Two major Medicare changes signed into law in the Inflation Reduction Act will take effect in 2025. 

The year 2024 proved to be a pivotal and tumultuous period for the health insurance industry, defined by the shocking murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO and the largest cyberattack in the sector's history. Legal and regulatory battles over Medicare Advantage, significant policy shifts, and mounting public frustration with insurers underscored a year of upheaval.

HHS' Office of Inspector General estimated three Medicare Advantage insurers received around $11.4 million in overpayments. 

The year 2024 will be remembered as one full of unprecedented challenges and turmoil for the nation's largest healthcare company. 

While most Medicare Advantage plans offer dental benefits, few of these benefits are comprehensive, a study published Dec. 26 in JAMA found. 

An insurer reached a nearly $100 million settlement over allegations of overpayments, and CMS plans to sunset a value-based model over "unprecedented" costs. 

UnitedHealthcare and Tacoma, Wash.-based Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have reached a new multi-year contract. 

UnitedHealth Group has optimized its ability to increase Medicare Advantage members' sickness scores and corresponding government payments by directly employing thousands of physicians at Optum and integrating sophisticated software tools into clinical workflows, according to a Dec. 29 investigation from The Wall Street Journal.

Climate change is becoming an increasingly urgent challenge for the health insurance industry.

UnitedHealth Group and home health company Amedisys have agreed to extend the deadline for a planned $3.3 billion merger due to a legal challenge by the Department of Justice.

Humana and CommonSpirit hospitals in Colorado will go out-of-network Jan. 1, 2025. 

Sanford Health Plan is expanding its Medicare Advantage offerings to more rural communities. 

Premera Blue Cross recognized the need for strong ethical commitments around AI even before the rise of ChatGPT and other easily accessible generative AI models. 

Payers are trimming their workforces and cutting jobs due to financial or operational challenges, along with restructuring strategies. 

Payers have faced state penalties in 2024 for slow reimbursements, improper claims denials, or the sale of unapproved products.

Aetna is laying off 164 remote employees "due to an unexpected loss of contract in Kansas."

Independent Health will pay up to $98 million to settle allegations a now-defunct subsidiary knowingly submitted invalid diagnoses to boost Medicare Advantage payments. 

Medicaid could spend $29.9 billion on drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and weight loss, according to a report from HHS' Office of Inspector General. 

Ten providers recently posted job listings seeking leaders in payer contracting and relations.

Humana has named Japan Mehta as chief information officer.