Asclepius Initiative, Inc

10/15/2026

10/14/2026

Having health care coverage doesn't always mean being able to get the care you need. So, how well is our current system working for Kentuckians?

The Asclepius Initiative's 2026 Health Care Coverage Survey asked 1,080 Kentucky adults about their experiences with health care coverage, including their coverage status, how they choose, understand, and use it, and the costs and challenges they face.

The results go beyond who has insurance to show how the current system affects Kentuckians' lives and what they think should change.

See what Kentuckians had to say: AsclepiusInitiative.org/2026-survey

10/08/2026

Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health plans could deny individual coverage altogether. They also varied widely in what they covered, often omitting vital services such as maternity, mental health, preventive care, or even prescriptions.

The ACA created a baseline for Marketplace insurance by requiring 10 categories of essential health benefits. Not all employer-sponsored plans must follow these requirements, although many do.

This is one reason it is key to check what a plan actually covers. You want to make sure the coverage you need will be there when you need care.

10/08/2026

Two-thirds of the public favor Medicare-for-All — the highest share since KFF began polling on the topic in 2016 — but public opinion is highly malleable and support shifts when competing claims from critics and proponents are heard.

The latest poll finds the share who favor a Medicare-for-All-style plan falls sharply when the public is told that it could lead to potential delays in medical tests and treatments (24% still favor), tax increases (35%), or threaten the current Medicare program (38%).

On the other hand, favorable views rise to about 3 in 4 when people are told that Medicare-for-All would make health insurance “a right” (76%) or that it would eliminate premiums and cost-sharing (75%): https://on.kff.org/4zgJv6z

10/07/2026

Health insurance costs are rising – again.

Employers expect health benefit expenses to jump in 2027, while Marketplace insurers are requesting double-digit premium increases.

Read more: AsclepiusInitiative.org/private-health-insurance-costs-2027

10/06/2026

Employer-sponsored coverage is the most common source of health insurance in the U.S., but a job does not always come with health benefits.

Despite having a job, people can still be left without an affordable way to get care because of their specific situation, such as whether their employer offers coverage or how many hours they work.

TAI’s educational materials explain how employer-sponsored plans work, how costs are shared, and why employment does not guarantee access to care. AsclepiusInitiative.org/educational-materials/types-of-health-care-coverage/employer-sponsored-coverage/

10/06/2026

Just a month away from the midterm elections, affordability worries continue to top voters’ list of midterm election issues — with health care costs and gas costs tying as the top economic concern.

A quarter of voters say they are “very worried” about being able to afford the cost of health care (25%) and gas and transportation (25%) and an additional third say they are “somewhat worried” about health care (35%) and gas costs (34%).

These worries outrank voters’ concerns about the affordability of food, utilities, and housing.

10/01/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder that early detection matters, but it is not the whole story.

If a mammogram shows something abnormal, people may need further imaging, a biopsy, surgical consultation, treatment, and ongoing care. Each step can bring additional costs, paperwork, and coverage barriers, such as pre-authorizations.

Abnormal mammograms produce fear and uncertainty. No one should also have to wonder whether their coverage will allow them to get the testing, information, and treatment they need.

09/30/2026

The U.S. spends far more per person on health care than other wealthy countries. So why are Americans still skipping doctor visits, tests, treatments, and prescriptions because of cost?

Our latest post highlights findings from the Commonwealth Fund’s comparison of the U.S. with 19 other wealthy nations, including how much each country spends, what patients pay, and how other health systems control costs. AsclepiusInitiative.org/health-care-affordability

09/29/2026

An Explanation of Benefits can look like a bill, but it is not one.

An EOB comes from your private insurance carrier or government coverage program, such as Medicare or Medicaid, and explains how your claim was processed. It shows what the provider billed, what insurance paid, what portion of the charges are adjusted off, and what you may owe.

Before paying a medical bill, compare it with your EOB to make sure you are only paying for services you received and the amounts match what your plan documents say you should owe.

We show you how to check it step-by-step in our free educational resources at AsclepiusInitiative.org/educational-materials.