The idea of sending direct payments to Americans has been proposed as an alternative to extending the enhanced ACA subsidies. Do you think that that's a viable solution for lawmakers to consider. >> I would explore it.I think one of the major other changes that's coming down the pike, which was actually enacted in the legislation that was passed in July, the one big beautiful bill, is a ma another major change into the way that these subsidies are treated in the tax system. Until now, there's been what we c ...

Okamus resident Diane Holland lives with multiple sclerosis and was able to obtain health insurance through the Affordable Care Act in 2017. >> It's a lifeline. It it saves um me from deterioration with MS.Without it, I can get the drug treatments which are expensive. Her premiums are now set to more than double as a result of the ACA enhanced subsidies expiring at the end of this year. How does that change your life year budget.>> It just means that I personally have less money to live by because it doesn' ...

The president said at a lot of times in your home state the other evening that affordability is a Democrat hoax. Are you involved in some sort of conspiracy here. What is you referring to.Well, often I am bewildered by what exactly the president says. He says the problem is that too many kids have 37 pencils. I can assure you I don't have 37 pencils.Neither does my daughter. You know, this president really was elected more than any other reason, as you kind of referred to just a few moments ago. He was elec ...

LISA: SHOPPER SPENT BILLIONS ON BLACK FRIDAY AND COULD BREAK CYBER MONDAY RECORDS. LOUISIANA SENATOR BILL CASSIDY JOINS US FOR MORE. CAN YOU SQUARE THIS IDEA OF INCREDIBLE SPENDING AND THE ONGOING AMERICAN CONSUMER CONTINUING TO UPHOLD THE UNDERLYING ECONOMY IN THIS REAL FEELING THAT COST OF LIVING IS BECOMING UNSUSTAINABLE.SEN. CASSIDY: THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY SEGMENTS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE MANAGING TO DO WELL. THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE HURTING.THEY MAY HAVE THE MONEY TO BRIGHT -- ...

We begin with breaking news. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard are in critical condition right now after being shot near the White House in what the mayor of Washington DC called a targeted attack. Again, those two guardsmen are in critical condition.And tonight, MS Now reports that multiple law enforcement sources say the suspect is Ramanula Lenwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. The suspect is in custody and in the hospital. He was shot multiple times and is in grave condition.He is facing f ...

The average American household would need an extra $70,000 per year to feel financially stable. Health care costs, in particular, are a source of anxiety for workers. https://t.co/JgEMz5Yxw2 ...

President Trump and Republican lawmakers are grasping for ideas on a new party-line package aimed at blunting criticism of rising health care and other costs of living, as affordability becomes the defining issue of next year’s pivotal midterm elections https://t.co/2bArQjwPc7 ...

Healthcare Cost Concerns - Nearly half (47%) of US adults are anxious about rising healthcare costs heading into the new year, the highest level since 2021 [1][2] - Concerns about prescription drug costs are climbing, rising from 30% in 2021 to 37% this year [3] - The share of adults who say healthcare costs cause a lot of stress in their daily lives has nearly doubled since 2022, rising from 8% to 15% [3] Impact of Legislation - The Congressional Budget Office projects that nearly 5 million people will lose their healthcare coverage when the legislation takes effect [2] - A bill will impose Medicaid work requirements nationwide beginning in 2027, and millions are expected to lose coverage, potentially due to red tape and paperwork [6] - Millions of people are expected to lose coverage due to the expiration of Obamacare subsidies at the end of the year [6] Geographic Disparities - Iowa and Massachusetts ranked among the highest in healthcare access, while Texas, New Mexico, and Nevada were among the bottom [4] - States that ranked the lowest often had a high number of people who had to skip or delay care [4] - States that were in the top often had an easier time getting healthcare when and where they needed it, including prescription drugs and access to medical providers [4][5]

Why have health care costs been at the epicenter of the government shutdown negotiations. >> I mean, essentially, we're having a kind of proxy debate over the high and rising costs of health care and health insurance in the United States. So, the specific issue at the center of the government shutdown has been the enhanced subsidies which were passed by Congress as part of the CO 19 relief package back in 2021.So the way I think about this is that the United States during the pandemic kind of temporarily en ...

If you look at the leads of the New York Times and the Washington Post, uh what it shows is something that I actually found was was one of my favorite sayings. Uh it's proving one of my favorite sayings uh that that that came out of my time in Washington DC. Paul Simon, who not the singer, but the senator from Illinois when he was leaving Washington, someone asked, "Well, what have you learned in Washington? What's the one big takeaway?" And Senator Simon said, "Well, in politics, sometimes when you win, yo ...