Tag: medicare advantage

Mind the Gap: Things to Know Before Picking the Best Medicare Supplement Plan

Guest Author
Medicare

Whether you have just turned 65, are about to turn 65, or are looking after a loved one who already has, keeping abreast of Medicare policy changes and picking the best Medicare supplement plan can seem like a daunting task. While the basic Medicare supplement plans (Plans A – N) are standardized at the federal government level, there are still many variations and nuances that occur at the state level. For example, some states may charge different rates for males than they do for females; some states won’t ask questions…

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Health insurance giant sees massive spike in quarterly profits

H. Cutner
Financial Insurance News

UnitedHealth has announced its Q3 results with a tremendous jump of 23 percent. The largest health insurance company in the United States, UnitedHealth Group Inc. has released a statement of its third quarter earnings, and has shown that the strength of its Medicaid and Medicare business growth has led to a boost of 23 percent in its profits. The report also indicated that the overall medical claims costs appeared to be primarily as predicted. The health insurance company, which is based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, has now increased its forecasts for…

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Report suggests the end of the Medicare Advantage program

S.Vagus
Medicare Advantage

Government Accountability Office considers Medicare Advantage unsustainable A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, is calling for the end of the country’s Medicare Advantage initiative. The Advantage program provides expanded health care benefits to those participating. The report calls into question whether the program is financially sustainable for the country and suggests that current and future administrations should focus more on improving the benefits that are associated with the Affordable Care Act. Advantage program draining country resources The report notes that…

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Premiums decrease and enrollment increases for Medicare Advantage

H. Cutner

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the part of the Medicare program that provides recipients with the ability to select their own private insurance have seen a drop in their premiums by an average of 7 percent, and there has been an increase in enrollment by 10 percent. According to Kathleen Sebelius, a Health and Human Services secretary, this has been an ongoing trend for Medicare Advantage system, which helps to work against the negative forecasts that have been made by those in opposition to the health…

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Gym membership coverage: A potential double-edged sword for the insurance market

S.Vagus

Some private insurers participating in the Medicare Advantage program have begun offering gym memberships as a way to encourage older consumers to stay healthy and active. While many consider this to be good news, others say that the practice is a double-edged sword. Inclusion of gym memberships may signal that insurers are attempting to procure the healthiest individuals while leaving the high-risk policies in the hands of the Medicare program. This practice may have an impact on how health insurance exchanges. These state-run insurance programs will provide limitless coverage to…

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