Latest Medicare News

Kate Ashford: Can you afford health care in retirement?

Mar. 04, 2024 07:02 AM EST

At age 65, some couples may need as much as $413,000 to cover health care costs in retirement, according to a January report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. That’s an extreme case, representing two people with high prescription drug costs — but it’s not outside the realm of...

Are you in the wrong Medicare Advantage plan? What to review now

Feb. 14, 2024 09:08 AM EST

Many people choose Medicare Advantage plans without exploring their options or noticing what changes their plan may have made, according to research from KFF, a health policy nonprofit. But now that a new year has started, you may realize the plan you picked during Medicare’s fall open enrollment...

CVS Health grows more cautious about 2024 as it deals with rising Medicare Advantage costs

Feb. 07, 2024 10:03 AM EST

Busy Medicare Advantage businesses have CVS Health and other insurance providers spooked about the new year. The health care giant said Wednesday that it was scaling back already cautious expectations for 2024 as it tries to understand why costs keep rising from the privately run...

Cigna trims portfolio by selling Medicare business for $3.7 billion to Health Care Service Corp.

Jan. 31, 2024 14:43 PM EST

The Cigna Group will sell its Medicare business to another insurer, Health Care Service Corp., for about $3.7 billion. Cigna said Wednesday the deal includes its Medicare Advantage insurance, a supplemental benefits business and Medicare prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage...

Late-year medical costs spike forces Humana to scale back profit expectations for 2023

Jan. 18, 2024 11:03 AM EST

Shares of Humana tumbled Thursday after the health insurer said it was dealing with higher-than-expected costs from its Medicare Advantage customers, forcing it to chop profit expectations. The update from Humana arrived less than a week after rival UnitedHealth Group surprised Wall...

Editorial Roundup: Minnesota

Jan. 10, 2024 13:16 PM EST

Mankato Free Press. January 7, 2024. Editorial: Women’s pro hockey a welcome addition to Minnesota It was no ordinary victory when the hockey game ended with a score of 3-2. The win for the Minnesota women’s professional team against Boston on...

Do I really need supplemental insurance (Medigap) with Medicare?

Jan. 10, 2024 13:02 PM EST

About 41% of Original Medicare beneficiaries had Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, in 2021, according to a February 2023 report summarizing enrollment data from AHIP, a national health insurance trade association. For the other 59%, Medicare has some “gaps” that could be costly. ...

New weight loss drugs are out of reach for millions of older Americans because Medicare won't pay

Dec. 28, 2023 17:23 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New obesity drugs are showing promising results in helping some people shed pounds but the injections will remain out of reach for millions of older Americans because Medicare is forbidden to cover such medications. Drugmakers and a wide-ranging and growing...

Hawaii announces first recipients of student loan payment program for health care workers

Dec. 23, 2023 17:46 PM EST

HONOLULU (AP) — The state has announced the first recipients of a program aimed at helping medical professionals pay off student loans in exchange for a two-year commitment to provide care in Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green on Friday thanked state lawmakers for providing $30 million to...

Community Health Network to pay government $345M to settle Medicare fraud charges

Dec. 19, 2023 19:04 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indianapolis-based health network has agreed to pay the government $345 million to resolve charges it defrauded Medicare by overpaying doctors who referred patients to its facilities, prosecutors said Tuesday. The agreement settles allegations that senior...