2025 Social Security COLA: 2.5% Increase Offers Limited Relief Amid Inflation
The first Social Security benefit checks for 2025 include a 2.5% cost-of-living increase, amounting to roughly an extra $50 per month for retirees on average, although this increase may not fully offset persistent inflation; retirees may adjust tax withholdings or review Medicare premiums to increas...
2025 Social Security COLA: 2.5% Increase Offers Limited Relief Amid Inflation
The first Social Security benefit checks for 2025 include a 2.5% cost-of-living increase, amounting to roughly an extra $50 per month for retirees on average, although this increase may not fully offset persistent inflation; retirees may adjust tax withholdings or review Medicare premiums to increas...
Progress
36% Bias Score
Former Inmate Challenges Legal Barriers to Medicare Access in Australian Prisons
Damien Linnane, a former inmate and PhD researcher, argues that Australian prisoners have an unrecognized right to Medicare-funded healthcare, challenging a decades-old legal interpretation and potentially revolutionizing prison healthcare access.
Former Inmate Challenges Legal Barriers to Medicare Access in Australian Prisons
Damien Linnane, a former inmate and PhD researcher, argues that Australian prisoners have an unrecognized right to Medicare-funded healthcare, challenging a decades-old legal interpretation and potentially revolutionizing prison healthcare access.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Elevance Health Profits Halved Despite Overall Revenue Growth
Elevance Health reported $5.98 billion in 2024 profits, but its fourth-quarter net income dropped to $418 million due to a 320 basis point increase in its benefit expense ratio to 92.4 percent, largely because of higher medical costs from Medicaid patients and the end of the public health emergency.
Elevance Health Profits Halved Despite Overall Revenue Growth
Elevance Health reported $5.98 billion in 2024 profits, but its fourth-quarter net income dropped to $418 million due to a 320 basis point increase in its benefit expense ratio to 92.4 percent, largely because of higher medical costs from Medicaid patients and the end of the public health emergency.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Medicare Price Negotiations Expand to 15 Drugs, Including Ozempic and Wegovy
The Biden administration announced 15 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, for Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to lower drug costs for 50 million beneficiaries; the new prices are expected to take effect in January 2027, although the incoming Trump administratio...
Medicare Price Negotiations Expand to 15 Drugs, Including Ozempic and Wegovy
The Biden administration announced 15 drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, for Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to lower drug costs for 50 million beneficiaries; the new prices are expected to take effect in January 2027, although the incoming Trump administratio...
Progress
36% Bias Score
575 Brand-Name Drug Prices Increase in Early 2025
On January 1st and 2nd, 2025, 575 brand-name drugs increased in price, including Ozempic and Paxlovid; the median increase was 4%, exceeding inflation and potentially impacting consumer costs depending on insurance coverage and formulary placement.
575 Brand-Name Drug Prices Increase in Early 2025
On January 1st and 2nd, 2025, 575 brand-name drugs increased in price, including Ozempic and Paxlovid; the median increase was 4%, exceeding inflation and potentially impacting consumer costs depending on insurance coverage and formulary placement.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Social Security Fairness Act Increases Benefits for Millions, but Accelerates Trust Fund Depletion
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, eliminating benefit reductions for 2.1 million WEP-affected individuals and 770,000 spouses and surviving spouses affected by GPO, resulting in higher monthly checks and retroactive payments, at a cost of $196 billion over ten years.
Social Security Fairness Act Increases Benefits for Millions, but Accelerates Trust Fund Depletion
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, eliminating benefit reductions for 2.1 million WEP-affected individuals and 770,000 spouses and surviving spouses affected by GPO, resulting in higher monthly checks and retroactive payments, at a cost of $196 billion over ten years.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Kennedy-Oz Clash on Weight-Loss Drug Coverage Looms
The conflicting views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz on the Trump administration's policy regarding Medicare and Medicaid coverage of costly new weight-loss drugs create uncertainty, impacting millions' access to potentially life-changing medication.
Kennedy-Oz Clash on Weight-Loss Drug Coverage Looms
The conflicting views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Mehmet Oz on the Trump administration's policy regarding Medicare and Medicaid coverage of costly new weight-loss drugs create uncertainty, impacting millions' access to potentially life-changing medication.
Progress
44% Bias Score
UnitedHealthcare Names New CEO After Previous CEO's Murder
Following the December murder of its CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, UnitedHealthcare appointed Tim Noel, its head of Medicare and retirement, as the new CEO. The company's Q1 revenue missed Wall Street's expectations, and the incident has increased security concerns across the healthcare industry.
UnitedHealthcare Names New CEO After Previous CEO's Murder
Following the December murder of its CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan, UnitedHealthcare appointed Tim Noel, its head of Medicare and retirement, as the new CEO. The company's Q1 revenue missed Wall Street's expectations, and the incident has increased security concerns across the healthcare industry.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Medicare Selects 15 More Drugs for Price Negotiation
Medicare selected 15 more top-selling prescription drugs for price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, impacting 5.3 million beneficiaries and $41 billion in spending, with expected savings of $1.5 billion in 2027, but the incoming Trump administration may alter the program.
Medicare Selects 15 More Drugs for Price Negotiation
Medicare selected 15 more top-selling prescription drugs for price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, impacting 5.3 million beneficiaries and $41 billion in spending, with expected savings of $1.5 billion in 2027, but the incoming Trump administration may alter the program.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Medicare to Negotiate Prices for Ozempic, Wegovy, and 13 Other Drugs
Medicare will negotiate prices for Ozempic, Wegovy, and 13 other drugs, impacting 5.3 million Part D users and $41 billion in drug costs, with negotiated prices effective in 2027.
Medicare to Negotiate Prices for Ozempic, Wegovy, and 13 Other Drugs
Medicare will negotiate prices for Ozempic, Wegovy, and 13 other drugs, impacting 5.3 million Part D users and $41 billion in drug costs, with negotiated prices effective in 2027.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Future of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Uncertain Under Trump
Medicare's new drug price negotiation program, enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act, faces an uncertain future under the incoming Trump administration; while it lowered prices on 10 drugs in 2023, and aims to lower prices on 15 more in 2027, Republican efforts to repeal it are underway.
Future of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations Uncertain Under Trump
Medicare's new drug price negotiation program, enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act, faces an uncertain future under the incoming Trump administration; while it lowered prices on 10 drugs in 2023, and aims to lower prices on 15 more in 2027, Republican efforts to repeal it are underway.
Progress
52% Bias Score
Australia's Economic Inequality: A Falling Healthcare System and a Widening Wealth Gap
Australia's healthcare system, once a world leader, has fallen to eighth place globally, reflecting a broader trend of increasing economic inequality where the top 10% of households hold 44% of the nation's wealth, while the lowest 20% possess only $41,000 on average.
Australia's Economic Inequality: A Falling Healthcare System and a Widening Wealth Gap
Australia's healthcare system, once a world leader, has fallen to eighth place globally, reflecting a broader trend of increasing economic inequality where the top 10% of households hold 44% of the nation's wealth, while the lowest 20% possess only $41,000 on average.
Progress
60% Bias Score