers' health insurance—but this policy is one explanation for high healthcare costs for Americans today.  Guests:  Michael F. Cannon, JM, MA, is the director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute.  Elizabeth Fowler, PhD, JD, is a distinguished scholar in Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.  Host:  Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department. He served as the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health from 2005 to 2009.  Show links and related content:  This policy is at the root of unaffordable health care—Washington Post  The New Reality Facing Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA—Public Health On Call (August 2025)  Transcript information: Looking for episode transcripts? Open our podcast on the Apple Podcasts app (desktop or mobile) or the Spotify mobile app to access an auto-generated transcript of any episode. Closed captioning is also available for every episode on our YouTube channel. Contact us: Have a question about something you heard? Looking for a transcript? Want to suggest a topic or guest? Contact us via email or visit our website. Follow us: @‌PublicHealthPod on Bluesky @‌PublicHealthPod on Instagram @‌JohnsHopkinsSPH on Facebook @‌PublicHealthOnCall on YouTube Here's our RSS feed Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.

In episode 182, we talk with Andrew Grossman of Battleground Alliance about why Democrats can't afford to wait for a wave election and how a $50 million, labor-backed organizing operation across 37 Republican-held House districts is building the infrastructure to win back the House majority in 2026.Andrew is a nationally recognized campaign innovator and leader specializing in strategy, campaign management, and executive recruitment for campaigns, non-profits, advocacy groups and unions.Since starting Grossman Solutions in 2007, he helped pass the Affordable Care Act, served as Director of the Democratic National Convention Platform Committee four times, and created a distinctive talent recruitment practice, placing hundreds of leaders at organizations including America Vote, Planned Parenthood and several Democratic party committees. His earlier roles include executive and political director at the DSCC (1999–2004), founder and president of Wal‑Mart Watch (2005–2007), and field organizer for Jesse Jackson's 1988 campaign.Resources: * Battleground Alliance* Red, Wine, and Blue - Ohio* Ohio Organizing CollaborativeWe're bringing together digital creators from across the state to build a powerful digital organizing network called Ohio Creators for Progress. Support and donate to this effort below! ⬇️Connect with United SHE Stands:* Substack* Instagram* TikTok* YouTube* Threads* Buy us a coffee ☕️This episode was edited by Kevin Tanner. Learn more about him and his services here:* Website* Instagram This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.unitedshestands.com/subscribe

Growing health insurance premiums, particularly for plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, have been in the headlines as cuts to Medicaid roll out nationwide. But healthcare deductibles are also growing — and with them, the group of Americans who have insurance but can't afford to use it. Also in this episode: The hospitality industry adds jobs in May, a jeweler in California mines his own gold, and we recap the week's economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Growing health insurance premiums, particularly for plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, have been in the headlines as cuts to Medicaid roll out nationwide. But healthcare deductibles are also growing — and with them, the group of Americans who have insurance but can't afford to use it. Also in this episode: The hospitality industry adds jobs in May, a jeweler in California mines his own gold, and we recap the week's economic headlines.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

James Golden aka Bo Snerdley examines the deep political polarization in America by critiquing recent legal and legislative actions taken by Democrats. The program primarily focuses on the judicial suspension of a controversial $1.8 billion fund proposed by Donald Trump to compensate those who claim they were victims of government weaponization. Golden uses this news as a springboard to argue that liberal policies in major cities have led to systemic urban decay, rising crime, and the failure of social programs like the Affordable Care Act. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – Politics has become all about the money. Taking money from donors, spending money on campaigns, and embezzling money from taxpayers to bribe people for their votes. Once you figure out that politics is all about the money, things start to make more sense. Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, which actually made healthcare less affordable...

Affordable Care Act premiums are higher this year, after Congress declined to renew subsidies for the health insurance program. As a result, about a million fewer Americans enrolled for 2026 and even more are slated to drop by the year's end. In this episode, why falling enrollment will raise premiums further. Plus: Bond yields hit record highs around the globe, businesses start to see tariff refunds ahead of schedule, and utility rates are about to get worse.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

In this Best Of episode, we revisit our June 2025 conversation with CNN Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst Kasie Hunt! It's a very fun conversation covering her work and what inspired her to follow her passion for journalism.She discusses the early days of her career covering Obama, Congress, and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. We also talk about how much Congress and the information ecosystem has changed over the years. And Kasie shares her thoughts about watching Donald Trump pardon the rioters on his first day back in office after being present in the Capitol that day.Plus, immigration raids, tariffs and the Big, Beautiful, Bill. Trump and the Republicans might actually pass the BBB, but at what cost to working Americans?WATCH Kasie on CNN, weekdays at 4pm ET: https://www.cnn.com/profiles/kasie-huntSUPPORT THE PODCAST BY VISITING OUR SPONSORS:Save money on your wireless bill with Mint Mobile. Visit https://www.mintmobile.com/franken. Make sure you tell them you heard about this deal from The Al Franken Podcast!Get up to 15% off your skincare subscription needs at https://www.oneskin.co/frankenSave money on your insurance bills with SelectQuote! Visit https://www.selectquote.com/franken today!