Open Enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans begins November 1, and early federal data show that consumers are in for a shock: premiums are set to rise by an average of 30% for 2026, according to filings reviewed by The Washington Post and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).This represents the […]
Category: News
The Member Satisfaction Divide Widens: What It Means for Employers and Plan Sponsors
The latest J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study reveals a troubling — and growing — divide in health plan performance. Top-performing regional, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and provider-led plans are pulling further ahead, while large national carriers are slipping further behind, with member satisfaction hitting new lows in many markets. A Clear […]
CMS Boosts Medicare Advantage Payments While Members Face Rising Out-of-Pocket Costs
Medicare Advantage (MA) is entering its most paradoxical year yet: as insurers enjoy a 5.06% average payment rate increase (totaling $25 billion in new revenue), beneficiaries are absorbing the financial strain, with deductibles more than doubling year-over-year, according to new data from eHealth.This growing divide—where payer profitability rises and member affordability declines—is drawing criticism from […]
EMPLOYEES PRIORITIZE BETTER HEALTH BENEFITS OVER HIGHER SALARY, SURVEY FINDS
Now more than ever, employees are starting to appreciate their benefits. In fact, a study done by Voya Financial found that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans would accept a job with ah slightly lower salary if it offered better health care and medical coverage, including lower premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs. In addition, research […]