Several major health systems are dropping Medicare Advantage plans in the new year. The hospitals are ending their acceptance of MA plans over issues with prior authorization denials and slow reimbursement, as seniors face increased costs on plan premiums.

Private health insurance premiums will be going up in 2026 – in some cases, by a lot. Congressional Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on health care reform, following disagreements over America’s health insurance marketplace that contributed to November’s government shutdown.

Experts point to several factors behind the surge in health insurance prices, including general inflation, the growing use of high-cost prescription drugs, and consolidation among medical providers.

Without a fix from Congress, costs for many people who buy health care on the Affordable Care Act marketplace have gone up. Here's what's to know about cheaper choices — and pitfalls to be aware of.

Applied to hospitals, the historical evidence shows that when there is less hospital competition, prices are higher by between 20% and 30% on average. Similar to hospitals and doctors’ offices, premiums for beneficiaries increase when there are fewer health insurance competitors, even though provider compensation also declines.

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