Category: Health Care Reform

America’s health care system is undergoing many changes – it’s hard for insurance professionals to keep updated let alone consumers. Here we make it easy and publish daily articles on the changes and challenges that health care reform has ahead.

New York Makes the Cut as the 15th State to Mandate Biomarker Testing Coverage

H. Cutner
New York's Biomarker Testing

A Shift Toward Precision Medicine New York has joined the growing ranks of states requiring health insurers to cover biomarker testing, becoming the 15th state to recognize the value of precision medicine. While it may sound like something ripped from a science fiction novel, biomarker testing is a very real, highly effective tool in modern healthcare. It allows doctors to analyze a patient’s tissue, saliva, or blood to identify specific biological markers. These markers help guide decisions on treatments tailored to that individual’s illness, whether it’s cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or…

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Insurance Covering Biomarker Testing? Here’s Why New Jersey’s Latest Insurance Law Matters

Live Insurance News
Health insurance news Impact on Medicare

Biomarker Testing Coverage Now Mandatory for New Jersey Health Insurers New Jersey patients fighting diseases like cancer just gained a significant ally in their treatment plans. Acting Governor Tahesha Way recently signed legislation requiring state-regulated health insurers and Medicaid to cover biomarker testing, ensuring broader access to this crucial diagnostic tool. This advancement promises to make targeted and personalized medicine a reality for thousands across the state. Biomarker testing, for the uninitiated, involves analyzing biological indicators like genes and proteins to provide insights specific to an individual’s condition. It’s often…

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How this Healthcare Giant’s Challenges Could Change Insurance as We Know It

Angela Linders
unitedhealth stock drop and worries of ACA enrollment

UnitedHealth Group Stock Struggles Continue Amid Medicare and ACA Challenges UnitedHealth Group, a giant in the U.S. healthcare industry, has been navigating rough waters lately. You may have noticed headlines about their plummeting stock prices or whispers of trouble in Medicare Advantage plans and Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. But what does all this mean for you, the average healthcare consumer or investor? Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense without the corporate-speak. UnitedHealth’s Stock Slide Sparks Market Ripples Imagine this for a second. The largest health…

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Obesity Crisis Meets Policy Standstill as Trump Halts Medicare Expansion

Ester Adams
Medicare’s role in weight-loss drug coverage

Trump Administration Reverses Plans to Expand Medicare Coverage for Obesity Drugs The Trump administration has officially halted a Biden-era initiative that aimed to extend Medicare and Medicaid coverage to include obesity drugs, a move set to impact millions of Americans coping with obesity, disproportionately affecting seniors and lower-income groups. While supporters saw the proposed expansion as a progressive step towards tackling one of the nation’s most pressing health challenges, critics have raised concerns over the potential cost burden. Below, we untangle the implications of this decision, exploring its economic, medical,…

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Tragedy, Reform, and the State of Health Care – A Look at UnitedHealth Group

Marc
Health Care

A Shocking Loss That Shook a Nation The murder of Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s UnitedHealthcare division, stunned the country in December 2024. Thompson, a 50-year-old husband and father of two, was fatally shot while walking to a company meeting in New York City. It was a crime that not only horrified his colleagues and family but also put a harsh spotlight on the broader frustrations with the U.S. health care industry. The accused, Luigi Mangione, reportedly had grievances about systemic issues in the health care system. He…

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California Health Insurance Law SB 1120 Takes a Stand Against AI-Driven Health Insurance Denials

Angela Linders
California Health Insurance Law

California Enacts SB 1120 to Rein in AI-Powered Health Insurance Decisions California has taken a groundbreaking step in regulating the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in health insurance decision-making. Senate Bill 1120 (SB 1120), also known as the “Physicians Make Decisions Act,” prohibits health insurers from denying, delaying, or altering claims solely based on AI algorithms. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, this legislation ensures human oversight in healthcare coverage decisions, addressing mounting public concerns about fairness and accuracy in the use of AI technologies. Effective as of January…

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