About this episode:

Cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies are setting higher premiums and pushing coverage out of reach for many Americans. In this episode: the yearslong political battle behind elevating insurance costs, ripple effects across health care providers, and what it will take to build a healthy insurance system.

Guests:

Gerard Anderson, PhD, is an expert in health policy and a professor in Health Policy and Management and International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

• 'A lifeline' - Americans fear spike in healthcare costs, making some Republicans nervy—BBC

• How Affordable Care Act subsidies became a sticking point in the government shutdown—ABC News

• The New Reality Facing Medicare, Medicaid, and the ACA—Public Health On Call (August 2025)

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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.