Bright HealthCare is pleased to announce new options for Floridians who are eligible for Medicare Advantage (MA), Marketplace, and other healthcare plans in Sarasota. Residents in Sarasota and the surrounding counties will have access to Bright HealthCare’s Individual and Family Plan, (IFP), and Medicare Advantage through network partnerships with Sarasota Memorial and First Physicians Group. [Read more…]
Health Insurance Companies News
A small number of national carriers insure a large share of Americans. UnitedHealthcare, Elevance Health, Aetna (part of CVS Health), Cigna, Humana, Centene and Molina Healthcare operate across commercial, Medicare and Medicaid markets, while regional plans such as Kaiser Permanente, Cambia Health Solutions, Oscar Health and Clover Health compete in specific states. Their decisions determine which plans are sold, which providers are in network, and how much members pay.
What We Cover
This section covers carrier strategy and corporate news: market entries and exits, Medicare Advantage expansions, Medicaid managed care contract awards, provider network agreements, mergers and acquisitions, quarterly results, leadership changes, regulatory settlements and litigation. When a carrier changes its approach to prior authorization, claims processing or pharmacy benefits, we report what it means for members.
For a directory of carriers and their websites, see our List of Health Insurance Companies. The independent Blue plans have their own section, Blue Cross Blue Shield, because each Blue company makes its own decisions in its own markets.
Carrier news touches almost every other section of the site. Plan-year changes appear in Health Insurance Coverage, Medicare Advantage news appears in Medicare, and state contracts appear in Medicaid and CHIP. Deals, earnings and executive appointments across the wider industry are covered in Healthcare Business, and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) developments, including those at Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx, appear in Prescription Drugs and Pharmacy.
The latest health insurance company news appears below, newest first.
University of Florida Health is Now Participating in The Bright HealthCare Medicare and Individual Family Plans Networks
Bright HealthCare 1 is pleased to announce that University of Florida Health has joined its provider network in Northeast, North Central, and Central Florida. University of Florida Health accepts other health plans in addition to Bright HealthCare. Bright HealthCare members living in Jacksonville, Gainesville Leesburg, The Villages and Leesburg will now have access University of Florida Health doctors and hospitals. [Read more…]
Centene Sells Majority Stake In U.S. Medical Management
Centene Corporation (NYSE : CNC) has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of a majority stake U.S. Medical Management, LLC to Rubicon Founders, Valtruis, a WCAS business; Oak HC/FT and HLM Venture Partners. Centene will keep a minority share in USMM. [Read more…]
Wellcare Signs Agreement with Dedicated Senior Medical Center in Detroit
Medicare Advantage members who are Wellcare Medicare Advantage have in-network accessibility to Dedicated Senior Medical Center’s providers. Since April 1, 2021, in-network access to Wellcare has been available, hundreds of Wellcare members have already chosen Dedicated as their primary care provider. [Read more…]
Wellcare Signs Agreement with Dedicated Senior Medical Center in Houston
Medicare Advantage members who are Wellcare Medicare Advantage now have in-network accessibility to Dedicated Senior Medical Center’s providers. Since July 1, 2021, in-network access to Wellcare was granted, hundreds of Wellcare members have already chosen Dedicated as their primary care provider. [Read more…]
Inland Detox In-Network with Cigna Health Insurance
Cigna now has Inland Detox, a trusted drug and alcohol detox center. Inland Empire, Riverside County and Temecula can receive treatment without having to pay a lot of extra. [Read more…]
Jenny Ming joins Boards of Directors for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals
Kaiser Permanente, the largest national integrated, non-profit health care provider, announced Jenny J. Ming, a seasoned retail executive, has been appointed to the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and Hospitals boards. [Read more…]
Youth Impact Award for Vaping Prevention
Meridian in Michigan and the Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education™ have announced the Centene Institute Youth Impact Award for Vaping Prevention, a curriculum and contest for adolescents ages 14 through 19 to raise awareness about vaping, e-cigarette use and prevention. [Read more…]
QualChoice Health Insurance Hires Chris O’Dwyer
QualChoice Health Insurance has announced that Chris O’Dwyer has joined the company as Director of Sales, effective Nov. 23. [Read more…]
Cigna Global Employer Health Partners with InterNations
Cigna Global Employer Health (CGEH) Americas, a division of global health service company Cigna, is partnering with German-based InterNations, the leading independent network and resource for expatriates across 420 cities and with 4 million members worldwide. [Read more…]
Centene Completes Acquisition of Apixio
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Apixio, a healthcare analytics company offering Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology solutions. With this transaction, Centene will continue to digitize the administration of healthcare and accelerate innovation and modernization across the enterprise. [Read more…]
Insure.com Finds America’s Best Health Insurers: Surveying 2,200+ Consumers
FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Insure.com, a comprehensive resource for insurance information, releases its ninth annual survey detailing the most outstanding health insurance companies for 2021. The top ranked companies offer competitive pricing, strong customer service and have a consumer base willing to recommending them. [Read more…]
Second Largest Commercial Insurer Covers Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing for All Pregnancies
Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a pioneer and global leader in cell-free DNA testing, today announced that the second largest commercial health plan in the United States has extended coverage of non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) to all singleton pregnancies. This announcement comes on the heels of the largest U.S. health plan’s expansion earlier this week. Natera now estimates that over 90% of all commercially-covered lives will have average risk NIPT coverage. [Read more…]
WellCare of Florida Earns High Marks in CMS 2021 Star Ratings Report
WellCare announced today its Medicare Advantage plans in Florida received a 4-Star Rating out of a possible 5 Stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) annual Star Quality Ratings for rating year 2021. This marks the fourth year in a row WellCare of Florida has received a 4-Star rating from CMS for its Medicare Advantage plans in the state. [Read more…]
Cigna Affordable Care Act Health Plans to Expand
Cigna is expanding access to health coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace in 63 counties across North Carolina for 2021. Cigna’s plans on the individual exchange will include a number of features that increase access to quality health care – all while holding down out-of-pocket costs. [Read more…]
Liz Ross Joins Bright Health Inc.
