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The government shutdown has focused debate on the vast sum ($136 billion in 2025, as projected by the Congressional Budget Office) that the federal government spends to annually subsidize continually skyrocketing Obamacare health insurance premiums. The Wall Street Journal reports that regardless of how that fiscal tug-of- war turns out, health insurance premiums paid by Americans are expected to rise another 8% or 9% next year.The mega-health insurers are leading the charge for more subsidies because this money lands right in their pockets. Their profits and stock values have been soaring while the rest of us struggle to pay the...

[H/T Red Badger]Since most portions of the post, including the video, contain profanity, I excerpted just the summary at the bottom of the page out of respect for FR's policy regarding profanity. Basically, the theory is the big insurance companies are threatening not to pay for Dem campaigns next year so Dems shutdown the government during which time the insurance companies get paid while those they insure (e.g., military) do not. Below is an AI analysis of the theory.SNIPSummary: The speaker claims the government shutdown isn’t really about political infighting or healthcare policy—it’s about protecting major insurance companies (like UnitedHealthcare,...

This time it is breath taking. Our Plan G premium went up 37%. Here we go again. Spin the roulette wheel of health care costs and see how high they go. Wonder if it is you being singled out or another gift to the state board of insurance or just what it is and how much.

The trucking company involved in a deadly drowsy driving crash on Interstate 20 near Dallas over the summer had its insurance canceled this week. Trucking company Hope Trans had their insurance cancelled on October 8th, rendering them legally unable to operate further. In late August, Hope Trans was given 60 days to take “substantive corrective actions” to fix multiple violations discovered by the FMCSA. In late September, a wrongful death lawsuit was brought against the company, the owner, and a broker. The crash happened on June 28th. Truck driver Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni is currently in jail on a $2.25 million...

ATLANTA — An initiative by insurance companies to reduce high-cost doctor visits could cause physicians to abandon private practice and work for big hospital chains, independent practitioners are warning. They say the trend could drive up patient costs. Cigna implemented a policy last week to flag bills that appear to be too high. The insurance company may reduce payouts by one billing level “when the encounter criteria on the claim does not support the higher-level” payment code, the new policy says. Dr. David Eagle, vice president of the American Independent Medical Practice Association (AIMPA), expects the new cost containment approach...

A change in insurance policies could be coming to the trucking industry, signaling a major shift in their approach to non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). As enforcement of the new non-domiciled CDL rule takes shape, insurance companies are likely to position themselves to avoid potential liability exposure. According to an insurance executive at one of the largest brokers in the country, who spoke on condition of anonymity, he expects that insurance carriers are likely to implement policy changes that explicitly prevent the hiring of drivers with non-domiciled CDLs within the next year. The concern stems from the potential for “nuclear...

“Mr. Trump has promised working-class tax cuts and protection for working-class social insurance, such as Medicaid,” Hawley wrote. “But now a noisy contingent of corporatist Republicans — call it the party’s Wall Street wing — is urging Congress to ignore all that and get back to the old-time religion: corporate giveaways, preferences for capital and deep cuts to social insurance.” Hawley has consistently spoken up about his opposition to the House plan to use Medicaid cuts to pay for the party-line megabill. The House Energy and Commerce Committee has been charged with finding at least $880 billion in federal spending...

The California FAIR Plan, the state’s home insurer of last resort, is seeking an average 35.8% rate hike, its largest in years, following billions of dollars of losses incurred in the January fire storms.The Los Angeles-based insurance pool, operated and backed by the state’s licensed home insurers, filed this week for the dwelling policy rate hike, which must be reviewed and could be reduced by the state insurance commissioner.“By statute, FAIR Plan rates must be sufficient to pay anticipated claims and expenses,” said FAIR Plan spokesperson Hilary McLean in a statement. “The FAIR Plan is working closely with the California...

Health insurance companies report profits of billions annually while raising premiums on beneficiaries and routinely rejecting patient and medical provider claims. By ignoring the public perception, these companies are inviting increased scrutiny by Congress. Becker’s Payer Issues reported on February 12, 2025, that the big seven health care companies made a combined $34.1 billion in 2024. These companies include UnitedHealth Group, which led the way with $14.4 billion in profits. These companies were the beneficiaries of additional government support for premiums because of the Obama Administration and COVID pandemic policies which kept premiums artificially low. These policies are expiring, yet...

