Policy wonks are increasingly pessimistic about Affordable Care Act openenrollment this year, as sign-ups fall further behind last year's pace.

What's next for health coverage — in 2018 and beyond?

First, Noah Lang of Stride Health joins POLITICO's Dan Diamond todiscuss Stride's new partnership with CMS to help workers for Uber, Etsyand other gig economy companies get covered.

Then, POLITICO's Adam Cancryn and Alice Miranda Ollstein review the ACAsign-up slowdown, Democrats' tricky policy fight over Medicare for Alland why the Supreme Court turned down a chance to weigh in on abortion.

REFERENCED ON THE PODCAST

Sign-ups on HealthCare.gov are about 10 percent behind last year's pace,according to CMS data released Wednesday. There are many possibleculprits.

Adam's story on progressives' looming dispute over Medicare for All.

Alice's story on the Supreme Court rejecting petitions to hear casesinvolving Planned Parenthood.