Timely Health Plan News and Commentary
Senior care covers the services that older adults rely on beyond a doctor's visit: home health care, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, long-term care, hospice, caregiving support and the technology that helps people age safely at home. These services are financed through a mix of Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance and personal savings, and the rules for each are different.
This section covers news from home health and home care agencies, nursing homes and senior living providers, long-term care financing, caregiver programs, and advocacy organizations such as AARP. We also report on programs from health plans that address the needs of older members, including food insecurity, transportation, social isolation and in-home monitoring.
A common misunderstanding is that Medicare pays for long-term care. Original Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing and home health care under specific conditions, but it does not pay for long-term custodial care, the help with daily activities such as bathing and dressing that many older adults eventually need. Medicaid is the largest public payer of long-term care for people who qualify, and some Medicare Advantage plans now offer limited supplemental benefits for in-home support.
For coverage details, see our Medicare and Medicaid and CHIP sections. Provider news from hospitals and post-acute care appears in Hospitals and Health Systems, aging-in-place technology appears in Health Technology and AI, and research on conditions such as Alzheimer's disease appears in Public Health and Research.
The latest senior care news appears below, newest first.
People with Medicare in 29 states will have fewer Medicare Advantage plans to choose from in 2027 than they had this year, according to state fact sheets from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Wyoming drops from 14 plans to 8, Montana from 32 to 23 and Maryland from 63 to 47.
China is aging at a pace that transforms how society works, spends, and plans. A report from WallstreetCN highlights a difficult truth: retirement and long life are becoming the rule, not the exception. At the same time, the number of seniors in China continues rising. By the end of 2024, individuals aged 60 and above reached 310 million, which is 22% of the population. Projections place this group at roughly 30% by 2035. These figures are not just statistics. They are a preview of a new social structure. [Read more…]
BAYADA Home Health Care has rolled out a new approach that blends predictive monitoring, clinical oversight, and daily data review to help seniors stay safe in their homes. The company calls it the Enhanced Quality of Care Model, and it is built around a simple idea: catch risks early, act quickly, and keep older adults from ending up in the hospital. The method is already being used across all private-pay personal care clients.
What do college and university employees really value in a job? According to a new report from the TIAA Institute and CUPA-HR, the answer might surprise you. While salary is important, retirement savings plans, health insurance, and paid time off top the list of the most valued benefits among higher education employees. But what makes the results even more interesting is how these priorities shift depending on the employee’s role and age. [Read more…]
AARP Pennsylvania has released its first 2024 election survey, revealing that women aged 50 and older are poised to be a decisive force in the upcoming elections. With nearly one-third of likely voters overall and more than half of likely voters aged 50 and older, these women could significantly influence the election outcome. [Read more…]
In a bid to safeguard the rights of seniors in New York State, the New York StateWide Senior Action Council (StateWide) has unmasked the latest scheme preying on unsuspecting individuals during Medicare’s annual enrollment period (AEP). Termed the “Medicare Fraud of the Month,” this revelation sheds light on Medicare Marketing Violations occurring from October 15 through December 7, 2023. [Read more…]
Gravie (one of the fastest-growing innovators in health benefits) has annonced that Andrew Reeves has been hired as Gravie’s first senior vice president and General Manager of Gravie ICHRA. Reeves was appointed at a time that the HRA Council reported that ICHRA adoption had tripled since 2020. [Read more…]
Evernorth Care Group, a nationally recognized provider of medical services, is now in-network for Devoted Health’s 13,000 Medicare (MA) members. Devoted Health MA Members can access Evernorth Care Group primary, specialty, and virtual care at 20 health centers throughout the Valley. They also have access to its onsite pharmacies and labs, vision and hearing centres, urgent care centers, and outpatient surgery centers. [Read more…]
Integrity Marketing Group, LLC (Integrity), a leading distributor and provider of retirement and wealth management solutions, has announced that the Integrity Foundation completed the first in a series of community legacy initiatives and support projects to come – building a modern playground for Norfolk, Nebraska, which will benefit future generations of families and children. The playground, located in Norfolk’s Liberty Bell Park was designed for several months, then built on a single day in partnership with KABOOM! Premier Marketing, WealthFirm, and the City of Norfolk. Integrity’s revitalization of this beloved community park will have a positive and long-lasting impact on the health of children and their families. [Read more…]
Elite Health Online is thrilled to announce the addition of Rapamycin to its product line. This revolutionary product is set to redefine the boundaries of longevity and vitality, offering consumers the opportunity to tap into the proverbial fountain of youth. [Read more…]
Thomas McLaughlin has been appointed to Westchester, Chubb’s wholesale excess- and surplus insurance company. Executive Vice President, Casualty Practice. As such, Mr. McLaughlin will be responsible for product and business development. Underwriting operations and performance in profit and loss. [Read more…]
The Supreme Court, by a vote of 7-2, Now rejected a challenge to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), ruling that the plaintiffs didn’t have standing to bring the litigation. [Read more…]
Soterix Medical Inc. , the global leader in non-invasive stimulation and synergistic brain imaging technologies, has expanded clinical trials of its proprietary neuromodulation technologies for Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. [Read more…]
AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), the national leader in marketing and distributing life, health and retirement solutions, has purchased ownership and partnered with the rapidly growing Senior Resource Group (SRG), an independent field marketing organization based in Philadelphia. [Read more…]
A new survey released today by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) in collaboration with research-led consulting firm Heart + Mind Strategies LLC found that more than half of Americans (54%) are experiencing high or very high levels of stress. [Read more…]
