Payer

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recently released data from its Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a large-scale study of families, individuals, providers and employers in the U.S. concerning the cost and use of healthcare and health insurance. 

Great Falls, Mont.-based Benefis Health System and Helena-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana will partner to lower healthcare costs for large group health insurance plans and policyholders, the Great Falls Tribune reported.

Federal officials will now have a chance to practice what they preach when it comes to managing rising premiums under the Affordable Care Act, according to The New York Times.

Madison, Wis.-based Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will extend its Medicaid plans for BadgerCare Plus, the state's Medicaid program, and Medicaid Supplemental Security Income to six counties.

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana's share price dropped 18.6 percent from its June 21 high of $190.07 amid rising doubts its proposed acquisition by Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will falter, the Hartford Courant reported.   

The percentage of employees with employment-based health insurance has remained steady since key provisions to the Affordable Care Act took effect, Business Insurance reported.

Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi have the most expensive catastrophic claims, according to Sun Life Financial's fourth annual Top Ten Catastrophic Claims Conditions report.

Two New York-based insurers — Metropolitan Life Insurance and Unum Life Insurance — requested rate increases up to 114 percent for long-term care policyholders in Florida, according to Florida's insurance commissioner.

Only seven of the original 23 health insurance co-ops created through the Affordable Care Act will offer plans during the fourth enrollment season this fall, according to Kaiser Health News.

The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.