by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Medicare Advantage, news
The past couple of years have seen the sharp ascendancy of Medicare Advantage to now include more than half of all beneficiaries with Medicare coverage. The alternative to the traditional fee-for-service Medicare has proven popular with consumers due to... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, news
Virtually all enrollees in Medicare Advantage (99%) are required to obtain prior authorization for some services – most commonly, higher cost services, such as inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, and chemotherapy. This contrasts with traditional... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, news
The “record” annuity sales of 2024 are likely to continue into 2025, according to Sri Reddy, senior vice president of Retirement Income Solutions at Principal Financial Group. “Higher interest rates, volatile equity markets, and inflation — coupled... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Medicare Advantage, news
Medicare Advantage has steadily grown over the past decade, and now encompasses more than half of all seniors eligible for Medicare. However, over the past year, the industry has faced significant headwinds, which as stymied some payers’ expansion plans. These... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, news
The senseless killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has shocked the nation. While the vast majority of Americans are horrified, an unhinged minority has taken delight in this tragedy, revealing a shocking ignorance about how health insurance works. Insurance,... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, news
Over the last decade, Medicare Advantage, the private plan alternative to traditional Medicare, has taken on a prominent role in the Medicare program. In 2024, nearly 33 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, more than half, or 54%,... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, news
With sales of annuities exploding to record levels, it’s probably no surprise that in the first nine months of 2024 total annuity sales increased 23% to $331.2 billion, and are on pace for another record-breaking year, according to LIMRA’s U.S. Individual Annuity... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Technology
It is hard to imagine that 20 years ago we considered it innovative to receive digitized medical notes and images within a document imaging processing system. Believe it or not, at the time, it took many weeks to receive a client’s medical report electronically before... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry, news
Evidence is mounting to suggest that Generation X, comprising Americans ages 44 to 59, is falling behind in retirement planning. In fact, according to Schroders’ 2024 U.S. Retirement Survey, just 14% of Americans between 44 and 59 believe that they have saved enough... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 19, 2024 | Insurance Industry
Integrity Marketing Group announced the overwhelmingly successful response to its 4th annual “Integrity Gives Back” Toy Drive. With the support of its nationwide network of partners, thousands of employees and countless volunteers, Integrity collected a... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 12, 2024 | Insurance Industry
Indexed life and annuity products are the subject of many regulator meetings and class-action lawsuits. Despite that negative publicity, indexed life and annuity sales are booming. Wink, Inc. reported third-quarter annuity sales of $115.2 billion, up 6.6% compared to... read more
by Carrie Haubensak | Dec 12, 2024 | Insurance Industry, Life Insurance
After a strong third quarter that saw life insurance new premium rise 6%, LIMRA executives are ready to declare a fourth consecutive year of record-high new premium. Total new annualized premium jumped 6% to $3.9 billion in the quarter, according to LIMRA’s third... read more
