Medicare Advantage Deductibles Surged in 2025
A survey by online broker eHealth finds that the average deductible for a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan in 2025 more than doubled to $315. The average deductible for MA plans during the enrollment period was $315, compared to $132 in 2024, or an increase of 139%. Premiums decreased from $9 per month to $5 per month, but MA plans clearly had to save by increasing deductibles and cost-sharing as well as reducing benefits and footprints.
In other news, Becker’s also reports on the fastest-growing non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in terms of MA enrollment. Chartis says Blue Cross Blue Shield non-profit plans accounted for around 30% of MA enrollment growth in 2025. That number does not include for-profit Elevance Health, one of the big national plans which is also a Blues licensee.
Big BCBS plan gainers were BCBSMI, Highmark, and Horizon. Chartis also says that 45% of all enrollment growth in 2025 accrued to BCBS non-profits and other non-profits. BCBS plans added 400,000 MA members for 2025.
Check out the Chartis report here – rich in content: https://www.chartis.com/insights/medicare-advantage-market-growth-slows-amid-intensified-headwinds
Additional article: https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/the-fastest-growing-bcbs-medicare-advantage-plans-2025/
#medicareadvantage #coverage #cms
https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/medicare-advantage-deductibles-more-than-double-survey/
Weight Loss Programs All The Rage With Employers
Employers are being hit by ever-rising costs of GLP-1s in employer coverage. Because of this, they are endorsing weight-loss programs offered by pharmacy benefit managers.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#glp1s #weightlossdrugs #drugpricing #pbms #employercoverage
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/insurance/optumrx-cvs-caremark-express-scripts-glp1s
Senate Confirms FDA and NIH Leaders
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Marty Makary were each confirmed by the Senate as leaders of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), respectively. Bhattacharya is battling major layoffs and reductions to grant funding. Makary needs to reform a badly broken agency with a revolving door to the industries it oversees.
Additional articles: https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/bhattacharya-takes-nih-helm-agency-faces-major-turmoil and https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5213872-jay-bhattacharya-senate-confirmed-nih/ and https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5214293-senate-confirms-marty-makary-fda/
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#fda #nih #trump #congress
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/senate-jay-bhattacharya-marty-makary-nih-fda
Provider Industries Lobbying And Advertising To Avoid Medicaid Cuts
Provider entities, especially hospitals, are mounting major lobbying and advertising campaigns to stop Medicaid cuts. Ads are targeting swing districts in the nation, especially moderate Republicans.
In other news, healthcare policy group KFF issued a briefer on Medicaid and provider taxes, explaining one of the major potential Medicaid cuts on the table. See my blog on the issue here: https://www.healthcarelabyrinth.com/the-coming-debate-over-provider-taxes-in-medicaid/ .
As well, a prominent Democrat is looking for a GOP co-sponsor for new CURES legislation, which would be focused on advancing health technology innovation, promoting data sharing, and improving public health.
Last, KFF also has published briefers on key facts on Medicaid, hospitals, and Medicaid coverage for those with Medicare.
Additional articles: https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-and-provider-taxes/ and https://insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/degette-resumes-push-bipartisan-cures-21-legislation-seeks-gop-lead and https://www.kff.org/key-facts-about-hospitals/ and https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/5-key-facts-about-medicaid-coverage-for-people-with-medicare/
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#medicaid #hospitals #providers
https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/medicaid-cuts-opposition-hospitals-unions
Moody’s Downgrades HCSC Post MA Sale
Moody’s downgraded Health Care Service Corporation’s insurance financial strength rating to A3 from A2 following the company’s acquisition of The Cigna Group’s Medicare business. Moody’s cited likely challenges with the integration of the MA business and headwinds within the MA industry.
#medicareadvantage #cigna #hcsc
— Marc S. Ryan
