Health insurance

February 16, 2026- Pennie enrollment drops after Affordable Care Act subsidies expire. Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan plans to send a formal letter to the governor’s office requesting a two-year moratorium on data center projects. Shapiro unveils Housing Action Plan in Philadelphia. And, a discussion about what the SAVE Act could mean for voters.

About 85,000 Pennsylvanians dropped their health insurance so far this year after the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies that covered monthly premiums. A bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in January to extend them by three years, but has since stalled in the Senate.

The Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center opened its walk-in crisis intervention service in December. The Honesdale center plans to open a crisis residential service with eight beds early this year.

Geisinger nurses went on strike in Luzerne County. Officials fought to find a new buyer for three local hospitals after a deal fell through more than a year ago. And communities came together to support their most vulnerable — the aging, uninsured and hungry.

Four Republicans, including U.S. Reps. Ryan Mackenzie and Rob Bresnahan, broke from their party and signed Democrats' petition to force a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Mehmet Oz, also known by his television persona ‘Dr. Oz,' visited Scranton in his role as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator with U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan to talk about federal efforts to address health care shortages and costs. Sen. Dave McCormick, meanwhile, visited the Wyoming County Healthcare Center in Tunkhannock to tour the facility and meet executive leadership.

Pike is Pennsylvania’s only county without its own hospital or immediate care center. That’s going to change in 2026.

October 27, 2025- Tenor and CHS signed a purchase agreement for three NEPA hospitals. The United Nations Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania celebrates the United Nations’ founding anniversary. Pennsylvania’s health insurance marketplace leader sounds the alarm on the potential expiration of health care subsidies. And, readers recommend horror books ahead of Halloween.

Pennsylvania health insurers are proposing higher premiums for coverage in 2026. That means people who buy plans through Pennie – the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace — could end up paying more each month to stay insured.

Health insurers offering plans on Pennie, the state Affordable Care Act exchange, say rising costs and expiring enhanced premium tax credits are driving the increase requests.