60% of Americans are skipping medical visits to save money

The rapid rise in health care costs is forcing many Americans to make tough choices. Nearly 6 in 10 patients have skipped or delayed medical care because of the cost, and the same percentage has had difficulty paying a medical bill in full or on time, a new survey from the health care finance company Alphaeon found.

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California’s budget outlook is grim. Here’s what you need to know

Gov. Gavin Newsom opened this year with a rosy forecast: Buoyed by $17 billion more in revenue than previously planned, the state would have a modest surplus of $363 million for fiscal year 2025-26, he told reporters in January.

But life turns on a dime.

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Health insurance costs spike for businesses, workers after pandemic

The cost of employer-sponsored health insurance in California rose at twice the pace of inflation over the past three years, squeezing workers’ paychecks and small businesses alike.

More than 17 million Californians have health insurance through their job, according to a survey released in November by the health information group KFF. The average cost of premium payments for an employee’s family plan rose 24% to $28,400 a year, the survey found. Meanwhile, the national inflation rate was 12%, and wages grew by 14%, KFF wrote.

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DEA and HHS Extend Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Through 2026

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), issued a fourth temporary rule extending the full set of COVID‑19 telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances through December 31, 2026. This extension prevents a lapse in telemedicine prescribing authority that otherwise would have occurred at the end of 2025.

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MEDICARE

CMS: 22.8M have signed up for ACA marketplace coverage through Jan. 3, lagging 2025 enrollment

The Trump administration has released a new update on enrollment on the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges, with signups lagging notably behind figures for the 2025 plan year.

Per the latest snapshot report, nearly 22.8 million people have signed up for coverage across the exchanges through Jan. 3. By comparison, 23.6 million people had enrolled in ACA plans through Jan. 4, 2025, according to a report from a year ago.

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Novo’s Ozempic, Wegovy targeted for medicare price cuts

The U.S. plans to slash the price it pays for the Novo Nordisk A/S blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy, the latest drugs to be targeted under legislation that’s expected to save the government more than $200 billion over a decade.

Novo’s treatments for obesity and diabetes headline the government’s list of medicines that will be subject to price negotiations over the next year as part of a Biden administration effort to reduce drug costs for the Medicare health program for seniors.

Novo’s American depositary receipts briefly fell as much as 4.2% in premarket U.S. trading.

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SAVE THE DATE:

JANUARY 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM PST

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FEBRUARY 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PST

E3 Nexus: Elevate. Empower. Evolve.

FKA The Business Owner Planning Summit

Step into the next evolution of advanced planning and business-owner strategy at E3 Nexus, NAIFA-California’s premier gathering for forward-thinking advisors, planners, and professionals serving high-income earners and entrepreneurial clients. Formerly known as the Business Owner Planning Summit, this enhanced experience brings even greater depth, expertise, and collaboration—all in one powerful day designed to help you elevate your practice, empower your clients, and evolve with a rapidly changing landscape.

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