Becker’s Healthcare Podcast ACA Subsidies, PBMs, and the Shifting Payer Landscape with Jakob Emerson
Dec 10, 2025
Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director at Becker's Healthcare, dives into the complexities of ACA premium tax credits and the impending votes shaping their future. He unpacks the intriguing hints of a partnership between Humana and Mark Cuban, aiming to disrupt pharmacy benefit management with innovative alternatives. Jakob also discusses the looming impacts of subsidy expirations on premium rates, especially in red states, and critiques the GOP's HSA proposal. His insights shed light on the evolving payer landscape as we head into the new year.
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ACA Subsidies Expire January 1
- Enhanced ACA premium tax credits are set to expire on January 1 unless Congress acts.
- Expiration would sharply raise marketplace premiums and hit uninsured and exchange enrollees hardest.
Mark Cuban's PBM Disruption Moves
- Mark Cuban has actively targeted traditional PBMs and built Cost Plus Drugs as an alternative.
- Humana's CEO discussed potentially partnering with Cuban to bypass major PBMs for simpler drug benefits.
Cost Plus Partnerships With Insurers
- Cost Plus Drugs has already partnered with insurers like Capital Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California.
- Smaller plans seem willing to use Cuban's model if it delivers savings over traditional PBMs.