Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alaska said it will send its individual plan members premium credits due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Some of the nation's largest for-profit health insurers saw their earnings continue to climb as medical services were deferred due to COVID-19, while others saw medical utilization and other expenses hamper results after a lucrative second quarter.

Cigna saw strong gains in its third-quarter financial results, driven by its health services division Evernorth, which includes pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts.

UnitedHealth Group must redo 67,000 medical claims for behavioral healthcare that it previously denied, a federal judge ordered Nov. 4. 

Insurance claim denials are a costly and time-consuming burden on every hospital and health system. But you can avoid most denials by taking the proper steps. 

Humana saw big profit gains in the third quarter, as the insurer continued to see less utilization due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

More than 500 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees accepted voluntary separation offers after the insurer opened them up to workers Sept. 28, Andy Hetzel, the insurer's vice president of corporate communications, told Becker's Nov. 2.

GuideWell, the parent company of Florida Blue, signed an agreement Nov. 2 to become a majority shareholder in New Directions Behavioral Health, a managed mental health organization based in Leawood, Kan.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Caravan Health, an ACO provider, are creating an ACO that will work with rural hospitals and providers.

The following payer executives changed their positions in October.

CMS issued part two of its proposed 2022 Medicare Advantage Advance Notice, which updates payment methodologies to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.

On Nov. 1, CMS approved Georgia's request to implement a waiver that will change how the state runs its individual marketplace.

Prior authorization workflows remain highly manual in today's healthcare environment, even with advancements in machine learning and robotics process automation. 

Dallas-based Southwestern Health Resources and Humana signed a value-based payment arrangement for Humana's Medicare Advantage members in North Texas, the organizations said Oct. 28.

Molina Healthcare saw premium revenue and profit increase in the third quarter of 2020, with the COVID-19 not significantly affecting results.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois launched a new program to financially reward hospitals for reducing their patients' health disparities.

The California Department of Managed Health Care fined Blue Cross of California $1.2 million for delaying coverage authorization for medically necessary services, the department said Oct. 28. 

Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers will all be required to cover a COVID-19 vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs for beneficiaries and members, CMS said Oct. 28.

Here are three stories that involved health insurers laying off workers this year:

Here are six recent contract agreements and conflicts between payers and providers: