Compliance Bulletins
Today’s Rates Create a Powerful Opening for Annuity Conversations
Interest rates are on everyone’s mind right now, and Americans feel the uncertainty. They’re watching the headlines, trying to decide whether they should lock in today’s rates or wait to see what happens next. At the same time, many fixed and indexed annuities look...
Former NFL Tight End Convicted for Medicare, VA Fraud Scheme
A former NFL tight end was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for a yearslong fraud scheme that cost Medicare and the U.S. Veterans Affairs almost $200 million. Joel Rufus French, a marketing company owner and beneficial owner of eight durable medical equipment...
A Look at the GENEROUS Model and Factors That Could Impact Medicaid Drug Costs
While spending on prescription drugs accounts for a relatively small share of overall Medicaid spending, Medicaid drug spending has grown in recent years. As a result, both states and the federal government continue to prioritize the management of rising prescription...
Take These Steps to Boost Your Annuity Lead Generation
The annuity market has set many records recently, driven by millions of Baby Boomers seeking guaranteed retirement income and financial stability. For insurance agents and financial professionals, this growth is a massive opportunity, but only if you can create a...
Medicare Advantage: What Agents in The Field Are Seeing
Two million. That's how many older Americans were displaced from Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, according to agents fielding the calls. Hospital systems pulled out of networks. Carriers dropped unprofitable plans during the annual enrollment period. And the agents...
Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program Enhance Some Consumer Protections but Roll Back Others
CMS recently finalized policies as part of the 2027 Medicare Advantage final rule that both enhance consumer protections and roll back changes to the Medicare Advantage program that were intended to protect consumers. These changes have gotten less attention than...
AmeriLife Team Participates in Coastal Construction’s 2026 Corporate SportsFest for Team Building
This weekend, AmeriLife joined Coastal Construction’s 2026 Corporate SportsFest and it was all about showing up as a team. With games like corn toss to tug-of-war, there’s nothing better than enjoying the Florida sunshine. SOURCE
New Cigna CEO: Insurer to exit ACA, focus on ‘relentless’ push for affordability
The Cigna Group executives said the health insurer will exit the Affordable Care Act individual exchange business beginning in 2027 as part of a broader effort to reshape its portfolio and focus on higher-growth segments. ARTICLE
How Fixed Indexed Annuities Can Address Current Retirement Concerns
The current retirement landscape is fraught with dilemmas that demand your clients’ immediate attention. Recent global economic disruptions have created a pervasive feeling of instability for those nearing or entering retirement. With the increased economic...
Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 Introduced
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act (MAIA) of 2026 (H.R. 8375), a bipartisan bill that addresses critical issues within Medicare Advantage (MA). The bill focuses on issues such as prior authorizations, prompt...
LeadStar Partners with MediCare Express to Deliver Priority In-Person Appointments to Licensed Agents in AmeriLife’s Nationwide Network
Latest advancement in LeadStar’s evolution reinforces AmeriLife’s foundational commitment to building enduring agent-client relationships through personalized, face-to-face Medicare consultations CLEARWATER, FL AND LARGO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026...
How to Reframe Life Insurance for Today’s Diverse Consumers
Life insurance demand is steady as ever, but prospective policy owners’ expectations have changed. Agents and brokers today are working in a marketplace shaped by delayed life milestones, cultural differences, shifting financial priorities, and wider generational...
AmeriLife Returns as Medicarians’ Title Sponsor, Showcasing the Power of Its Connected Ecosystem
CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESS Newswire / April 20, 2026 / AmeriLife Group, LLC ("AmeriLife"), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing life and health insurance, annuities, and retirement planning solutions, today announced its return as a title sponsor...
Gen X Represents A $1.4 Trillion Lead Generation Opportunity in 2026
Those in the financial services industry have heard about The Great Wealth Transfer constantly over the last few years. Many financial professionals assume this massive, generational shift will be focused only on the Baby Boomer client base. But new data reveals that...
Percentage of Enrollees Who Fail to Make ACA Payments Rises to 14%
About 14% of individuals who were enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans were not able to meet their first payment in the new year, according to a new analysis published in The Wall Street Journal.1 The results of the survey and analysis, conducted by actuarial...
Wakely Analysis Signals Significant Enrollment Shifts in ACA Individual Market as 2026 Unfolds
Wakely Consulting Group, an HMA Company, today released a new analysis of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual market that points to meaningful changes in enrollment, consumer behavior, and overall market morbidity as 2026 progresses. Drawing on data representing...
