India, Jan. 2 -- A wave of health policy decisions finalized in 2025 is set to reshape the US health care system in 2026, with implications for insurance premiums, Medicaid access and how future doctors pay for medical school. Many of the measures stem from budget legislation passed last year, with provisions beginning to take effect as new enrollment periods, tax filings and funding rules kick in.

Health care is also reemerging as a central political issue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with both parties increasingly framing coverage and costs as core campaign concerns.

Here are some of the most significant changes to watch.

One of the most immediate shifts involves the expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. The e...