The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Community Healthcare, Anthem make amends with freshly inked contract
After cutting ties in December, Chicago-based Community Healthcare System and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield confirmed reaching a multi-year contract agreement, the Chicago Tribune reported.
2. BCBS of Ala. estimates losses at $135M for 2015
Officials with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama upped their estimated amount in financial losses from $109 to $135 million for 2015, owing to the increased cost of insuring less healthy patients, reports AL.com.
3. Lone Alaska individual insurer hopes to fix marketplace
There's only one individual health insurer left in Alaska: Premera Alaska. The penultimate insurer left standing, Moda Health, recently withdrew from the market. Now it's up to Premera to save Alaska's individual market, according to Alaska Public Media.
4. Covered California director: UnitedHealth is 'driving me bonkers'
Numerous health insurers recently outlined concerns about the Affordable Care Act exchanges. But the executive director of California's marketplace said UnitedHealth Group should take responsibility and stop assigning blame to the federal law, according to NPR.
5. HealthPlus, Health Alliance Plan merger granted regulatory approval
Flint-based HealthPlus in Michigan and Health Alliance Plan in Detroit secured state and federal regulatory approval for the plans' proposed merger, reports Crain's Detroit Business.
6. Future structure of Humana is 'still to be defined'
In early July, Hartford, Conn.-based health insurer Aetna proposed the acquisition of Louisville, Ky.-based Humana in a $37 billion deal. Now officials are determining what the structure of Humana will look like once the acquisition is completed, according to Louisville Business First.
7. Aetna expresses 'serious concerns' over ACA exchanges
Now that this year's open enrollment period has closed, Aetna expressed apprehension in its future participation on the ACA exchanges, according to The Hill.
8. Aetna CEO says insurer's guidance is 'appropriately prudent'
Aetna, the third largest health insurer in the country, released its 2015 fourth quarter financial results, and the company's CEO maintained a positive outlook, according to CNBC.
9. BCBS of NC expects $400M in losses after 2 years on ACA exchange
After open enrollment closed Jan. 31, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina said it expects to lose over $400 million on its ACA business for 2014 and 2015, according to The News & Observer.
10. Aetna Q4 profit exceeds estimates
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna, the third largest health insurer in the nation, posted better-than-expected operating profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015, according to Bloomberg.
11. Horizon appoints 10 staff members in midst of lawsuit
Newark-based Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is facing a number of legal difficulties. Its new OMNIA health plan has proven controversial, and the insurer is in the middle of a lawsuit with several hospitals regarding its advertising campaign. In the midst of these conflicts, Horizon chose to make a number of staffing changes, according to NJ.com.
12. UnitedHealth Medicare plan required to cover sex reassignment surgery
HHS' Medicare Appeals Council has ruled a Texas transgender woman's privately run Medicare plan must cover her sex reassignment surgery, according to a Reuters report.
13. Aetna, Boston Children's Hospital resolve contract dispute
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and Boston Children's Hospital resolved their dispute over reimbursement rates, according to The Boston Globe.
14. Alaska, Oregon suspend Moda Health Plan activity due to financial fears
Alaska and Oregon insurance regulators suspended Moda Health Plan from accepting new or renewal policies as state officials move in to take partial control of the Portland, Ore.-based insurer, the Portland Tribune reported.
15. Aetna CEO calls Louisville 'the most important part of our business'
Although Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna has offices across the world, CEO Mark Bertolini reassured Louisville citizens that Aetna's acquisition of Louisville, Ky.-based Humana will help the city, according to WDRB.com.