Lots of well-known people post about benefits and health costs. Here are a few posts worth knowing about, each with a short note on what the official sources say.
Last checked: November 2, 2026
How I choose these
Hand-picked. I pick each post myself. Nobody pays to be listed, and nothing here is an ad.
Public and widely followed. Only public posts by people with a large following or a well-known public role, such as business leaders, health policy experts, journalists, and benefits experts.
About costs. Each post is about benefits, health costs, or prescription drug costs.
Checked. I open every post myself and check it against official or reputable sources, like CMS, Medicare.gov, HealthCare.gov, the Department of Labor, the IRS, the FDA, or KFF.
Neutral. I leave out political or heated posts. The summaries are my own short words, not copies of the posts.
No endorsement. Linking to a post doesn't mean I agree with it. This site isn't affiliated with any of the people, companies, or groups named here.
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The posts
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Drew Altman on workers paying more for job-based coverage
Drew Altman, President and CEO of KFF
Drew Altman shared his new column. He argues that employer health costs rose at a moderate pace in 2026, but the amount workers pay toward their premiums jumped, and he says it's too soon to know if that shift will last.
This is the author's own opinion. Linking to it is not an endorsement.
What the official sources say
KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey found that the average total premium for family coverage is $28,303, up 5% from 2025. Workers pay $7,471 of that on average, up 9% ($621). Over the same time, wages rose 3.7% and inflation rose 2.7%.
Among large firms (200 or more workers), 44% said they raised the share of the premium that workers pay. The average deductible for single coverage, for workers who have one, is $1,955.
During open enrollment, compare what each plan takes out of your paycheck, not only the deductible. The printable open enrollment checklist on this site can help.
Larry Levitt, Executive Vice President for Health Policy at KFF
Larry Levitt pointed to a new KFF analysis finding that premiums for stand-alone Medicare drug plans could rise about 50% on average in 2027. His point: that rise is for people who stay in their current plan and don't switch to a lower-premium one.
This is the author's own opinion. Linking to it is not an endorsement.
What the official sources say
KFF's analysis estimates the average stand-alone drug plan premium at $51 a month in 2027, up from $34 in 2026, if people keep their current plan. KFF says the real average will likely be lower once people switch plans during open enrollment. The standard Part D deductible goes from $615 in 2026 to $700 in 2027.
CMS projects that the average total monthly premium for stand-alone drug plans will go from $35.09 in 2026 to $36 in 2027. KFF says its higher estimate assumes people keep their current plan. Either way, premiums vary a lot from plan to plan.
Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Changes start January 1. CMS encourages people to compare plans on Medicare.gov (Medicare Plan Finder) or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Mark Cuban on drug prices and pharmacy benefit contracts
Mark Cuban, co-founder of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company
Mark Cuban shared what he describes as his testimony to Texas lawmakers. He explains how his company, Cost Plus Drugs, sets its prices, and suggests ideas such as letting lower cash drug purchases count toward a person's deductible and making pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) contracts simpler and more open.
This is the author's own opinion. Linking to it is not an endorsement.
What the official sources say
Cost Plus Drugs' own website says it prices drugs based on what it pays the manufacturer, then adds a 15% markup, a pharmacy fee for filling each prescription, and shipping, which is charged once per order.
A cash price is not always the lowest price for you. Compare it with what your own plan charges. HealthCare.gov explains that a deductible is what you pay for covered services before your plan starts to pay, so if you buy a drug for cash outside your plan, ask your plan whether it will count toward your deductible before you count on it.
The U.S. Department of Labor has a final rule that will require PBMs to give large self-insured employer plans (generally 100 or more participants or employees) detailed reports on their pay, including drug-maker rebates and "spread" pricing, and lets those plans audit the reports. It applies to plan years beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
KFF's 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey found that 33% of employers with 50 or more workers offer lower-cost mail-order generic drugs through vendors such as GoodRx, SingleCare, or Mark Cuban Cost Plus. About half (49%) of large firms said they get enough information about drug rebates.
