STAT+: Major health insurers like Humana, UnitedHealth are cutting broker commissions to avoid costly Medicare enrollees
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Major health insurers are taking drastic steps to discourage older adults from signing up for their private Medicare plans as they seek to boost profits, drawing the ire of insurance brokers and state regulators.<\/p>\n
Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, and Centene, and regional insurers like SummaCare, are among the firms that are halting or cutting commissions on Medicare plans. Some are even cutting off access to online enrollment portals, according to company notices obtained by STAT. Many of those decisions occurred after Oct. 15, when Medicare\u2019s annual enrollment period started. It ends Dec. 7.<\/p>\n
Companies have overhauled<\/a> their 2026 Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans in an attempt to boost profits and adapt to the Inflation Reduction Act. An estimated 3 million people are in soon-to-be-terminated Medicare Advantage plans<\/a> and have to choose new coverage. Over the past few years, the Medicare markets have become an increasingly feverish game of hot potato \u2014 with Humana<\/a>, CVS Health\u2019s Aetna<\/a>, and now UnitedHealthcare altering benefits and drug formularies with the intention of pushing their sicker, costlier customers to choose a competitor\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n Continue to STAT+ to read the full story\u2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n