From what’s in your food to who decides your medical care, 2025 raised urgent questions about how the U.S. health system works, how policy changes under the Trump administration are reshaping that system, and who it ultimately serves.
This year, KFF Health News investigated food additives hiding in everyday products, misleading or disputed health policy claims, insurance denials, trauma after mass shootings, AI’s growing role in health care decisions, clashes over scientific integrity, immigration-related health challenges, and the financial traps created by medical bills and government overpayments.
These stories examined both health policy and the people navigating a system that often feels confusing, opaque, and overwhelming. Our reporting helped readers understand their rights, challenge denials, ask better questions, and see how decisions made far from them can shape their health and finances.
Swipe through for some of the investigations that defined our year — and follow @KFFHealthNews for reporting that explains how health care really works, and how it affects you.
