#insurance

I had enough of the mo--ns and the low pay. Right after COVID I got a second job and never looked back. Now i make more than a director and do half as much. I recommend it for everyone. I don't worry about a lousy increase because I still make more than my manager. LOL

For the co-pay plan, there's a premium increase of about 34%. That and the deductibles are going up across the board. Glad we're able to sacrifice for the shareholders!

Severed employee here who is nearing the end of my benefits. Considering COBRA for next year, amongst other ACA options, but wondering if anyone has any ideas on 2026 COBRA rates. I called the 'hotline' this week and they still do not have any ideas on rates stating 'call back mid December'. This is getting a bit too '11th hour' for my liking as I'd like to have some time to review options if need be prior to end of year when my WF benefits run out. Wondering if anyone else is in the same predicament and if anyone has any ideas on expected % increase of COBRA benefits compared to 2025 COBRA amounts.

"why are we sending billions in subsidies to insurance companies when we could just give the money directly to Americans to choose their own healthcare"

Won’t people just pocket the money and go uninsured raising the cost for everyone else?

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/08/senate-republicans-trum

Healthcare Insurance premiums for 2026.

ACA (Affordable Care Act) Medicaid.

Medicare for (most normal civilian) retirees over 65.

No one knows.

The plight of their future health.

The ACA (Affordable Care Act) Medicaid is (not) free for the Majority that are (actually) enrolled in it..

For many, their ACA Medicaid healthcare premiums will double; starting in 2026.

Many ACA Medicaid participants have Very Serious illnesses like cancer with Very High healthcare, and associated prescription costs.

For (most normal civilian) retirees, once they reach 65; the standard Medicare Part B premium for 2026 will (Increase) to $206.50 per month.

In fact, Medicare premiums for (most normal civilian) retirees Increases every year.

2026 Medicare premiums -

None of this is free (except for Part A much-reduced benefits).

Part A - Payers - $310.00 a month (30-39 work credits) and $563.00 a month (<30 work credits).

Some do the free but with much-reduced benefits.

Part B - Payers - $206.50 per month.

Part D - Prescriptions - $50.00 per month.

Healthcare Insurance premium costs tend to (Increase) every year (no matter the plan) ACA, workplace; Medicaid; Medicare; or private.

When healthcare industry groups, especially insurance providers, publicly support the extension of enhanced premium tax credits, it sounds compassionate on the surface — “helping more Americans afford coverage.” But the real motive often has little to do with public welfare and everything to do with profit stability , greed and guaranteed revenue.
So yes — they support it, but not out of altruism. They support it because it locks in a steady stream of guaranteed income under the banner of accessibility.

Why is the Medicare Advantage leadership still with the company after tanking the MA business? Fire them all.

When Americans talk about why prescription dr-gs cost so much, we often point fingers at pharmaceutical companies. But behind the scenes, a quiet and far more insidious force drives prices higher — Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs.

These middlemen were supposed to save us money by negotiating discounts and managing benefits between dr-gmakers, pharmacies, and insurance companies. Instead, they’ve built a cartel-like empire that manipulates prices, restricts access, and drains billions from patients and small pharmacies alike.

Three PBMs — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx — now control nearly 80 percent of the prescription dr-g market. That’s not competition. That’s consolidation, and it gives them unchecked power to dictate what dr-gs Americans can take and how much we pay for them.

Here’s how the scheme works: PBMs negotiate secret rebates with dr-g manufacturers in exchange for preferred placement on insurance formularies. The larger the rebate, the more likely a dr-g will be covered — even if a cheaper or more effective alternative exists. But those rebates don’t go to patients. Instead, PBMs and insurers often pocket the difference, leaving patients at the pharmacy counter paying inflated copays or list prices.

Independent pharmacies suffer too. PBMs reimburse them below cost, while steering patients to their own mail-order or corporate-owned pharmacies. Many small-town pharmacies — often the only healthcare access point for miles — have closed under this pressure.

It’s legalized extortion wrapped in healthcare jargon.

The result? A system where everyone but the patient profits. Dr-gmakers inflate prices to fund rebates. PBMs boast about “savings” that never reach consumers. Insurers look the other way because they share in the cut. And the average American pays more for prescription dr-gs than anyone else on Earth.

