Health
Healthcare Costs and Insurance Crisis
California’s next governor Xavier Becerra faces a significant challenge with the rising uninsured rate. Meanwhile, market forces are quietly increasing patient costs through vertical integration and insurer-owned pharmacies.
Coverage timeline — 2 articles
KFF Health News
The nation’s uninsured rate hit a historical low when Xavier Becerra was health secretary. Now he wants to be California’s next governor as states stare down the biggest rise in the uninsured rate in a generation.
2026-09-08 09:00 UTC
KFF Health News
The true cost of “vertical integration”: patients directed to a higher-priced location for procedures. Or forced to buy from their insurer’s wholly owned pharmacy, which may not stock the drug prescribed or provide it at the lowest price.
2026-09-08 09:00 UTC