For decades, Californians have generally said that immigrants, who make up more than a quarter of the state’s population and a third of its labor force, are beneficial to the state and its economy. But budget instability and concerns about rising costs are spilling into a debate over the controversial and expensive policy of allowing low-...Read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Are your hearing aids helping China spy on you? How about your heart monitor?

As more Florida seniors use wearables like continuous glucose monitors, remote blood pressure monitors, smartwatches and fitness trackers, concern grows about who has access to the data these devices collect.

Sen. Rick Scott, chair of the ...Read more

Jude Pare and his partner, Diane Tix, live in rural Minnesota until temperatures dip below freezing, when they take refuge in Arizona for the winter. While away, their mail is forwarded. But Pare, 77, said he didn’t receive any warning from his Medicare prescription drug plan that his $0 monthly premium was about to increase.

So he didn’t ...Read more

For 16 years, Larry Gruber, a fitness coach from Wilton Manors, Florida, received a coupon card to help him pay for a psoriatic arthritis medication he needs that costs more than $7,700 a month.

Each year, Amgen, which makes the drug, called Enbrel, sent the coupon card worth thousands of dollars, and that counted toward Gruber's health ...Read more

Health insurance premiums are likely to grow more expensive next year for those who buy Marketplace plans, after increases this year.

Affordable Care Act Marketplace insurers are proposing a median premium increase of 14% for 2027, which would be a double-digit hike for the second year in a row, according to a new analysis of preliminary rate ...Read more

Across 17 states, 145 cases of a parasite have been reported between May 1 and June 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The actual number of cases is also likely higher than the number of cases reported.

Cyclosporiasis spreads if germs from contaminated feces get into someone’s mouth. This can happen through ...Read more

WASHINGTON — As online speculation swirls over Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization and scant public updates from his staff, the Kentucky Republican’s top allies spoke up this week, insisting he remains alert. But those assurances have done little to quash demands for proof of life, including from the state’s governor.

The episode has...Read more

An ally of Sen. Mitch McConnell is denying some speculation circulating social media surrounding McConnell’s health condition after around three weeks of hospitalization.

Scott Jennings, a former McConnell adviser and conservative political commentator on CNN, is part of a handful of people saying that they’ve spoken with the Kentucky ...Read more

DETROIT — State health officials are trying to pinpoint the source of a growing parasitic outbreak in Michigan, contacting all people who have tested positive for cyclosporiasis as cases near 1,000.

Since the outbreak started June 22, 992 reports of cyclosporiasis have been reported in Michigan as of Wednesday morning, according to the state'...Read more

Public health relies on data – whether it is tracking the effectiveness of a given year’s flu vaccine, monitoring blood lead levels around the country or estimating the prevalence of diabetes. This data forms the basis for decisions such as whether a community should expand screening for diabetes and which communities are at greatest risk...Read more

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is asking Sen. Mitch McConnell to share information surrounding his health condition after being hospitalized nearly three weeks ago.

In a letter sent Tuesday morning to McConnell’s office, Beshear said Kentuckians have grown concerned about McConnell’s health and whether he can continue serving in office. He ...Read more

CHICAGO — Laura Rotunno didn’t think she had much longer to live.

“My body has had enough,” Rotunno, of Deerfield, remembered thinking last year, under the weight of Stage 4 lung cancer. The color had drained from her face, she was on oxygen and it was difficult to leave her home.

That all changed, however, after May 30 of last year, ...Read more

Ebola responders in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s hardest-hit areas have been striking this week over unpaid benefits and deteriorating working conditions, complicating efforts to contain a virus that’s infected more than 1,700 people and killed at least 580.

The industrial action took place in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province,...Read more

For the second year in a row, many Affordable Care Act insurers are proposing double-digit premium increases, driven by rising medical costs as well as policy changes by Congress and the Trump administration.

In preliminary filings with state regulators, insurers are seeking a median rate increase of 14% for 2027, according to an analysis of ...Read more

Though researchers have been studying the animal deworming drug ivermectin for decades, there is no evidence that it’s a safe or effective way to treat cancer in people.

However, a June 2026 study put the topic back in the spotlight. After being downloaded more than 85,000 times before its official publication, the study gained ...Read more

The fate of the state’s $2 billion plan to maintain health insurance for low-income and disabled Californians is now in the hands of Mehmet Oz, the celebrity doctor and Republican administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

State Republicans appealed directly to Oz in a letter on Monday, asking him to reject Gov. ...Read more

Q: My mom suddenly needs to be in a nursing home. Should I spend down her assets so she qualifies for Medicaid?

A: If you’re in a situation where your mother needs nursing home care, you may be thinking your only option is to spend down her assets so she can qualify for Medicaid. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid does pay for long-term care. But ...Read more

Acai bowls have become a staple of health cafes, fitness influencers, and social media feeds — often promoted as the ultimate “clean” breakfast or post-workout meal. But are açaí bowls actually healthy, or are they just smoothies served in a bowl with good marketing? The answer lies in how they’re made.

Acai nutrition

Acai berries,...Read more

Q: What would cause a person to have a slow heartbeat?

A: First, let’s clarify what we mean by slow heartbeat. Doctors say someone has a slow heart rate (bradycardia) when the pace is lower than 60 beats per minute.

The most common reason to have a slow heart rate is taking a beta blocker medication or being physically fit.

The best reason ...Read more

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I know the symptoms of a heart attack can be different in women than in men. But are the causes different too? I have a friend in her mid-50s who had an unexpected heart attack. Are there causes of heart attacks in women that most people don’t know about?

ANSWER: A new Mayo Clinic study has found that many heart attacks in ...Read more