The good news is that lawmakers are finally paying attention. Bipartisan bills in Congress and state legislatures aim to require transparency, ban spread pricing, and force rebates to flow directly to patients. But reform will fail unless regulators confront the core problem: PBMs have become too big, too secretive, and too conflicted to serve the public good.

The United States cannot claim to have a free market in healthcare when three corporations act as gatekeepers to every pill that reaches a patient. We broke up oil trusts and telecom monopolies before. It’s time to do the same for the PBM cartel.

Because healthcare should serve people, not middlemen.

See question.

Does anyone know what changes we can expect come January? PTO, insurance, 401k match? When the remaining 1000 layoffs will happen?

With some these cash strapped independent blues plans, you think the board is regretting the Cigna acquisition?

Could have had blue licenses in Minnesota, Michigan and others, probably for far less than 3.5 billion too.

What's this renewal rights transfer supposed to mean for us? Some former colleagues went there with huge pay increase, they'll start regretting it now I guess

Did something happen?

Healthcare costs are going to continue to go up (for everyone) virtually everywhere.

Even has AI continues to displace (entry-level white collar jobs) over time (the unemployment rate rising will continue will show it).

Benefits took a major beat down! Glad I filed retirement two months ago. Sorry to those who have been giving it all and can’t .

Retired EE.

Curious, has Mutual disclosed how much the health care premiums will be going up in 2026 and how much in dollars for individual and family plans for retires?

Tonight’s episode on the 6:30pm news, showcased a gentleman Mr. Middleton, whom has Bile Duct Cancer was denied a life extending dr-g Ziihera that hos Oncologist and team recommended.

Cigna denied and suggested another dr-g that most likely would not extend Mr. Middleton’s life long enough to obtain the liver transplant he needs. Unlike the recommended dr-g Ziihera most likely would

Just another example as to how profits are being placed before member’s health. Our healthcare system is truly broken.

Oftentimes I hear persons say that reason why healthcare is so expensive in the U.S. is because of all the state of the art technology and research. And although I do not doubt that is the case, I think persons would take maybe less state of the art technologies and research, if they could at least have their healthcare actually save their life in an affordable way, when needed.

To use a metaphor, what good would it be if all commercial planes got replaced with an equivalent to airforce one, if because of that now, it would cost a person $20k to fly from San Diego to San Francisco?

Also, I think there is a lot of greed going on where C-Suite executives are getting paid millions, Large Bank Investors are making major profits, and because of that, which has been recognized by hospitals and providers now figure they might as well not be left out of the profit gains and charging exponential costs for services that would have cost a fraction in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. And I won’t even bother mentioning Pharmaceutical manufacturers. I really do not know what to think about it nor what can be done.

Anyway, here below is a little about that news program, if you want to check it out.

(Not sure yet if Humana has ever been mentioned yet on this program but would not be surprised. Unless of course they pay off NBC a big fat check for millions to keep them out of any episodes.)

"The Cost of Denial" is an NBC News series that investigates the financial and emotional impact of insurance companies denying claims for health, home, or auto coverage. The series features stories of people struggling to get coverage for medical treatments, repairs, and medications, highlighting how insurers use processes like prior authorization to deny claims. NBC News provides an email, CostofDenial@nbcuni.com, for individuals to share their experiences with insurance denials.

A bunch of AVP, VP, and SVP were fired over the last two days. It seemed like the layoffs spanned across all of the corporate functions. I would estimate the numbers in the dozens of people which is a lot for the executive ranks.

This "RPM" announcement sure if making me feel in Good Hands and like Allstate really cares for my well-being and work life balance!

I love being expected to babysit shops on top of investigating liability, handling claimant rental, and just all the other joys of my job!

/s

Sooooo, we missed Q3 numbers on both earnings and premiums... then Florida’s profit cap forced a roughly $1B policyholder credit (back in September) soooo this slammed profits, so the stock is now junk. On a lighter note, all competitors have same problems and are junk too.

I’m hearing conflicting info about what the severance package will be for the upcoming layoff population. Will it be the same as those who decided to leave?? Feels wrong to give ppl who decided to leave the same as ppl who actually still want their jobs. And specifically the insurance/COBRA. Will it be subsidized thru to the end of the severance term?

Having a hard time swallowing this. Honeywell actually is planning to pick up the tab for medical insurance premiums to the tune of 40%.