Today, Bright Health Inc. announced that former Periscope CEO Elizabeth Ross will be joining the Company as its new Chief Marketing Officer on Monday, November 30. With nearly 30 years of experience driving growth through consumer and brand-to-brand campaigns, Ross will oversee all of Bright Health’s marketing and external communications efforts. [Read more…]
Parkview Health and Cigna Reach Agreement
FORT WAYNE, Ind., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Parkview Health and global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) today announced they have extended their contract and will provide in-network access at a reduced cost for Cigna customers at Parkview hospitals. Parkview’s nearly 900 health care providers across northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio will also remain in-network with Cigna. [Read more…]
Most Health Insurers Are Waiving Costs for COVID-19 but Few Expect to Raise Premiums
According to a new survey of health insurance companies released today by eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) (eHealth.com), nearly all are making changes to help consumers impacted by the COVID-19 coronavirus. A strong majority (97%) say they are waiving out-of-pocket costs associated with testing. Sixty percent of insurer respondents say they are currently offering some form of premium deferral program for those impacted by the coronavirus. [Read more…]
Centene To Expand Access, Reduce Cost Of Care For Most Vulnerable Populations Affected By COVID-19
ST. LOUIS, April 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Centene (NYSE: CNC) today announced a series of additional measures to support the most vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on actions already taken in partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the Company announced it will cover the cost of COVID-19-related treatments for Medicare, Medicaid and Marketplace members. In order to expedite care and eliminate the administrative burden to providers, the Company is also eliminating the need for providers to collect co-pays and removing authorization requirements for COVID-19 related treatment. [Read more…]
Cigna Announces Commencement of Tender Offers
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) announced today that it has commenced tender offers to purchase for cash (1) up to $500,000,000 (the “2022 Notes Aggregate Maximum Principal Amount”) of Cigna Holding Company’s 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022, Cigna Corporation’s 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022, Express Scripts Holding Company’s 3.900% Senior Notes due 2022 and Cigna Corporation’s 3.900% Senior Notes due 2022 (collectively, the “2022 Existing Notes,” and such tender offer, the “2022 Notes Tender Offer”) and (2) up to $950,000,000 (the “2023 Notes Aggregate Maximum Principal Amount”) of Cigna Holding Company’s 7.650% Senior Notes due 2023, Cigna Corporation’s 7.650% Senior Notes due 2023 and 3.750% Senior Notes due 2023, Express Scripts Holding Company’s 3.000% Senior Notes due 2023 and Cigna Corporation’s 3.000% Senior Notes due 2023 (collectively, the “2023 Existing Notes,” and such tender offer, the “2023 Notes Tender Offer”), in each case, validly tendered and accepted by Cigna, upon the terms (including the Aggregate Maximum Principal Amount Allocation (as defined below)) and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated March 4, 2020 and the related Letter of Transmittal (collectively, the “Offer to Purchase”). The 2022 Existing Notes and the 2023 Existing Notes are referred to collectively as the “Securities” and the 2022 Notes Tender Offer and the 2023 Notes Tender Offer are referred to collectively as the “Tender Offers.” [Read more…]
Cigna and the Cigna Foundation Help Those Affected by Nashville Tornado
NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) is taking steps to help people who were impacted by Tuesday’s tornado in Nashville. Cigna is easing some health benefits plan and prescription requirements, and expanding access to a toll-free help line for people living in Benton, Davidson, Knox, Putnam, Shelby and Wilson counties. [Read more…]
Ethisphere Institute Names Health Care Service Corporation one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies
CHICAGO, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the largest customer-owned health insurer in U.S., has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies®. [Read more…]
Florida Schools And Sunshine Health Participated In National No One Eats Alone Day
SUNRISE, Fla., Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — A bullying prevention initiative designed to promote inclusion among students was celebrated at three Florida schools this month with the help of Sunshine Health. The schools included Skyway Elementary and Twin Lakes Elementary in Miami, and J.E.B. Stuart Middle in Jacksonville.
