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Family coverage costs employees an average of about $623 a month

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Workers annual contributions for family health insurance rose 9% in 2026, reaching an average of $7,471.

• Total family premiums, including employers payments, averaged $28,303 increasing faster than wages and inflation.

• Employees at smaller businesses face substantially higher family premium contributions and deductibles than those at larger firms.

Americans who get health insurance through work are seeing more of their paychecks go toward coverage, according to KFFs (Kaiser Family Foundation) 2026 Employer Health Benefits Survey.

Workers contributed an average of $7,471 toward family premiums this year, an increase of $621 from 2025. Including the employers portion, annual family premiums reached $28,303, up 5%. That exceeded wage growth of 3.7% and general inflation of 2.7% over the comparison period.

The employee contribution works out to roughly $623 a month before deductibles, copayments and other charges for using medical services.

The burden is particularly heavy at smaller businesses. Workers at firms with 10 to 199 employees contributed an average of $9,687 annually for family coverage, compared with $6,840 at larger employers. That is a difference of nearly $2,850 a year.

Passing on rising costs

Employers are responding to rising expenses by shifting some costs to employees. Among firms with at least 200 workers that offer health benefits, 44% increased workers share of premiums in response to projected cost increases. Another 21% increased deductibles or other cost sharing for most services.

Premiums are only part of the financial exposure. Among workers whose individual coverage includes a general annual deductible, the average deductible was $1,955. At smaller firms, it averaged $2,624, compared with $1,772 at larger firms.

Overall, 38% of covered workers were enrolled in plans with individual deductibles of at least $2,000.

The survey also found limited coverage for GLP-1 medications prescribed primarily for weight loss. Among employers with at least 200 workers offering health benefits, 18% covered those drugs. Of those covering them, 40% required participation in a lifestyle program or meetings with a dietitian, case manager or therapist.

Its wise to shop around

For workers reviewing benefits during open enrollment, the findings underscore the value of comparing total potential spending. A lower payroll deduction can come with a larger deductible or higher charges when care is needed.

Employees can use each plans benefit summary to compare premiums, deductibles, prescription coverage and out-of-pocket limits, while checking whether their doctors and hospitals participate. Couples with access to two workplace plans should also compare the cost of covering everyone together with enrolling separately.

KFFs survey included 1,937 interviews with private and nonfederal public employers. Employer-sponsored insurance covers almost 157 million Americans younger than 65.

The retreat is uneven, with some companies just dropping certain counties

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare and Humana, are reducing their Medicare Advantage coverage areas for 2027, while two smaller insurers are leaving the general-enrollment Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan market entirely.

• Residents of 193 U.S. counties will have no Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage available for general enrollment in 2027, up from 123 counties in 2026.

• Rising medical costs and profitability concerns are driving the retreat, forcing some retirees to find new coverage during Medicare Open Enrollment, which runs through December 7.

Millions of Americans have turned to Medicare Advantage as an alternative to traditional Medicare, attracted by low premiums and extra benefits such as dental, vision and hearing coverage. But for 2027, some of the nation's largest health insurers are scaling back their participation, leaving seniors in certain communities with fewer choices.

A new analysis by health policy research organization KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) shows that insurers are withdrawing from hundreds of counties, with some companies eliminating their general-enrollment Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans altogether.

The pullback is particularly significant in rural communities, where Medicare Advantage choices were already limited.

According to KFF, 193 counties will have no Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans available for general enrollment next year, compared with 123 counties in 2026. About 638,000 Medicare beneficiaries live in those counties, although not all are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

The changes don't mean Medicare Advantage is disappearing. In fact, most beneficiaries will still have multiple plans to choose from. But the departures illustrate growing financial pressure on a program that has become an increasingly important part of America's health insurance system.

Which companies are pulling back?

KFF's analysis of federal Medicare plan data identifies several major insurers making significant changes for 2027.

UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest Medicare Advantage insurer, is withdrawing its Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans from 228 counties while entering nine new counties.

Humana, another dominant Medicare Advantage provider, is leaving 62 counties and entering four.

Other insurers are making even larger geographic reductions:

• Health Care Service Corporation, which operates several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, is exiting 498 counties.

• Centene, the parent company of Wellcare, is exiting 359 counties while entering 15.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is exiting 177 counties and entering one.

• Elevance Health is withdrawing from 66 counties while expanding into 10.

Two companies, Clear Spring Health's parent Group 1001 and Molina Healthcare, are leaving the general-enrollment Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan market entirely. Molina will continue offering certain Special Needs Plans.

The departures do not necessarily mean these companies are abandoning Medicare Advantage altogether. Many are concentrating on markets where they believe they can operate profitably.

Meanwhile, some insurers are expanding. Devoted Health is entering 342 additional counties, demonstrating that companies have different assessments of the program's financial opportunities.

Why are insurers pulling out?

The biggest reason appears to be financial.

Medicare Advantage plans receive payments from the federal government to provide Medicare-covered services through private insurance networks. Insurers are responsible for managing the costs of medical care while meeting federal requirements.

But several developments have made that business more challenging.

Medical spending has increased as older Americans use more healthcare services. Prescription drug expenses have also put pressure on insurers, while changes in Medicare payment policies and quality ratings can affect how much companies receive from the government.

Insurers are also adjusting to changes in the Medicare prescription drug program that shift some financial responsibilities.

In Minnesota, where several insurers are withdrawing from numerous counties, industry representatives have pointed to rising pharmacy expenses, increased medical utilization and inadequate reimbursement relative to costs.

The result is a reassessment of markets where companies believe they can no longer earn acceptable returns.

Rather than withdrawing from Medicare Advantage nationwide, insurers are increasingly selecting the counties and populations they believe they can serve sustainably.

Federal officials say the program remains stable

Despite the withdrawals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says Medicare Advantage remains widely available.

The agency projects that more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2027, while 97% will have at least 10 choices.

CMS also projects that the average monthly Medicare Advantage premium will decline from $14.37 in 2026 to $12 in 2027.

The total number of Medicare Advantage plans nationwide is expected to remain relatively stable, declining from 5,553 to approximately 5,532.

However, those national figures can obscure significant local differences.

Uneven availability of plans

KFF found that the average beneficiary will have 28 Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans available in 2027. But residents of some counties will have dozens of choices, while others will have none.

That makes a beneficiary's ZIP code increasingly important when evaluating Medicare coverage.

What happens if your Medicare Advantage plan disappears?

For beneficiaries whose plans are being discontinued, the immediate concern is maintaining uninterrupted healthcare coverage.

Medicare Advantage insurers generally notify members when their coverage will not be renewed for the following year.

Affected beneficiaries can choose another Medicare Advantage plan, if one is available, or return to Original Medicare.

The $2,000 iPhone Duo is attracting enthusiastic buyers

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Apple's first foldable iPhone went on sale October 23, with a starting price of $1,999, making it the company's most expensive entry-level iPhone.

• Consumer demand has been strong, with preorders quickly exhausting initial supplies and some buyers facing delivery dates extending into January 2027.

• Reaction has been mixed, with buyers praising the innovative design but questioning the high price, camera compromises and software limitations.

Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market, launching its first folding iPhone on Friday. And while the $1,999 price tag may give many consumers pause, early demand suggests plenty of Apple customers are willing to pay a premium for the company's newest technology.

The new iPhone Duo folds into a compact device roughly the size of a passport, then opens into a larger screen resembling a small tablet. It represents one of Apple's most significant changes to the iPhone's physical design since the original device debuted in 2007.

Consumers responded quickly. Within minutes of preorders opening on October 16, estimated delivery dates began slipping from launch day into November, December and eventually late January 2027.

Apple described the initial response as "nothing short of extraordinary," according to Reuters.

But the early sellout doesn't necessarily establish how popular the phone will be over the long term. Apple hasn't disclosed preorder totals or initial inventory, making it difficult to determine how much of the shortage reflects unusually strong demand and how much is attributable to limited production.

Consumers line up despite the price

The phone's arrival produced lines at Apple stores around the world, including locations in London, Shanghai, Sydney and New York.

Some buyers waited overnight to obtain the new device, while others arrived hoping to see a demonstration before deciding whether to purchase.

In London, 53-year-old charity manager Paul Francis waited in the rain overnight for a chance to buy the phone. Another customer, 21-year-old student Hugo Marfani, told Reuters that the device was thinner than he expected and praised the experience of opening and closing it.

But not everyone was enthusiastic about the price.

What buyers get for $2,000

The iPhone Duo features a 5.4-inch external screen that opens into a 7.6-inch display, the largest ever offered on an iPhone.

