The Justice Department on Thursday accused three of the nation’s largest health insurers of paying hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks over several years to insurance brokers that steered people into private Medicare plans. Federal prosecutors also accused two of the insurers of colluding with brokers to discriminate against people with disabilities, by…
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) stock tumbled 19% Thursday after the company drastically cut its 2025 earnings forecast, citing significantly higher-than-expected medical costs tied to a surge in demand for outpatient and physician services within its Medicare Advantage plans.The insurer now expects adjusted earnings per share to fall between $26 and $26.50, well below its earlier guidance…
A few days ago, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, embarked on a media tour to defend his decision to lay off thousands of his department’s workers. He announced a plan last week to cut 10,000 jobs, in addition to the estimated 10,000 jobs cut through retirements and buyouts in the early weeks of…
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the TV celebrity doctor, is expected to face a tense confirmation hearing on Friday, with Democratic senators planning to question how he would oversee Medicare and Medicaid now that Republicans and the Trump administration are weighing significant changes affecting millions of Americans. Among the possible plans being considered by Republican lawmakers and…
Medicare can cover most of your health care needs when you turn 65, but it doesn’t pay for everything. And one of the most significant financial challenges to watch out for are the out-of-pocket costs you can face aside from monthly premiums — including deductibles and other types of cost sharing. Just how much you’ll…