- New projections in the annual Social Security and Medicare trustees reports indicate Medicare’s insurance trust fund is expected to run out of money in 2026, unchanged from last year’s projection. The report found the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Medicare’s short-term financing, but that its overall financial status hasn’t changed much. In 2020, the program spent $925.8 billion and served 62.6 million people. (Report here; Articles here, here, here, here, here, and here)
- Blues insurers CareFirst and Highmark unveiled a new plan design aimed at labor union member. The plan will include access to a nationwide team of advocates and registered nurses to assist members in navigating their care, and the technology stack aims to drive more effective care coordination, the insurers said. Plan members will be able to take advantage of the national Blues network, which includes 1.7 million providers. (Press release here)
September 1, 2021
Payers