Payer

Lori Flees, senior vice president and COO of Walmart Health, officially launched Walmart Insurance Services Oct. 6. The insurance agency will "assist people with enrolling in insurance plans and simplify what's historically been a cumbersome, confusing process," Ms. Flees said.

Here are five commercial health insurers that recently announced expansions of their Medicare Advantage products for the 2021 coverage year: 

Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers tentatively reached a $2.7 billion settlement in an antitrust lawsuit that accuses the companies of conspiring to divide markets and avoid directly competing with each other. 

Here are four recent settlements and lawsuits that have involved commercial health insurers in the past few weeks:

Insurers are wrapping up their 2021 rate filing seasons, with several factors affecting possible increases and decreases that insurers will implement for the upcoming coverage year.

Cigna is significantly expanding its Medicare Advantage footprint for the 2021 open enrollment period, the insurer said Oct. 1.

Walmart is partnering with Medicare Advantage insurer Clover Health on its first health insurance plans. They'll be open to half a million people across eight counties in Georgia.

More than 4 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program between February and June of this year, CMS said Sept. 30. 

The following payer executives changed their positions in September.

A new narrow-network health plan between UnitedHealthcare and two large Kansas City, Mo.-based providers could save employers up to 15 percent on monthly premiums, the insurer said Sept. 29.