Affordable Care Act

The hospital previously announced it would have no in-network options next year for families who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City announced last week it would lay off 115 jobs, and transfer 473 positions to an outside vendor. The changes come as hospital operating costs continue to rise, and federal funding losses are imminent.

Once Children’s Mercy hospital becomes out of network for her family, Christy Moreno may have to seek specialty treatment in Mexico or Canada. She says the cancellation of the family’s insurance has put her child in a life-or-death situation.

Children’s Mercy recently announced it will no longer be in-network for Kansas City-area health insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act marketplace at the start of the year, leaving many families without options.

The end of enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans is adding to the tally of uninsured patients. New Medicaid requirements coming in January could be a multiplier.

Every carrier selling health insurance in the two states through the Affordable Care Act marketplace hopes to raise premiums in 2027, according to preliminary rate filings with state insurance regulators. They blame rising healthcare costs.

When Congress allowed Affordable Care Act tax credits to lapse, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of Americans — especially self-employed farmers and ranchers. That added cost is multiplying the stress on their already stretched balance sheets.

Missouri's 25% drop in Obamacare marketplace enrollment is at least partly due to expiration of pandemic-era subsidies, experts say.

About half of all Missouri enrollees chose bronze plans in 2026 — the lowest-premium option with the highest deductibles — a significant shift from last year. One reason for the shift is the lapse of Biden-era subsidies that made costs lower for buyers.

Experts say the current enrollment numbers may still fall in the coming weeks. Many Affordable Care Act enrollees were automatically re-enrolled and remain in a grace period to pay their premiums.

A state constitutional amendment, if passed by voters, would require many people on Medicaid to work. The amendment reflects federal work requirements that were passed last year and must be in place next year.

Small business owners make up many of the millions of people who are facing higher premiums for health care, after Congress allowed COVID-era enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act to lapse. Because of the higher prices, two Kansas City-area business owners say they’ve had to adjust their business strategies.