More than 10,000 Pennsylvanians are losing health insurance coverage every month, the state's Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace tells Axios.

Why it matters: The Republican-controlled Congress let Biden-era enhanced federal tax credits expire, and costs for ACA plans have spiked since, leading to massive drops in the state's coverage marketplace, Pennie.

By the numbers: Pennie coverage is down to 431,000 as of July 1, executive director Devon Trolley says.

• That's a decrease of 55,000 enrollees since open enrollment ended Jan. 31.

What they're saying: "People making over $63,000 for one person, there is a huge drop-off there. They were paying a couple hundred dollars a month and now, in some instances, they have to pay over a thousand," said Trolley.

• Middle and upper-middle income individuals had previously qualified for enhanced Biden-era subsidies, she said.

Zoom in: Pennsylvanians making about $23,000 a year saw their premiums increase $85 a month on average, according to Pennie data.

• That number was $100 a month for those making about $40,000 a year and $500 for those making about $66,000.
• Check out this map to see the average cost increase by county.

Zoom out: Compared to last year, there are over 5 million fewer people on ACA coverage nationally, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Between the lines: Trolley said there was a three-month grace period when users didn't have to pay, and after that ran out, the drop-offs accelerated.

• "We had people that wanted to hang on for as long as they could," she said.
• She expects more cancellations are coming as people burn through their savings to keep health care coverage.

The other side: The Trump administration says that millions of Americans are fraudulently securing ACA plans they don't qualify for.

• The administration said it stopped about 1.5 million enrollees from receiving subsidies they did not qualify for and ended or blocked another 1.4 million through February 2026, per HHS.

The bottom line: Coverage typically remains steady past April, said Trolley, but this year was different when enrollees started to free-fall that month.

• And Trolley said there are no signs of that slowing down.

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The Flyers' next generation of Broad Street Bullies may be learning to skate right now in rinks across the Philadelphia region.

Why it matters: Hockey is booming among local kids, with record participation among the Flyers' youth programs this season.

The big picture: The spike coincides with growing buzz about the team's future.

• The Flyers made the playoffs this year for the first time since 2020.

By the numbers: More than 800 first-time hockey players took the ice as part of the Flyers' Learn to Play Rookie Program, which reaches youth at 20 rinks across the tri-state area, per the team charity's latest impact report.

• Overall program registration jumped more than 33% from last season, while girls' participation increased 45%.

Behind the boom: The Flyers have been investing heavily in growing the game.

• Since 2023, Flyers Charities has committed $1.7 million to community contributions and rink projects, including major outdoor rinks in Gibbstown, New Jersey, and Cheltenham Township.

📣 Zoom in: Fundraising has taken off too. More than $700,000 was raised during the Flyers' playoff run.

• $2.5 million raised through Flyers 50/50 raffles.
• $916,000 raised in a single day at Flyers Carnival.

The bottom line: Gritty and Co. are flipping the script on schoolyard bullies — raising a new generation that gives a puck about hockey.

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🏀 How much money and buzz will LeBron James generate for Philly economy? Short answer: A lot, the Athletic writes.

• Think tickets, TV deals and jersey sales. Experts tell the Inquirer he could have more impact than what the Sixers are paying over the next two years. But TBD on the exact amount.

💣 A Philly family was forced out of their Feltonville home yesterday when someone tossed what authorities initially thought was a grenade into their house.

• It was later determined not to be an explosive device, and no one was injured. (6ABC)

✅ The former Three Mile Island nuclear plant in the state is on track to come back online in mid-2027 to help fuel Microsoft's data centers.

• But those living around the Dauphin County plant remain concerned about the impact on their communities. (Penn-Capital Star)

America has a missing-middle problem — and this one is demographic.

Why it matters: The shrinking 45-64 population could leave fewer experienced adults to run institutions, mentor younger workers and care for the fast-growing population behind them.

• This is the Gen X-ish squeeze: The age group includes most of Generation X, plus younger baby boomers.
• It also overlaps with the "sandwich generation" years, when many adults are juggling children, aging parents, careers and their own retirement worries.

By the numbers: The U.S. population ages 45-64 fell by 2.68 million from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2025, according to new Census Bureau population estimates reviewed by Axios.

• The group declined 3.2% nationally, from 84 million to 81.3 million.
• The Northeast had the steepest percentage drop, falling 7.1%.

State of play: The decline is happening as the country gets older overall.

• The U.S. median age rose to 39.4 in July 2025, up from 38.6 in April 2020.
• The 65-and-older population grew 16.2% nationally during the same period.
• The under-18 population fell 2.4%.

Zoom in: The 45-64 group isn't vanishing so much as aging up. Younger boomers are moving into retirement age, and older Gen X cohorts are filling in behind them.

• Coupled with aggressive internal migration, high costs of living and housing shortages in the Northeast and West are driving this experienced cohort southward.

Between the lines: Corporations and local governments should be on high alert, analysts say.

• The 45-64 demographic typically represents peak earners who anchor municipal tax bases and possess decades of institutional knowledge.
• A declining middle-aged group could gradually thin the ranks of experienced workers, caregivers and civic leaders.

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