It reads as if the decision was taken to voluntarily give employees money. Someone please find the cash. It seems too good to be true!

"I dont need an executive council" screams arrogance, maybe he can make all the decisions himself but it usually ends in disaster. Every smart leader needs smart people around them.

I heard there will be layoffs at Lincoln. What have you heard ?

Signed up for COBRA today, after Oracle delayed for too long sending the details on that. They said technically I don't have insurance until the provider is notified that I have signed up, and that can take up to a week (retroactively I am covered). So don't delay on COBRA to avoid having to tell your story to your doc and the billing dept.
Also, seems there is lots of action in the COBRA company and they are very, very busy. Good thing the government is shut down so the unemployment data is on hold while the captains of industry rake in their hundreds of billions.

Rumors are getting strong that there will be big layoffs in Q4 2025. HR is preparing the lists. Each VP got a target number for their department. It will be a sad Xmas season for a LOT of people.

Sounds like it is going to be a quarterly thing from now.

Glad they are finally addressing the problem with all the under performers.

Go figure what will happen next...

I'm really frustrated to learn that Truist will be cutting its $500 deductible and co-pay medical insurance plans in 2026. From now on, they'll only offer high deductible plans with no co-pay option. It feels like they keep stripping away employee benefits with each passing year. What’s going on?

I’ve never worked for cheaper ba----ds. They’ll try anything to force us out so they don’t have to pay a dime. I’ve been through several companies, all packed with soulless management and cruel leadership using “creative” ways to get rid of people. But State Farm takes the cake - the harassment, abuse, and daily pressure here are on another level.

In the first plot select 'Insurance' and 'USAA':

https://www.economist.com/interactive/business/2025/06/16/corporate-culture?fsrc=core-app-economist&mc_cid=fa28ffc4ba

The second chart shows culture dimensions like Transparency, Candor, Strategy vs leadership, pre and post COVID.

Please, please, please move all your insurance over to Progressive to help them expand their #1 position. Tell all your friends and family. State Farm is too expensive, we all know the service su-ks with the trash we hire and hit useless agents and Execs in the pocket book. If we can help SF shrink more and make the Execs look bad, they will have no choice but to start cutting people and offering the severance to more people. Especially for those of us in claims who just want the he-l out of the total dumpster fire. Between the MT legacy and "2040 cancer" that is eating away everything once decent about SF, it needs to be known as the greatest disaster in the history of business. This place is a total sh-t show.

All of p&c claims? What's the direction and what's going on? And what is going on with fire claims also?

Over the past two years, soaring inflation has eroded household budgets while Bank of America held salary increases well below cost of living gains, leaving real wages stagnant as unemployment ticks up to its highest level in over two years; at the same time, health insurance costs are climbing, premiums are set to rise around 6 percent next year and average deductibles are increasing further squeezing workers’ finances.

What comprehensive measures can individuals take? Do you suggest any tactics to deal with this?

Good for the CEO — he made some bold choices about his directs.

Hopefully he will hire at least a few military veterans with banking and/or insurance industry experience as he reshapes the EVP cadre.

It’s surprising that in recent years, USAA didn’t have a single person who served in uniform on its top leadership team.

With so many EVP roles now open, this is an opportunity to find talent that truly knows what it means to serve.

• An Arkansas jury sided with plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against State Farm Insurance alleging it shortchanged customers on claims.*

https://www.wboc.com/news/state-farm-insurance-held-liable-in-class-action-suit/video_b78e33b3-4d3c-57f5-a8b6-54d4f47c008d.html
Sep 2, 2025 Updated 4 hrs ago
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Take a page out of this woman's book. She was sc--wed out of just under $600 on her Total Loss, and she started a 47k person class action lawsuit as the lead Plaintiff in a Arkansas. "It was more about principle, than money." She drove a Hyundai, lives in Arkansas, and is missing some teeth in the front of her mouth. Shoulda gave her the $600 SF...

Social media has many stories of patients being denied medications or treatments. Doctors post about having to fight insurances for tests, procedures, or medications.

Most of the people working for these insurances want to do good jobs. We want to get claims processed correctly. We’re just cogs. We don’t make these policies that stress and frustrate members and providers.

There has to be a better way.

Any thoughtful comments?