Representatives from Sunshine Health hosted an assembly at each school in honor of National No One Eats Alone® Day, created by the non-profit Beyond Differences™. More than 750 students participated in activities designed to teach them about social isolation and the negative impact it can have on a student’s health and academic performance. The students engaged in a simple act of kindness at lunch – making sure no one is eating alone by sitting with students they didn’t know. They were given icebreaker topics to spur conversations and highlight their commonalities.
Social isolation affects millions of students and has been identified as a precursor to bullying, self-harm and community violence. Students have shown that if they are given the tools, they will stand up for others as empathetic and caring activists, not passive bystanders.
“We recognize the negative impacts bullying and social isolation can have on a child’s overall health,” said Chris Coffey, CEO of Sunshine Health. “We are proud to partner with Beyond Differences to celebrate No One Eats Alone Day and raise awareness about social issues impacting the health of our children.”
“Social isolation is a preventable public health problem,” said Laura Talmus, co-founder and executive director of Beyond Differences. “We’ve learned through teachers and families that No One Eats Alone Day is a powerful step and positive initiative that can change the culture in schools to be a more welcoming place for all.”
The three Florida schools joined more than 2,500 schools across the country to celebrate No One Eats Alone Day. The initiative reached more than 1 million students in all 50 states. No One Eats Alone Day is sponsored by the Centene Charitable Foundation.
About Sunshine Health
Headquartered in Sunrise, Fla., Sunshine Health is among the largest healthcare plans in Florida. Offering coordinated care and a network of support for more than 1 million members, Sunshine Health is transforming the health of the community, one person at a time. Sunshine Health is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a diversified, multi-national healthcare enterprise focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Sunshine Health offers government-sponsored managed care through Medicaid, Long Term Care, Ambetter (Marketplace) and Allwell (Medicare). Additionally, we offer a specialty Medicaid health plan for
children in or adopted from Florida’s Child Welfare system. For more information, visit SunshineHealth.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SunHealthFL.
SOURCE Sunshine Health
Related Coverage
- 11 Texas Schools Spearhead Social Revolution with No One Eats Alone® Day
- Centene’s Florida Subsidiary Awarded Commendable Accreditation Rating From NCQA
- WellCare of Florida Earns High Marks in CMS 2021 Star Ratings Report
For more reporting on this topic, see our Health Insurance Companies news hub.
Centene To Present At Barclays Global Healthcare Conference
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today it will present at the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference, to be held at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, March 10-12, 2020. [Read more…]
Aetna Whole Health Launches In Atlanta Providing Fully Insured And Self-Insured Health Care Options For Employers
ATLANTA, Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Aetna, a CVS Health company (NYSE: CVS), is now offering fully insured and self-insured health care network options to its Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Exclusive Product Organization (EPO) product portfolios through Aetna Whole HealthSM – Atlanta. [Read more…]
WellCare Expands Medicare Benefits for 2020 Annual Enrollment Period
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) is offering a number of new plan options to its already extensive, high-quality, low-cost Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan offerings during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) running now through Dec. 7, 2019. [Read more…]
Chubb Expands Insurance Solution in Canada to Address Exposures Faced by Today’s Private Equity Firms
TORONTO, April 3, 2019 /CNW/ — Chubb is now providing expanded insurance coverage through its Private Equity+SM offering to address the unique risks of Canadian private equity firms. Designed as a comprehensive solution, these extended offerings help transfer and mitigate many of the private equity firms’ most significant liabilities by combining four management liability coverages including management (Directors and Officers), outside directorship, professional services (Errors and Omissions), and Employment Practices Liability in one policy. [Read more…]
WellCare Helps Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. and TAMPA, Fla., April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — This April, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, WellCare of Kentucky, a WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) company, sponsored Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky’s (PCAK) 2019 Community Awards. The event provided community organizations with resources and tools to host awareness events around the Commonwealth. After overwhelmingly positive responses to the 2018 sponsorship and an increase in applications received, WellCare doubled the sponsorship to $10,000 for 2019, helping PCAK to further community support statewide. [Read more…]
WellCare Announces Five-Year $1.3 Billion Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (“WellCare”) (NYSE: WCG) today announced that it has entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement for its Revolving Credit Facility (“Credit Agreement”). The company plans on using this upsized facility to support its long-term growth plans, including, but not limited to, its pending acquisition of Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, Inc. and MeridianRx, LLC (“Meridian”), as well as for general corporate purposes. [Read more…]
NCCI Examines Impact of Opioids on Workers Compensation System
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is examining the growing issues related to opioid use in America through a three-part series, On Opioids. This series is aimed at exploring three viewpoints on issues surrounding opioid use and workers compensation: those of doctors, insurers, and regulators. NCCI has posted its first article of the series—On Opioids: The Doctors’ Perspectives—on ncci.com. [Read more…]