Marketing to Individuals Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
We are asking that you take a look at this policy again. While this is not new policy, CMS determined it was pertinent to recommunicate this policy and its implications; this, more than likely, signals that there will be closer scrutiny and lower tolerance for...
Baylor Scott & White Health Plan will stop providing Medicaid and ACA Marketplace coverage in Texas
The Baylor Scott & White Health Plan will stop offering Texas Medicaid and individual marketplace health insurance plans this year, the provider announced Tuesday. The Dallas-based health plan will leave the Texas Medicaid Managed Care Program at the end of...
States, Insurers Await Needed Details to Implement New US Medicaid Work Rules
The Trump administration's new law that Americans must work or volunteer to qualify for Medicaid healthcare benefits, set to take effect next year, has left states waiting for details on how to comply and with limited funding promised, according to six industry...
Report: Growth in MA Is Associated with Lower Total Medicare Spending
Enrollment in Medicare Advantage has steadily increased over the past two decades. The number of MA enrollees grew from about 11 million (25% of total Medicare beneficiaries) in 2010 to 32 million (54% of Medicare beneficiaries) in 2024. Now, new research from the...
ACA: Four Key Takeaways from This Year’s Open Enrollment
Health insurance dominated the news in the last few months of 2025. With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits expiring on the first day of the new year, the future of individual insurance was up for debate. Would the ACA Marketplace survive a...
The Next Level of Life Insurance: How Agents Can Scale Their Income and Agency
As a life insurance agent, you know the products, you’ve built trust with your clients, and you have an established book of business. But now you’re facing the next significant hurdle: How do you genuinely increase your income without simply working 20 more hours a...
TruChoice Financial’s James Ruhle Named to Insurance Business America’s 2026 Top Specialist Wholesale Brokers List
MINNEAPOLIS, MN and CLEARWATER, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 12, 2026 / AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing annuity, life, and health insurance solutions, is proud to announce that James Ruhle, Divisional...
2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies (the CY 2027 Rate Announcement). In the CY 2027 MA and Part D Advance...
Tax Time Brings Surprises for Some Who Receive ACA Subsidies
Tax time can come with big surprises for some people who have Affordable Care Act coverage, including owing money back to the government for premium subsidies received during the previous year. More changes lie ahead that make it important for those getting subsidies...
Today’s Rates Create a Powerful Opening for Annuity Conversations
Interest rates are on everyone’s mind right now, and Americans feel the uncertainty. They’re watching the headlines, trying to decide whether they should lock in today’s rates or wait to see what happens next. At the same time, many fixed and indexed annuities look...
Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage Part D Final Rule
On April 2, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule revising the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D), and Medicare Cost Plan Program. The Contract Year (CY) 2027 MA and Part D...
Julian Movsesian Honored with 2026 Spirit of Life Award by City of Hope and the National Life Insurance Council
Succession Capital Alliance, the gold standard in advanced life insurance planning for advisors and their high-net-worth clients, and an affiliate of AmeriLife, today announced that its President and CEO, Julian Movsesian, has been named the 2026 Spirit of Life®...
LeadStar Partners with MediCare Express to Deliver Priority In-Person Appointments to Licensed Agents in AmeriLife’s Nationwide Network
CLEARWATER, FL AND LARGO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2026 / LeadStar, the proprietary lead generation platform exclusively designed for licensed agents and marketers in the AmeriLife distribution network, today announced a strategic partnership with MediCare...
Humana Reaches National Network Agreement with CommonSpirit Health
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Humana and CommonSpirit Health have committed to a three-year national partnership agreement, ensuring Humana members will continue to have in-network access to CommonSpirit Health’s services, facilities and providers. It covers a 24-state footprint,...
Exchange Coverage Remains Near Record High as 23.1 Million Enroll in 2026, Reflecting Continued Strength and Stability
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released the Health Insurance Exchanges 2026 Open Enrollment Report, summarizing plan selection activity for plan year 2026 across the individual Exchanges in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The...
Trump Team Claims Successes Against ACA Fraud While Pushing for More Controls
Complaints about enrollment fraud in Affordable Care Act health insurance coverage have bedeviled the federal marketplace for years. This story also ran on U.S. News & World Report. It can be republished for free. Now, the Trump administration is claiming wins in...
The Confidence Advantage: How Financial Planning Strengthens Consumer Decisions
Financial stress is rising across nearly every demographic, but the data tells a hopeful story: people with a financial plan feel significantly more confident, satisfied, and secure. If you’re a financial professional, that’s your opening. Americans want clarity, and...
Medicare Part B premiums just crossed $200: here’s what to expect
Medicare Part B premiums have crossed a major milestone in 2026, and for millions of retirees, the shift is already reshaping how far their Social Security checks can stretch each month. The standard monthly premium now sits at $202.90, the first time it has moved...
Understanding DRLPs | AgentSync
According to the Securities and Insurance Licensing Association, all states require business entities – what most in the industry call “agencies” – to designate a responsible licensed producer or responsible person to act as the authority of an agency. Having a DRLP...
Sixteen Years of the Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed on this day 16 years ago, enacting some of the most wide-ranging health care reforms in modern American history and bolstering coverage and protections for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Over...
The Explosion of the Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan
For insurers that remain committed to their Medicare Advantage businesses, special needs plans have been a major growth driver. KFF estimated that almost half of MA enrollment growth from 2024 to 2025 stemmed from these tailored plans. In 2025, SNPs covered 21% of MA...
Surviving the Silver Tsunami: The Need for Professional Guidance and Solutions
The “Silver Tsunami” is more than just a demographic shift; it’s a powerful wave of change poised to redefine retirement in America. With an estimated 20% of the U.S. population expected to be 65 or older by 2030, the Baby Boomer generation is entering its golden...
The Trump health care policy red and blue states are embracing
Trump issued those broadsides to explain why he didn’t support an extension of government subsidies that made Obamacare plans more affordable for millions. Those subsidies have now expired, sending premiums soaring. But Trump has continued to support a 2019 rule...
Most Medicare Beneficiaries Affected by Plan Terminations in 2025 Have Robust Medicare Advantage Options in 2026
Despite concerns raised by the industry, the Medicare Advantage market remains robust in terms of enrollment, plan choice, and extra benefits. Enrollment in Medicare Advantage surpassed 35 million people in February of 2026, as more than half of eligible beneficiaries...
Why Agent Retention Is the Real Growth Strategy
If you started in insurance four years ago, industry statistics suggest there’s only a 15% chance you’re still in the business today. That’s the default state of our industry — a massive revolving door. And with nearly one-third of active advisors expected to retire...
Elevance ‘Surprised and Disappointed’ By CMS Medicare Advantage Sanction Threat: CFO
Elevance said it was “surprised and disappointed” by a recent CMS sanction threat, which would suspend enrollment in Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans, CFO Mark Kaye said March 10 at the Barclays 28th Annual Global Healthcare Conference in Miami. The...
Dr. Oz says Obamacare enrollment may be ‘too high’
Although Obamacare sign-ups have fallen significantly this year over skyrocketing monthly premiums, Dr. Mehmet Oz believes enrollment is still too high. Oz, the Trump administration’s top official overseeing the Affordable Care Act, told NBC News that millions of...
CMS Announces Wide-Ranging Fraud Crackdown
Key Takeaways: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) deferred $259.5 million in federal Medicaid funds to Minnesota over program integrity concerns. CMS will impose a six-month nationwide moratorium on new enrollments for certain Durable Medical...
Innovation, Regulation, and Trust: The Road Ahead for Indexed Products
Indexed universal life (IUL) and fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) have traveled a long road. What started as niche products built to balance safety with growth potential has now matured into one of the most-watched segments in insurance, as market-linked gains, downside...
Analyzing Changes in Medicare Part D Enrollment for 2026
For people with Medicare, the Medicare Part D outpatient prescription drug benefit is provided by private plans, either Medicare Advantage plans that offer Part D drug coverage (MA-PDs) or, for those in traditional Medicare, stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs)....
IUL Illustration Complication: Helping Clients See Past the Hype
Indexed universal life (IUL) insurance has surged in popularity over the past decade, but regulators warn that the way these products are illustrated often sets clients up with unrealistic expectations. For years, regulators, actuaries, and consumer advocates have...
AmeriLife’s David Paul Appointed to ICMG Board of Directors
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 2, 2026 / AmeriLife Group, LLC (“AmeriLife”), a national leader in developing, marketing, and distributing annuity, life, and health insurance solutions, today announced that David Paul, Vice President of Life and Annuity...
