The following payers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Watchdog group claims Anthem Blue Cross inadequately warned consumers about plan switch
A California-based consumer group filed a lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross alleging the payer tried to automatically renew hundreds of thousands of policyholders' plans without informing them out-of-network coverage would cease.
2. Humana reports 20% lower costs under value-based Medicare Advantage model
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana issued results of its value-based Medicare Advantage reimbursement model, presenting improved healthcare quality and lower costs for the third consecutive year.
3. Cigna's Q3 profit dips 16.6%
Profit in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 for Cigna sank 16.6 percent from the same period last year to a total of $456 million.
4. Maryland co-op needs acquisition approval before selling on ACA marketplace
Baltimore-based nonprofit payer Evergreen Health will not be listed on Maryland's ACA exchange until its acquisition and conversion to a for-profit entity concludes.
5. Anthem warns of 2018 ACA marketplace exits
Indianapolis-based Anthem will consider pulling back its 2018 ACA exchange footprint if it continues to financially underperform in the program next year.
6. CHI Memorial, UnitedHealthcare dispute halts coverage for 5k Chattanoogans
Negotiators from CHI Memorial in Chattanooga, Tenn., and UnitedHealthcare failed to reach a network agreement before their previous contract expired, affecting coverage of roughly 5,000 UnitedHealthcare members in the region.
7. Blue Shield of California owes enrollees $25M in healthcare rebates
Blue Shield of California is paying money it owes to about 240,000 people with job-based health coverage.
8. Highmark pulls out of ACA exchange in 2 Pennsylvania counties
Pittsburgh-based Highmark withdrew 2017 ACA marketplace plans from two counties in Pennsylvania.
9. Aetna, Banner Health embark on joint health plan
Aetna and Phoenix-based Banner Health will create and jointly own a health plan company offering employer-based insurance in Arizona's Maricopa and PinalCounties, with eyes toward statewide expansion.
10. Maine insurance co-op hikes out-of-network deductibles over 400%
To encourage policyholders to use in-network services next year, health plan co-op Community Health Options hiked its deductibles for out-of-network care by up to 472 percent.
11. WellCare targets chronic illness with home telemonitoring program
Tampa, Fla.-based payer WellCare will pilot a home telemonitoring initiative for chronically ill Medicare Advantage members in three states.
More articles about payer issues:
Cigna's Q3 profit dips 16.6%
Maryland co-op needs acquisition approval before selling on ACA marketplace
Minnesota ACA exchange suffers IT mishaps, possible robot callers