Health Care Costs

The Center for American Progress researches and supports policies to lower health care costs and prices across the health care system and to make care more affordable for people when they need it. The following research and analyses outline opportunities to lower health care costs and improve affordability.

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2026 CAP IDEAS Conference Past Event

2026 CAP IDEAS Conference

The Center for American Progress’ signature event, now celebrating its 15th year, where CAP convenes the big thinkers and doers on the center-left for a day of not only identifying the problems facing Americans, but also sharing solutions to improve the lives of all Americans.

Online via Zoom

Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families Article
Prospective homebuyers leave a property.

Lowering the Cost of Living for American Families

As families struggle to make ends meet amid rising costs, the Center for American Progress’ affordability agenda would save a typical family $4,133 per year across housing, health care, utility bills, and groceries.

Emily Gee, Kennedy Andara

Resumen ejecutivo: Una Declaración de Derechos del Paciente para reducir los costos de la atención médica Hoja informativa
Two prescription pill bottles on table, one standing and one on its side with pills spilling out

Resumen ejecutivo: Una Declaración de Derechos del Paciente para reducir los costos de la atención médica

El plan de CAP limitaría los aumentos injustificados de las primas, reduciría los deducibles al frenar los precios hospitalarios atípicos, y sustituiría la autorización previa por una revisión clínica independiente y basada en la evidencia, con el fin de reducir los costos de atención médica y ampliar el acceso oportuno a la atención.

Executive Summary: A Patients’ Bill of Rights To Lower Health Care Costs Fact Sheet
Two prescription pill bottles on table, one standing and one on its side with pills spilling out

Executive Summary: A Patients’ Bill of Rights To Lower Health Care Costs

CAP’s plan would limit unjustified premium increases; reduce deductibles by reining in outlier hospital prices; and replace prior authorization with independent, evidence-based clinical review to lower health care costs and increase access to timely care.

Updated: TrumpRx Discounts 0.13 Percent of Prescription Drugs While 22 Million Americans See Costs Rise Article
Shelves at a pharmacy are stacked with bottles of prescription medication.

Updated: TrumpRx Discounts 0.13 Percent of Prescription Drugs While 22 Million Americans See Costs Rise

Premiums have more than doubled for millions of Americans since enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expired, and millions more are projected to lose coverage over the next decade. The administration’s response: a coupon portal covering 80 out of more than 24,000 FDA-approved drugs, with new savings on at most 31.

CAP Calls on CMS To Hold Medicare Advantage Plans Accountable for Upcoding, Predatory Marketing, Prior Authorization Practices, and AI Use in Coverage Decisions Article

CAP Calls on CMS To Hold Medicare Advantage Plans Accountable for Upcoding, Predatory Marketing, Prior Authorization Practices, and AI Use in Coverage Decisions

The Center for American Progress submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging reforms to rein in Medicare Advantage overpayments, strengthen accountability for providing equitable care, and protect beneficiaries from predatory marketing practices and prior authorization-related harms.

Neda Ashtari

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