Humana Statement on our Contract with Moffitt Health System
Moffitt Health System and Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida will be out-of-network for Humana Medicare Advantage members beginning July 1, 2026. Humana remains deeply committed to ensuring our members have access to high-quality, affordable care. Our partnerships with...
Trump Administration Prioritizes Affordability by Announcing Major Crackdown on Health Care Fraud
Today at the White House, Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Mehmet Oz announced new steps to crack down on fraud in Medicare...
Why Affordability Must Be Our North Star
This is a pivotal year for our nation’s healthcare system, and one theme rises above the rest: affordability. Millions of older adults depend on Medicare Advantage for stability, simplicity, and support. ARTICLE
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Grew by About 1 Million People, Mainly Due to Special Needs Plans
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest Medicare Advantage enrollment data on February 13, 2026. These data provide the first look into Medicare Advantage enrollment for 2026 following a statement published by CMS last fall...
3 Legislative Headwinds in Medicare That Agents Can’t Afford to Ignore
Legislative change in Medicare may feel slow, but the proposals now on the table could reshape how licensed agents sell and support coverage as early as 2026. Lawmakers, regulators, and advocacy groups are signaling three major priorities: new restrictions on Medicare...
New 2027 ACA draft rules could drive small firms toward individual market
The individual health insurance rules that federal regulators are developing for 2027 could help individual coverage crowd out more of the small-group market, according to Jeff Smedsrud. ARTICLE
Trump Team’s Planned ACA Rule Offers Its Answer to Rising Premium Costs: Catastrophic Coverage
The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping set of regulatory proposals that would substantially change health plan offerings on the Affordable Care Act marketplace next year, aiming, it says, to provide more choice and lower premiums. But it also proposes...
Keeping Retirement Timelines on Track for the Peak 65 Generation
Every day, more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 — the most significant wave of retirees in U.S. history. But instead of celebrating, many are hitting pause. Nearly one-third of Peak 65 consumers (ages 61-65) say they’re considering delaying retirement due to worries...
The IRA Has Improved Coverage of Drugs Selected for Medicare Price Negotiation
The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), was designed to help lower Medicare spending on prescription drugs by requiring the federal government to negotiate the price of some high-cost drugs covered by...
Exclusive: House panel subpoenas 8 health insurers
House Judiciary Committee Republicans have subpoenaed eight Affordable Care Act health insurers for documents as part of a widening investigation of potential fraud surrounding the use of premium subsidies in the individual market, Axios has learned. Highlights:...
CMS Issues ACA 2027 Proposed Rules
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Feb. 9 released its 2027 proposed standards for the health insurance marketplaces, including the issuers and brokers who assist marketplace enrollees. Notably, the proposed rule would allow CMS to certify non-network...
Medicare Advantage Threatened by a False Narrative on Costs
For 2026, 2.6 million seniors saw their MA prescription drug plans discontinued, double last year’s total. This erosion is not an accident of the market — it is the direct, predictable consequence of flawed policy, and it’s putting the stability of a vital program in...
The ACA Opportunity Agents Are Ignoring: Why It’s Time to Step into State Marketplaces
Agents, we may be leaving money on the table. If you’re already in the ACA game and not working in state-based marketplaces (SBMs), you’re missing out on one of the most significant growth opportunities in our industry right now. In 2025, a record-breaking 24.2...
Texas sees more enrolled in Affordable Care Act insurance
Almost 4.2 million Texans enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance for 2026, a more than 5% increase from last year, per federal data. The big picture: Around 23 million Americans enrolled for a health insurance plan through the ACA for this year, a roughly...
Medicare Advantage shifts focus to quality
Medicare Advantage plans face pressure to be profitable, so carriers are shifting their focus to quality. “The entire MA ecosystem is for the benefit of seniors and we must remember that,” said Steve Kaplan, chief legal, compliance and privacy officer at...
How Agents Can Use 2026 Premium Increases to Build Trust and Retention
Medicare cost increases are nothing new, but 2026 is shaping up to be a year that beneficiaries will remember. Part B premiums are projected to climb 11.6% to $206.50 — the sharpest jump in dollar terms since 2022. Meanwhile, Part D base premiums are also expected to...
KFF Health Tracking Poll: Health Care Costs, Expiring ACA Tax Credits, and the 2026 Midterms
The cost of health care, including paying for health insurance and out-of-pocket expenses, tops the list of the public’s economic anxieties, rising well above other necessities. Two-thirds of the public (66%) say they worry about being able to afford health care for...
