Rising health insurance costs have both employers and employees facing what the global consulting firm Mercer calls an affordability crunch. The total benefit cost for health insurance coverage is expected to exceed $18,500 per employee in 2026. That's a 6.7% increase from this year.The vast majority of Americans get health insurance through their employer. More than 1if or 21% of adults surveyed by Key Bank said health care and insurance are the expenses that have increased the most for them as part of the ...

We're joined by MSNBC senior Capitol Hill reporter and way too early host Ali Vatitali. MSNBC's Laura Baron Lopez at the White House for us. Also joining us, PBS NewsHour co-anchor Jeff Bennett and MSNBC political analyst, former Democratic Senator John Tester.Ally, the deal is through the Senate. What happens in the House now. >> As Senator Tester can attest to, after senators take a vote like this after working through the weekend, they are out of town.And I've seen many of them on their way to do just th ...

Healthcare Cost Increases in 2026 - Employer-sponsored healthcare premiums are projected to increase by an average of 65% for employees [2] - Medicare Part B standard monthly premiums could rise by 116% [3] - Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurers may raise premiums by approximately 26% on average [3] - Without renewed enhanced tax subsidies, monthly premium payments for about 22 million ACA participants could double [3] Strategies for Managing Healthcare Costs - Individuals should track their out-of-pocket healthcare costs (co-payments, medical bills, prescriptions, over-the-counter expenses) to estimate future expenses and coverage needs [4] - Evaluate in-network and out-of-network coverage options when choosing a plan [5] - Consider the trade-off between higher premiums with lower deductibles versus lower premiums with higher deductibles [5] - If eligible, take advantage of a Health Savings Account (HSA) [5] - In 2026, individuals can make a tax-deductible HSA contribution of up to $4400 for themselves or $8750 for their family [6] ACA Plan Considerations - Healthy individuals in the ACA network should consider a bronze plan for emergency coverage, offering the lowest premium but higher out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles [9] - Individuals with minor chronic illnesses might consider a bronze plan plus a direct primary care subscription plan [10] - Individuals with serious illnesses should opt for the most comprehensive coverage, such as a gold or platinum plan [11]

Healthcare Cost Increases Due to Policy Changes - The report highlights significant increases in health insurance premiums for individuals and families purchasing insurance through online marketplaces, attributing these increases to Republican policy changes [1][2][7] - A family of four in Maine with an annual income of $130,000 could face a $16,100 increase in annual health insurance premiums [2][3] - A couple, both 60 years old, with a combined income of $85,000 could see their insurance premiums increase by $13,700 in Maryland, $15,500 in Minnesota, $18,100 in Nevada, and $23,700 in Kentucky [4][5][6] Political Implications - Democrats are raising concerns about these health insurance cost increases, making it a key issue in the shutdown fight and demanding a fix from Republicans [1][7] - The report suggests that President Trump may not be adequately focused on addressing these healthcare cost issues [7]

Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She’s ‘Disgusted’ Health Insurance Costs Could Doublehttps://t.co/0jzifXlFRO https://t.co/j5fed4onX8 ...

Group 1: Money Market Funds - Total assets in money market funds (MMFs) have reached a record of $7.7 trillion, tripling over the past eight years, driven by elevated short-term interest rates and market volatility [3][4] - Major asset managers such as Fidelity, Schwab, J.P. Morgan, Vanguard, and BlackRock account for 76% of the growth in MMF assets, highlighting the dominance of a few key players in the sector [4] Group 2: Health Insurance Costs - A U.S. government report claims health insurance costs have declined by 19% over the last five years, raising doubts about the accuracy of official inflation data [5] - Contrasting analyses indicate significant premium increases for 2026, with many businesses facing increases of 9% or more, and ACA enrollees potentially seeing costs surge by over 75% due to the expiration of enhanced federal subsidies [6] Group 3: Electric Vehicle Market - Xiaomi's CEO praised Tesla's Model Y as "outstanding" after disassembling three units for study, indicating a strategic move to understand and compete with market leaders [10] - Xiaomi's YU7 electric SUV received over 289,000 orders within the first hour of sale, significantly surpassing initial orders for its SU7 model, leading to raised profit forecasts from brokers [11] - The YU7 is priced at RMB253,500, which is RMB10,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model Y, showcasing Xiaomi's aggressive strategy to capture market share in the EV sector [11]

Healthcare Cost Trends - Employer health insurance costs are skyrocketing, indicating a significant upward trend [1] - The trend is likely to impact 2026 premiums, deductibles, and copays [1] Actionable Insights - Individuals should learn how to prepare for increased healthcare expenses [1]