Health/Employee Benefits News

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest private health insurer reported it lost $497 million last year. The 4.3 million BCBS customers in North Carolina, about one-third of the state's population, know what this means: their health insurance premiums will increase. Tunde Sotunde, CEO of BCBS, addressed the loss and spoke to the current state…

Iowa has a caregiver crisis that is escalating even faster than its population is graying: Cases of dependent adult abuse, increasing for decades, have skyrocketed in the last five years, with a growing number of people found by the state to be abusive and charged criminally. The findings, documented in statistics Watchdog obtained under Iowa's open records law,…

HARRISBURG– The PA House Finance Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would establish a new tax credit for small businesses that contribute to their employees' health insurance premiums. Steve Samuelson, chair of the House Finance Committee and a co-prime sponsor of the bill, said that many small businesses cannot afford to provide group…

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana hospitals are reporting a double-digit increase in the percentage of emergency department visits since the start of 2025– a rate that is expected to climb as more Hoosiers go without health insurance or opt for high-deductible plans to offset surging premiums. Another 400,000 Hoosiers are no longer covered by Medicaid since the…

Indiana hospitals are reporting a double-digit increase in the percentage of emergency department visits since the start of 2025— a rate that is expected to climb as more Hoosiers go without health insurance or opt for high-deductible plans to offset surging premiums. Another 400,000 Hoosiers are no longer covered by Medicaid since the Indiana Family and…

Democratic lawmakers are pledging to introduce a package of bills to address New Jersey's youth mental health system, which parents say is hard to navigate and can leave kids waiting months if not years for proper treatment. Joe Vitale, the legislation is being drafted to address the findings of a report released Thursday by the New Jersey Health Care Quality…

Indiana hospitals are reporting a double-digit increase in the percentage of emergency department visits since the start of 2025- a rate that is expected to climb as more Hoosiers go without health insurance or opt for high-deductible plans to offset surging premiums. Another 400,000 Hoosiers are no longer covered by Medicaid since the Indiana Family and…

RALEIGH, N.C.— The cost of healthcare for more than 750,000 North Carolina state employees, teachers and retirees could soon depend on which doctor or hospital they choose. The State Health Plan Board of Trustees moved a step closer Friday to adopting a new three-tier provider system that would reward members who use certain healthcare providers with lower…

"Once again, Connecticut families, workers, retirees, and small businesses are being asked to absorb another round of staggering double-digit health insurance premium increases," Hwang said. "For more than a decade, Connecticut residents have faced annual rate hikes that consistently add to our healthcare affordability crisis. "Every year I have raised…

The following information was released by Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock:. The amendment was blocked on a party-line vote 52-46 with all "no" votes coming from Senate Republicans. The Senator's effort to release data surrounding Medicaid coverage loss was blocked by Senate Republicans 52-46..

For more information on this research see: State sanctions may not affect Medicaid managed care. The American Journal of Managed Care, 2026; 32: 302-304. The American Journal of Managed Care can be contacted at: Managed Care& Healthcare Communications Llc, 666 Plainsboro Rd, Ste 300, Plainsboro, NJ 08536, USA. The news correspondents report that additional…

Indiana hospitals are reporting a double-digit increase in the percentage of emergency department visits since the start of 2025— a rate that is expected to climb as more Hoosiers go without health insurance or opt for high-deductible plans to offset surging premiums. Another 400,000 Hoosiers are no longer covered by Medicaid since the Indiana Family and…

A press release from Norwalk Public Schools stated that union's desire to remain enrolled in its current plan would result in a budgetary shortfall for the school district. "Now that the vote has occurred, we will work with the Board of Education and the city to discuss a special appropriation to ensure that contractual employee healthcare obligations are…

As California "s healthcare budget feels the squeeze, advocates have expressed concern that Medi-Cal recipients and county residents who rely on public hospitals could face diminished access to healthcare services and increased wait times. Medicaid, which is known as Medi-Cal in California, provides health insurance to low-income and disabled…

The University of California Health system and Cigna must reach a new contract in the coming weeks, or risk coverage for a large group of Sacramento- area patients. UC Davis Health said it is requesting reasonable payment hikes to cover the hospital system’ s rising costs. UC Davis Health said in a notice to patients in April that the system was seeking higher…

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest private health insurer reported it lost $497 million last year. The 4.3 million BCBS customers in North Carolina, about one-third of the state's population, know what this means: their health insurance premiums will increase. Tunde Sotunde, CEO of BCBS, addressed the loss and spoke to the current state…

Iowa has a caregiver crisis that is escalating even faster than its population is graying: Cases of dependent adult abuse, increasing for decades, have skyrocketed in the last five years, with a growing number of people found by the state to be abusive and charged criminally. The findings, documented in statistics Watchdog obtained under Iowa's open records law,…

The following information was released by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network:. The New York State Senate began its wrap up of the 2026 legislative session by advancing bipartisan legislation that would improve New Yorkers' access to paid medical leave through the state's Temporary Disability Insurance Program. Advocates with the American…

Andy Beshear announced cuts are coming to departments and programs within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, including Medicaid, foster care, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and more. The final version of the state budget falls $691 million short of the agency’ s request and puts $290 million into the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for…

This legislative session was a wake-up call for Vermont lawmakers amid one of the largest healthcare affordability crises facing both the state and the nation. Vermont's healthcare system now totals roughly $2.5 billion and accounts for nearly 30% of the state budget. Since 2018, health insurance premiums have increased by 10 to 15% annually, and Vermont…