ACA Marketplace enrollments are down, but more may drop if premium not paid
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that around 23 million people have signed up for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace plan (or been automatically reenrolled) during the 2026 Open Enrollment Period as of January 15, 2026 for states...
Keeping Retirement Timelines on Track for the Peak 65 Generation
Every day, more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 — the most significant wave of retirees in U.S. history. But instead of celebrating, many are hitting pause. Nearly one-third of Peak 65 consumers (ages 61-65) say they’re considering delaying retirement due to worries...
Keeping Retirement Timelines on Track for the Peak 65 Generation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposed 0.09% Medicare Advantage payment increase for CY 2027 on Monday, a significant drop from the 5.06% rate hike finalized for CY 2026. ARTICLE
As federal ACA subsidies lapse, blue states offer their own
Some states are stepping in to blunt the financial fallout of lapsed federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Mexico have all started offering additional state-funded...
Brian Krantz and Plan Medicare Partner with AmeriLife to Expand White-Glove Medicare Support for Financial Advisors Nationwide
Industry veteran and respected licensed health insurance producer joins one of the nation’s largest FMOs to scale an advisor-first Medicare service model for wealth management firms and their clients. ARTICLE
Unused Benefits: Agents are Key to Making the Most of Medicare Advantage Plans
This year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had planned to require Medicare Advantage (MA) carriers to send midyear reminders to beneficiaries who hadn’t used their supplemental benefits. Initially slated for July 2025, those notices have been...
ACA Marketplace 2026 OEP Report: National Snapshot
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that 22.8 million consumers have signed up for 2026 individual market health insurance coverage through the Marketplaces since the start of the 2026 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period (OEP) on November 1,...
House passes three-year Affordable Care Act tax credits extension
The House voted 230-196 to revive expired Obamacare funds for three years, with 17 Republicans joining the unanimous Democratic caucus. NBC News’ Julie Tsirkin reports on what happens next as the legislation moves to the Senate. ARTICLE
Navigating Disruption and Market Contraction in Medicare Business in 2026 and Beyond
NAIFA’s Medicare Collective is bringing together leading voices from across the Medicare ecosystem for focused, solutions-driven conversations about the forces reshaping the Medicare market. Each session during this live virtual event will be 20-30 minutes and are...
Turbulence in the ACA Marketplace: Fraud Crackdowns and Rising Costs
A convergence of legislative changes and market integrity initiatives is reshaping the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace landscape. For the more than 24 million Americans who rely on the ACA Marketplaces for their coverage and the insurance professionals who serve...
List of Health Systems Dropping Medicare Advantage Plans in January
Several major health systems are dropping Medicare Advantage plans in the new year. The hospitals are ending their acceptance of MA plans over issues with prior authorization denials and slow reimbursement, as seniors face increased costs on plan...
All About Medicare Part A: What You Need to Know About This Basic Benefit Medicare Advantage vs. Supplement: Which is Right for You?
Our team successfully secured a consumer-facing media placement for AmeriLife's Amber Allen in a recent Woman's World Magazine article! Amber provided expert insights, detailing what consumers need to know about Medicare and clarifying the differences between Medicare...
Medicaid Eligibility Changes Could Increase Need for Long-Term Care Solutions
Tighter Medicaid eligibility rules could strip long-term care (LTC) coverage from more than 5 million Americans, including many older adults and people with disabilities. New income limits, stricter documentation, and increased oversight are already pushing some...
How the Big, Beautiful Bill Impacts ACA Marketplace Plans and Enrollment
Recent legislative changes have been set to reshape how ACA Marketplace agents and brokers operate during the upcoming Open Enrollment Period (OEP). The newly passed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBBA), along with executive orders aimed at improving the Affordable Care...
‘Time is not our friend’: Health care scramble begins amid mixed signals from Trump
Congress returns to session Monday and kicks off a December sprint to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent health insurance premium hikes for millions of Americans. ARTICLE
UnitedHealthcare sues Idaho insurance director over Medicare Advantage commission crackdown
UnitedHealthcare has filed a lawsuit against the director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, arguing that the state’s recent efforts to regulate Medicare Advantage plan marketing and broker commissions are in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit, filed...
Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Proposed Rule
On November 25, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would revise the Medicare Advantage (MA) Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program (Part D), and Medicare Cost Plan Program. The Contract Year (CY) 2027...