What if I told you that cartels and other bad actors from around the world conspired to undermine the integrity of the health care system in the U.S. and came way too close to succeeding? If you didn’t hear about the bust of 324 people; the U.S.-based cartel shell medical supply companies; the pill mills pushing opioids; the doctors on the take; or how law enforcement captured many of the bad guys at the U.S. border and airports as they rushed to escape, that’s understandable. The feds revealed this potential $14.6 billion "depth charge" planted inside the Medicaid, Medicare, and...

'I think it's becoming very, very common,' Amy Bach, Executive Director at consumer advocacy group United Policyholders, told the outlet. 'People are getting dropped on basis of, "We see mold on your roof," or "We see damaged roof tiles," or "There's trees touching your house," risk factors that insurance companies are increasingly on the lookout for.' Schueler found company to remove the branches in time, and so was able to keep her coverage. 'It ended up costing $1,200. I had no choice,' she told CBS. Her policy was renewed for another year, but having her home monitored without her being...

Tesla owners may soon see their insurance premiums rise due to an unexpected factor: vandalism. Insurance analysts warn that increasing incidents of Teslas being damaged—spray-painted, set on fire, or even shot—are putting pressure on insurers, potentially leading to higher comprehensive coverage costs. Key PointsIncreasing vandalism against Tesla vehicles may lead to higher insurance premiums as insurers adjust rates due to growing claimsReports from the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. detail Tesla cars being set on fire, shot at, and spray-painted with anti-Musk messages, targeting the brand due to CEO Elon Musk’s political involvementTesla's used car values and search interest are...

A proposed ballot initiative would drastically change the way property insurance is regulated in California by repealing a law voters passed almost four decades ago. Proposition 103 has regulated home, auto and other types of property and casualty insurance in the state since 1988. It requires insurance companies to seek approval from an elected insurance commissioner to raise their premiums, and allows members of the public to object to rate increases. The initiative — which experts are calling a long shot — would throw most of that out. It would impose stricter limits on the rate-approval process starting in 2027;...

Stage IV patients paid over $700 more per month in the initial 6 months post-diagnosisA diagnosis of cancer brings substantially higher out-of-pocket costs (OOPCs) for privately insured patients, particularly those with more advanced cancer, researchers found. In a cohort of more than 46,000 patients, an incident cancer diagnosis was associated with a mean increase in OOPCs of $592.53 per month in the 6 months after diagnosis, reported Liam Rose, PhD, of the Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California, and colleagues. This finding "underscores the financial burden of cancer care on patients with insurance who are not yet...

People living in Minnesota without legal immigration status can now begin the process of getting their driver's license by making an appointment for their written driver's test, state officials announced at a news conference Thursday. Around 81,000 people are expected to be eligible under the state’s new law — dubbed "Driver’s License for All." They can now make appointments to apply but won’t be able to actually get a license until the law goes into effect Oct. 1. "We’re incredibly proud to be a part of a handful of states that offer driver’s license for all," said Pong Xiong, Driver...

I'm thinking of buying a firearm...the first one in 50+ years. Does anyone know if you're required to tell the insurance company that writes your Homeowner/Umbrella policy that you own one? I don't want to be sued by someone who's shot by someone who's stolen it only to find that the company requires a gun owner to tell them that they own one...and then find that the claim is denied due to my failure. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

Thanks to dropping of A-bombs and F-bombs over the Iran/Israel War and the tenuous ceasefire, this news slipped under the radar. While not as edge-of-your-seat as talk of World War III, this is a huge policy shift that will greatly impact American lives.On Monday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Administrator for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had a press conference where they pledged to streamline the authorization processes for Medicare, Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and commercial plans that in which a majority of Americans participate.The HHS website press release announced,U.S....

Federal health officials on Monday touted pledges they have received from the health insurance industry to streamline and reform the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care and Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace plans which account for most insured Americans. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz took part in a roundtable discussion with insurers in which the payers pledged commitments to six key reforms to the prior authorization process. Health care providers must obtain approval from an insurer before a specific service is...

This is a clip of Senator Hawley holding a hearing on insurance company fraud. It includes All-State and State Farm. At 36 minutes he is questioning the State Farm executive.

(The Center Square) - State Farm, California’s largest property insurer, is seeking the remainder of its originally requested 30% rate hike after getting emergency, temporary approval for a 17% rate hike earlier this month due to cost pressures from the state's wildfires. “While we are pleased that Commissioner Lara approved the interim rate of 17 percent for State Farm General Insurance Company, this change only addressed part of the original request of 30 percent filed in June 2024,” State Farm told Newsweek. “The overall request of 30 percent would not be on top of the 17-percent interim rate change. State...