The larger screen allows users to run two applications side by side, potentially making the device attractive to consumers who frequently multitask, watch videos, read documents or work on their phones.

Apple has also emphasized the device's premium construction and hinge design, which makes the fold in the display less noticeable than on many earlier foldable smartphones.

Early reviewers have generally praised the hardware, describing the hinge as sturdy and the transition between screens as smooth.

However, the phone also makes some compromises compared with Apple's conventional premium iPhones.

It lacks a dedicated telephoto camera and Face ID facial recognition, relying instead on fingerprint authentication. Some third-party applications have not yet been redesigned to take full advantage of the larger screen.

Those limitations may be significant for buyers accustomed to the camera systems and other features found on Apple's Pro models.

Apples challenge

Mixed reactions from some consumers show the challenge Apple faces: convincing customers that a folding screen provides enough practical benefits to justify paying substantially more than they would for a conventional smartphone.

For some users, the ability to combine a phone and small tablet may be worth the additional expense. Others may find that the novelty doesn't compensate for the compromises.

Although Apple is entering the foldable market years after Samsung and other manufacturers, analysts believe its arrival could significantly expand the category.

Research firm IDC projects that Apple will capture 44% of the foldable smartphone market's dollar value in 2026, despite accounting for just 31% of units sold.

By 2027, IDC expects Apple to become the market leader in both sales value and unit shipments.

Targets holiday meal deal includes turkey and classic sides, plus new affordable options for shoppers who want to mix things up

• Targets $30 Thanksgiving meal is designed to feed six people, keeping the cost at $5 per person.

• Shoppers can find Good & Gather frozen turkey for 79 cents per pound, along with new appetizers, sides, and desserts.

• Nearly 60 new food and beverage items and affordable seasonal decor give shoppers more ways to personalize their holiday celebrations.

Thanksgiving dinner doesn't have to mean spending a fortune at the grocery store.

Target is bringing back its budget-friendly holiday offerings for 2026, including a $30 meal package designed to feed six people and a selection of new products for shoppers looking to add something different to their holiday spread.

The retailer is highlighting a mix of traditional Thanksgiving staples, new food options, and seasonal finds for the home. Target also cited a YouGov survey showing that seven in 10 Americans value Thanksgiving food traditions, while nearly half of those celebrating plan to put their own spin on a classic recipe this year.

"Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving are such joyful moments for our guests, and Target is making it easy and budget-friendly for them to plan meals that include plenty of familiar favorites plus some of the latest food trends," John Conlin, senior vice president of merchandising, food and beverage, Target, said in a news release.

"From exciting new flavors, to elevated takes on classics and convenient shortcuts to make meal prep a breeze, we're helping busy families celebrate the season with the fresh finds and value they count on from Target."

What's included in Target's Thanksgiving deals?

Target's $30 Thanksgiving meal includes nine items, starting with a Butterball whole young turkey weighing up to 10 pounds. The package also features russet potatoes, jellied cranberry sauce, canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, French-fried onions, turkey stuffing mix, turkey gravy, and two take-and-bake baguettes.

For shoppers who prefer to build their own menu, Good & Gather frozen turkey will return at 79 cents per pound beginning in November. Target is also expanding its selection of $5 sides, pies, appetizers and wine, with limited-time offers running throughout the month.

New food options include mashed sweet potatoes, Parmesan-topped roasted vegetables, and Favorite Day's Apple Caramel Crumb pie. The Good & Gather lineup will also feature more than 10 new frozen appetizers, including blueberry and Brie cheese sticks and feta cheese and honey bites.

Beyond the food, shoppers can browse more than 200 new Threshold kitchen items, seasonal table decorations starting at $5, and cozy apparel, including fleece starting at $10.

What this means for shoppers

Target's Thanksgiving lineup gives shoppers a few different ways to approach holiday meal planning. Those looking for a straightforward dinner can start with the $30 package, while people who prefer homemade dishes or more variety can choose individual ingredients and try some of the new offerings.

The $5-per-person meal price may also help households plan their grocery spending ahead of the holiday. However, shoppers should keep in mind that the package includes specific ingredients rather than every possible part of a Thanksgiving feast, so additional purchases may be necessary depending on their guest list and menu.

The advertised prices are before tax and are valid from November 8 through November 29, 2026. The offer is not available in Alaska or Hawaii. Checking prices and availability before shopping can help consumers decide which options best fit their holiday plans.