Trump Weighs Extending ACA Subsidies as White House Drafts New Plan
The White House is circulating a draft plan that would extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for two more years and make several changes to how consumers qualify for and pay for coverage, according to people familiar with the proposal. ARTICLE
Medicare premium hike will cut into 2026 Social Security checks
“That’s the second-highest Part B premium increase in program history,” Mary Johnson, a Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, told Yahoo Finance. It hits just as seniors are coming to terms with the modest 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in the...
Why Some Medicare Advantage Plans Are Ending in 2026 (and What You Can Do to Help Enrollees)
Medicare Advantage enrollment continues to surge, with projections showing two-thirds of beneficiaries enrolled by 2034. However, the landscape is undergoing significant shifts in 2026, and the future may look very different from the industry we recognize today....
States warn payers not to restrict Medicare Advantage access
State insurance regulators are issuing warnings around what they describe as unfair practices by Medicare Advantage insurers to restrict enrollment. Amid rising costs and increased regulatory pressures, insurers have been adjusting their broker commission structures...
2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible that beneficiaries pay if admitted to the hospital will be $1,736 in 2026, an increase of $60 from $1,676 in 2025. Part A inpatient hospital deductible covers beneficiaries’ share of costs for the first 60 days of...
Forecasting the Future Health Insurance Impacts of the Big, Beautiful Bill
The recently signed “One Big, Beautiful Bill” (OBBB) is already making waves across the country, especially among Medicaid and ACA enrollees. Most headlines have focused on the immediate effects — subsidy rollbacks, work requirements, and funding cuts — but licensed...
Dems accept shutdown deal without ACA guarantee
Enough Senate Democrats are poised to accept a deal to reopen the government without a concrete agreement to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies — but with the promise of a showdown vote on the assistance next month. Why it matters: If a bill to temporarily fund the...
Serving Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: Acting Now, Not Waiting on Policy
Wellcare, a company offering a comprehensive range of Medicare products and the Medicare brand of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), will offer Medicare Advantage (MA) to over 51 million beneficiaries in 32 states and Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) products to more than 8...
Serving Rural Medicare Beneficiaries: Acting Now, Not Waiting on Policy
More than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries live in rural communities — nearly one in five enrollees. These individuals tend to be older, sicker, and poorer than their urban peers. They often face long drives for care, limited plan choices, and a health system that...
Medicare finalizes controversial cut to specialty care next year
Medicare has locked in a controversial pay cut for specialty doctors next year, normalizing reimbursement between specialists and primary care doctors and curbing the influence of a powerful physician association in setting rates. The CMS finalized the 2026 Medicare...
Plan Year 2026 Marketplace Plans and Prices Fact Sheet
The Health Insurance Marketplace® Open Enrollment Period for plan year 2026 begins on November 1, 2025, and runs until January 15, 2026. In plan year 2026, most enrollees on Healthcare.gov will have access to plans with premiums at or below $50 per month, after the...
What to know about ACA open enrollment
Beginning Saturday, Americans will be able to log into the federal Affordable Care Act exchange and choose their insurance plans for next year. Nov. 1. has been a key date in the shutdown fight, as Democrats have long argued that if the enhanced federal subsidies...
Scammers now targeting Medicare open enrollment
With open enrollment for Medicare currently available the Better Business Bureau reports scammers are trying to take advantage of those adding or changing their coverage. The Quincy BBB regional director, Don O’Brien, said scammers often like to take advantage of...
CMS recalls nearly 3,000 employees to manage open enrollment amid shutdown
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is temporarily bringing furloughed employees back to work to help individuals sign up for health insurance plans during the open enrollment period. CMS told employees in an email obtained by Federal News Network that it...
Dealing with Disruption: How to Navigate This Year’s AEP Challenges
With Medicare Advantage (MA) now covering more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries, its dominance in the senior health coverage space is only growing. However, this growth doesn’t necessarily mean stability. This year’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is expected...
GOP leaders map out potential Obamacare extension as hard-liners warm to health talks
Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are quietly ramping up talks within their senior ranks and with White House officials over how to structure and advance a potential extension of key Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies before the end of the year, according to...
What to Do About These Three Medicare Changes During Open Enrollment
When the Medicare open-enrollment season for 2026 starts on October 15, brace yourself for some big, and potentially costly, changes. Premium hikes for both medical and drug coverage, shrinking benefits on some private insurers' Medicare Advantage plans and a few rule...
Compliance Bulletin Videos
