Healthcare plans

A two-year study from UnitedHealthcare shows its disease management program for diabetes can help people with the condition manage it more effectively, while also reducing related costs for employers.

Aetna Inc., the third-biggest health insurer by sales, raised its full-year forecast, helped by a surge in Medicare and Medicaid premiums and medical claims that were lower than the company anticipated.

Aon Plc, the insurance broker that moved its headquarters to London from Chicago, declined the most since May after a measure of revenue growth slowed.

Everyone in the industry has been saying it — consumer-driven health plans are good for young, healthy individuals and the plans are the future of health insurance. New research released recently by the Employee Benefit Research Institute shows that right now, the young part of that equation may not tell the whole story.

A full three-quarters of the workforce thinks their employer will educate them about changes to their health care coverage as a result of reform, but only 13% of employers say educating employees about health care reform is important to their organization.

WellPoint Inc. CEO Joseph R. Swedish won high marks from investors and analysts in his first public appearance since taking over for the ousted Angela Braly.

Reinforcing other studies, Truven finds that more than two-thirds of the 6.5 million emergency department visits during the study period for those under the age of 65 were avoidable and could have saved employers and health plans millions.

MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, raised its dividend 49% in the first increase since 2007, after its exit from banking limited oversight from the Federal Reserve. The company gained the most since January in New York trading.

Patient safety at U.S. hospitals is hampered by inadequate teamwork and communication, as well as a negative culture, according to a study by insurer American International Group Inc.

As most employers worry about whether to “pay or play” as of 2014 and whether or not certain employees will need to be counted as full-time for health care reform purposes, there is an elephant in the room: the approaching nondiscrimination rules that apply to all health plans that are not grandfathered.

UnitedHealth Group Inc., the biggest U.S. health insurer, reported a first-quarter profit decline that was less than analysts’ estimates as higher enrollment helped blunt the effect of increased medical costs.

Reducing surgical complications could cost hospitals money, according to a study that researchers say may help explain why the medical providers haven’t fully embraced quality improvement efforts.

The case raised the issue of whether a benefit plan administrator is entitled to full reimbursement for payments made to a plan participant injured in an accident where the participant sues and recovers damages from a third party.

The share of Americans who get health benefits through work dropped to 60% in 2011, continuing a decade-long slide that highlights the challenges facing President Barack Obama’s insurance overhaul.

The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury released proposed regulations on how religious organizations should apply the contraceptive coverage requirements under PPACA, alleviating some concerns religious organizations had previously expressed.

Two employers, Darden Restaurants and Cummins, share how they reached the decision about whether or not to move employees to health care exchanges.

Tuesday’s study found 13% of those ages 18 to 64 reported not taking their medications as prescribed to reduce costs compared with 5.8% of those 65 and older.

American International Group Inc. and the U.S. asked a judge to dismiss claims in a lawsuit by former AIG Chief Executive Officer Maurice “Hank” Greenberg challenging the government’s bailout.

Transforming employees’ experience with their health care can pay big dividends, particularly as the benefits industry moves toward a more consumer-driven model, says one official with a health assistance and advocacy company.

Humana Inc. led medical insurers higher in trading today after the U.S. government reversed a decision to cut a key Medicare payment rate, offering them an increase instead.