Paradigm, the industry leader in solving catastrophic and complex health care challenges and improving lives, today announced the results of a study1 conducted by an independent actuarial firm. Among other key findings, the study shows that catastrophic workers’ compensation cases managed by Paradigm achieved lifetime medical savings of 32%, and a return to work rate nearly six times higher than industry standards. The study examines a sample of Paradigm-managed cases from the last seven years. It consistently found improved cost and clinical outcomes compared to conventional case management industry standards. [Read more…]
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…]
Change Healthcare and Zebra Medical Vision today announced an agreement to create solutions that deliver artificial intelligence solutions to complex radiology reporting environments. Change Healthcare’s proven radiology solutions, along with Zebra Medical Vision’s algorithms, will benefit radiologists and other imaging specialists by improving the efficiency of routine tasks and the effectiveness of workflow in the radiologist reading environment. [Read more…]
Yolanda Jimenez-Colón, who leads Latino Relations for Gateway Health’s Community Engagement & Growth Department, has been selected as one of 50 of the Most Influential Latinos in the Delaware Valley. Ms. Jimenez-Colón will be recognized for her commitment and contributions to the Delaware Valley’s Latino community at a ceremony to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Friday, November 17 at the National Museum of Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia. The awards ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m. [Read more…]
While Middle American men and women share similar feelings of financial security, women are more likely to worry about their personal finances and with good reason: they are three times more likely to say they cannot afford to save for retirement, according to a new study from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual). [Read more…]
Rise People, a new digital HR and group health insurance platform, has announced that Brigitte Parent, formerly SVP of Group Benefits at Sun Life Financial Canada, has joined its advisory board.<--more-->
Parent, named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network, brings extensive strategic group and individual insurance experience to Rise.
Having joined Sun Life in 1995, Parent has extensive experience as a senior leader for both its Canadian and global businesses. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice-President of Group Benefits. Parent was also Senior Vice-President of Individual Insurance and Wealth for Canada where she was responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of insurance and wealth management products and solutions.
In 2015, Parent was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by The Women’s Executive Network, where she received the RBC Champions Award to recognize the difference she has made in helping advance women in the Canadian workplace.
For more reporting on this topic, see our Senior Care news hub.
Last year the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services issued a report about Americans’ concerns and actions related to long-term care (LTC), also referred to as long-term services and supports (LTSS). [Read more…]
AARP sent a letter to every member of the U.S. Senate urging them to start from scratch on the health care legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The letter comes as AARP also begins to inform its members how each House member voted on the bill. [Read more…]
Talix, Inc., a premier provider of risk analytics solutions for value-based care, today announced that Shahyan Currimbhoy, senior vice president of product management and engineering at Talix, and Karena Weikel, ASA, FAHM, CSFS, vice president of risk and revenue management at Geisinger Health Plan (GHP), will be presenting at the 2017 RISE Nashville Summit. The summit takes place March 6-8, 2017 at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. [Read more…]
Discern Health has announced their affiliation with Mai Pham, MD, MPH as a Senior Advisor. Mai most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Among other achievements at CMMI, Mai spearheaded development and implementation of the alternative payment model (APM) portion of MACRA, which will fundamentally change the way that Medicare pays for physician services. [Read more…]
The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare — a coalition of home health providers dedicated to improving the integrity, quality, and efficiency of home healthcare for our nation’s seniors – recently urged Congress to pass the Pre-Claim Undermines Seniors’ Health (PUSH) Act of 2016 to provide more time for implementing a Medicare home health pre-claim review policy to ensure Medicare and home health agencies are prepared to manage the process and maintain continuity of care for home health beneficiaries. [Read more…]
Research shows old age is seen as a problem, worries about healthcare and social services and people not prioritising or doing enough to prepare for their own retirement. Research conducted by Chase de Vere, the national firm of independent financial advisers, paints a depressing picture of increasing longevity in the UK. [Read more…]
Think you can’t haggle over medical costs? Or demand that your doctor see you on time? The December issue of AARP Bulletin examines how to become a more effective advocate for yourself to receive better health care for less money. The issue also looks at the “Patient First” revolution that could be the future of reducing health care costs, how to transition to a less physically demanding job (“When Your Job is a Real Pain”), and socially responsible investing (“Investing with Conscience?”). Additionally, December’s AARP Bulletin includes an exclusive interview with Vinton Cerf, the 73-year-old “father of the internet,” and a story of a war hero who died 75 years ago in the attack on Pearl Harbor, but whose remains – due to advances in DNA technology – are finally returning home. [Read more…]
Capital BlueCross today announced Chris Davis as the company’s new vice president of ancillary services. Davis was previously vice president of sales and service at Dominion Dental Services, a national dental and vision plan administrator headquartered in Alexandria, Va. [Read more…]
Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania (SHIP) has announced that it has executed a reinsurance transaction with Teachers Protective Mutual, a mutual insurance company, for SHIP to reinsure all of Teacher’s long-term care business.
Founded in 1912, Teachers Protective Mutual offers a variety of insurance coverage including accident, health, life and disability. The company offered individual long-term care products from 1992-2005 to residents in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
As part of the transaction, SHIP will initially provide 100 percent coinsurance of the block of long-term care policies Teachers Protective Mutual holds, and will seek to assume the Teachers policies into SHIP in 2016. The transaction has obtained all required regulatory approvals necessary to proceed.
For more reporting on this topic, see our Senior Care news hub.