Health care affordability has been a longstanding concern in the U.S., including among older adults, many of whom have relatively low incomes and modest assets to help cover the cost of premiums and medical bills. Medicare offers important financial protection by providing health insurance coverage to 69 million people in the U.S., including adults age…
The price of prescription drugs in the U.S. continues to be a concerning issue to the public, with KFF polling consistently showing the public supports various approaches to lowering prescription drug costs. Efforts to rein in drug costs have long been a priority for both federal and state policymakers. The Trump administration has recently taken…
Jim Reed,Health reporter, Wesley Stephenson,BBC Verifyand Nick Triggle,Health correspondent Getty Images The NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are clear signs the surge in the virus has come to an end for now at least. Community spread appears to have stabilised, the UK Health Security Agency says. Meanwhile, the…
Hospitals across the UK are seeing high levels of flu cases this winter. The NHS in England has said it is on “on high alert” after seeing the highest ever number of flu cases in hospital for this time of year, in the week ending 14 December. You can use our tool below to find…
VOLUME 37 December 18, 2025 Highlights Nearly two weeks after a CDC vaccine advisory panel voted to end the universal recommendation that newborns be vaccinated for hepatitis B, online conversations about childhood vaccination schedules and parental choice have continued at elevated levels, with many prominent accounts celebrating the decision as a victory for medical freedom….
Alexander StevanovicEssex Fiona Graham Dr Fiona Graham says people use exercise weights, bottles of water under their arms and books to falsify their weight A GP says she has experienced patients putting “weights on their backs” to falsify readings in order to be prescribed weight-loss injections online. Fiona Graham, who runs a private clinic in…
The 2025 reconciliation law could have major implications for nearly 15,000 federally certified nursing facilities and the more than 1.2 million people living in them. Nursing facilities provide medical and personal care services for older adults and people with disabilities. In 2023, Medicaid paid for 44% of long-term institutional care costs; 37% of long-term institutional care…
Philippa RoxbyHealth reporter Getty Images Young men are behind the growing popularity of nicotine pouches in Great Britain, a study suggests. Around 7.5% of 16 to 24-year-old-men are using the small sachets that fit under the top lip, compared with 1.9% use among young women and 1% among adults overall. Most pouch users – estimated…
Nick Triggle,Health correspondent, Jim Reed,Health reporterand Philippa Roxby,Health reporter Getty Images Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the latest five-day strike by doctors in England is “dangerous and utterly irresponsible” and warned them not to abandon patients. The walkout by resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors, began at 07:00 on Wednesday. The British…
Getty Images Ruth CleggHealth and wellbeing reporter More babies are being born by caesarean section in England than delivered naturally – without assistance – for the first time. Latest NHS data for 2024-25 shows that 45% of births were by C-section, compared to 44% which were spontaneous, a term used to describe a natural vaginal…
