Four states recently released proposed premium rate increases for 2018 ACA marketplace plans, suggesting insurers may continue to seek significant hikes — with some requests surpassing the average 25 percent increase for 2017, according to The Washington Post.
Payer
Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health System and Pittsburgh-based Highmark, a Blue Cross Blue Shield-affiliated organization, inked a letter of intent to establish a clinical joint venture.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and rideshare company Lyft forged a nationwide partnership to enhance healthcare access in communities lacking reliable transportation.
The Internal Revenue Service increased the limits for HSAs, according to Forbes.
Chattanooga-based BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will resume selling individual health plans in the Knoxville area following its retraction from the market in 2017, according to a Times Free Press report.
Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health and Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare settled an in-network contract for Medicare Advantage policyholders through the end of 2017, but the parties have yet to negotiate terms for individual and employer-based health plans, Dayton Daily News reports.
Indianapolis-based Anthem requested an additional 60 days to gain approval for its merger with Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna, in an effort to stop Cigna from ditching the deal and collecting a $1.85 billion break-up fee, Reuters reports.
The American Health Care Act may result in different health benefit regulations among states, leading to widening divergence between health insurers' operating strategies and financial results, according to Fitch Ratings.
Tucson, Ariz.-based Northwest Healthcare reached a network agreement with Minnetonka, Minn.-based insurer UnitedHealthcare.
Maryland insurers are looking to significantly increase rates for individual health plans sold on the state's ACA exchange in 2018, reports The Baltimore Sun.
