Healthcare costs in the United States remain a major concern for patients and policymakers alike. Many Americans face unexpected bills after hospital visits, often without clear information about prices beforehand. Since January 2025, several bills have recently been introduced in Congress aiming to improve transparency in hospital pricing and billing. This article summarizes five key pieces of legislation designed to make healthcare costs clearer and more predictable for pat

A May 2026 proposed rule titled Excepted Fertility Benefits introduces a new category of limited excepted benefits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This rule aims to establish certain fertility benefits as separate from traditional group health plans, potentially improving the ability of employers to provide group health plan participants with access to, and the ability to better manage fertility-related care. What Are Excepted Benefits under the ACA? The ACA imposes cert

The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) nondiscrimination rule, known as Section 1557, has been one of the most important legal frameworks affecting access to healthcare for transgender individuals. Over the last decade, however, the meaning and enforcement of Section 1557 - especially as it relates to gender identity and gender-affirming care - have shifted repeatedly through rule-making, court decisions, and agency guidance. For employers, health plan sponsors, providers, and patie