Tag: health insurance

ALFA Insurance targets health sector amid regulatory debate in Alabama

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In a bold move that could reshape the landscape of health insurance in Alabama, ALFA Insurance, traditionally known for its auto, home, property, life, and farm business insurance offerings, is now setting its sights on the health insurance market. This strategic expansion comes with a legislative twist, as ALFA hopes to introduce Farm Bureau Health Plans (FBHPs) through state legislation, sparking a heated debate on regulatory fairness and consumer protection. ALFA Insurance, boasting a robust membership of approximately 360,000, predominantly non-agricultural, aims to leverage this base to sell its proposed health plans. However, the controversy lies in the nature of…Continue Reading

Govt forms panel to review flagship health insurance scheme

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The central government has formed a panel to evaluate the design and implementation of its flagship health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat, and to propose improvements. The National Health Authority (NHA), which is the apex body responsible for implementing the PM Jan Arogya Yojana, has been appointed Niti Aayog member Dr VK Paul to chair the panel, reported News18. Niti Aayog is a public policy think tank. Ayushman Bharat was launched to achieve universal health coverage. It has two components which are the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and health and wellness centres. Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, launched in September 2018,…Continue Reading

Health insurers jump on ASX as premiums go up, gold and bitcoin push toward record highs — as it happened

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The Australian Bureau of Statistics have just dropped the last “partials” that were released ahead of the National Accounts (GDP) data out tomorrow. Following yesterday’s shock 1.7% drop in inventories, which would wipe a full percentage point off GDP, today brought some better news on the trade front. “The $3.9 billion rise in net trade (seasonally adjusted, chain volume measure) is expected to contribute 0.6 percentage points to the December quarter 2023 GDP quarterly movement,” the ABS noted. So that offsets a fair chunk of the inventory hit. Goods exports rose 3.1 per cent, mainly reflecting higher prices. Coal and…Continue Reading

Health Insurance Coverage of GLP-1s for Weight Loss

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The glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs are a class that includes the now-famous Ozempic (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide), which were approved by the FDA as diabetes treatments but have been used off-label for weight loss. After FDA approvals, on-label versions are available for weight, marketed under the names Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide). Prescriptions of the GLP-1s have become soared as patients and prescribers have flocked to a pharmaceutical answer to the US obesity epidemic. The cost has strained insurer budgets. There are also questions about the long-term outcomes of GLP-1s and how long people are sticking with the treatments,…Continue Reading