Payer

Due to the rise of high-deductible health plans, patients have become the third-largest payer group behind Medicare and Medicaid, according to Bill Krause, vice president and general manager of experience solutions at Change Healthcare.

Humana is the highest-ranked commercial health plan on customer satisfaction in 2019, according to a report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Health insurers are required by the ACA to completely cover federally recommended vaccines for members, including flu shots. But while insured members don't pay for the shot out of pocket, their insurers eventually will raise premiums to offset the cost,…

Big managed care organizations like UnitedHealth Group and Humana saw their shares rise on new developments that may diminish the chance for "Medicare for All" being implemented in the near future, according to Barron's.

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care recorded lower net income in the most recent quarter, but is generating higher-than-expected revenues, the Massachusetts-based health insurer said Nov. 15.

Aetna created a social isolation index to measure each member's loneliness, as social isolation has been linked with negative health behaviors and other illnesses, the insurer said Nov. 13.

The following payer executives changed their positions in November.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which represents 36 independent Blue companies, launched a national provider network that includes healthcare providers who routinely offer high-quality care at a lower price, according to Crain's Chicago Business.

Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, a subsidiary of CVS Health-owned Aetna, is taking over management of West Virginia's foster care system, according to MetroNews.

Dallas-based Steward Health Care System will divest its managed care plans in Arizona to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, the organizations said Nov. 7.