The Drip, Drip, Drip of Declining Coverage episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 36 MIN

The Drip, Drip, Drip of Declining Coverage

from What the Health? From KFF Health News · host KFF Health News

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. 

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.

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The Drip, Drip, Drip of Declining Coverage

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This episode was published on June 11, 2026.

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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...

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