As the Medicare annual open enrollment period kicks off this month, some older adults struggle with choosing a plan. Three-quarters of beneficiaries said the process is confusing, according to an Oct. 1 eHealth poll. “This is not the year for…
Author: Elizabeth Casolo
From Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, older adults can select from a range of Medicare Advantage plans. Here are updates from the biggest insurers so far: UnitedHealthcare The insurer’s Medicare Advantage plans will reach 94% of those eligible, compared to…
Big insurers — from Humana to Cigna — are shying away from Medicare Advantage, exiting “unprofitable” markets, axing commission payments and even selling their businesses entirely. Now, other insurance companies have a chance to step up and gain market share,…
Ascension Wisconsin is out of network with UnitedHealthcare as of Oct. 1. Patients covered by UnitedHealthcare receiving care at Ascension Wisconsin hospitals, outpatient facilities, physician practices and associated Ascension Medical Group practices will be affected, the health system said in…
The American Hospital Association is encouraging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, and insurers to follow through on prior authorization reforms. In a letter to the CMS and HHS leaders, the AHA emphasized that 95%…
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Catastrophic health events — such as brain injuries and amputations — are life altering for patients, but these claims also weigh on insurers. From rising utilization and medical costs to expanded eligibility for catastrophic health coverage, the role of these…
Viva Health, under the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System, said it is investigating a data breach involving 4,945 individuals’ data, according to a news release from Sept. 26 shared with Becker’s. The insurer found a file on its…
AmeriHealth Caritas, a managed care organization, is growing its Medicare Advantage offerings, focusing on its Medicare-Medicaid dual-eligible special needs plans, according to a news release shared with Becker’s. In 2026, the insurer’s MA dual-eligible offering will be available in new…
Work requirements for Medicaid eligibility are set for 2027, but states can request short-term exceptions for counties with high unemployment. By assessing county-level data in Medicaid expansion states, KFF found only 7% of counties meet the exception criteria using a…
Average premiums, benefits and plan choices for Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program should remain relatively stable next year, CMS said in a Sept. 26 news release. But MA enrollment is projected to decrease 900,000 in…