Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare Advantage Spending A $76B Boon For Insurers, MedPAC Reports
Stat: Medicare Advantage Overpayments To Hit $76 Billion This Year
This year, the federal government is expected to pay 14% more to cover people in a Medicare Advantage plan than if those same people were enrolled in traditional Medicare — a $76 billion surplus for health insurance companies, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission said in its new annual report released Thursday. (Herman, 3/12)
More Medicare news —
KFF Health News: Medicare Advantage ‘Dark Money’ Group Attempts To Win Higher Payments For Insurance Companies
Judging by more than 16,400 comments recently posted on a federal government website, you’d think there was a groundswell of older Americans demanding that federal officials hike payments to their Medicare Advantage health insurance plans. Yet about 82% of the comments are identical to a letter that appeared on the website of a secretive advocacy group called Medicare Advantage Majority, a data analysis by KFF Health News has found. (Schulte, Rosenfeld and Hilzenrath, 3/13)
The Oregonian: Portland Lags Other Big Cities In Access To Primary Care For Medicare Patients, Study Finds
Portland stood out in a new study of how hard it is for Medicare patients to find a primary care doctor — and not in a good way. Even though the Portland area has more primary care doctors per capita than three larger cities studied, clinics in the region were far less likely to accept new Medicare patients. (de Leon, 3/11)
Other news about the high cost of health care —
WUSF: Health Insurance Costs Spark Interest In Religious Cost-Shares
Enrollment in religious, cost-share ministries is on the rise. The groups, which are typically backed by small Mennonite churches, pool their money to cover medical costs for members. Joann Volk, a research professor who studies the health care insurance market at Georgetown University, said the alternative plans tend to be popular among patients seeking a more affordable option than health insurance. (Paul, 3/13)
The Wall Street Journal: As Health Insurance Costs Soar, CFOs Seek Ways To Dull The Pain
Surging health insurance costs are forcing executives to make tough decisions on how to blunt the impact to the bottom line, from making changes to plans that could result in reduced coverage to requiring employees to pay more out of pocket for healthcare. Mediterranean food chain Cava Group raised employees’ healthcare premiums for the first time in years in 2025 and is now considering covering healthcare costs itself rather than relying on an insurance provider, an option known as self-insurance. (Williams, 3/12)
KFF Health News: Families Scramble To Pay Five-Figure Bills As Clock Ticks On Promised Preauthorization Reforms
Sheldon Ekirch is used to being disappointed by her health insurance company. That’s why Ekirch, 31, of Henrico, Virginia, was stunned when she learned Anthem would finally have to pay for life-changing medical treatment. For two years, she had battled the company to cover blood plasma infusions called intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG. The treatment has been shown, in some cases, to improve symptoms associated with small-fiber neuropathy, a condition that makes Ekirch’s limbs feel like they’re on fire. (Sausser, 3/13)
The New York Times: A New Lifeline Helps Inmates Transition To Life Outside The Bars
Medicaid is now paying for health care in jails and prisons, helping smooth inmates’ return to the community. Corrections and law enforcement officials say they’re all for it. (Alcorn, 3/13)
In related news about housing affordability —
Politico: Trump’s Silence Leaves Housing Affordability Bill In Limbo
A Senate bill aimed at making housing more affordable should be a slam-dunk for Republicans’ affordability message. Instead, it’s exposing GOP disarray on the very cost-of-living issues voters care most about in an election year. The bipartisan legislation sailed through the Senate Thursday, but its future in the House remains uncertain amid demands from GOP hard-liners for major changes. President Donald Trump could step in to break the impasse between the two chambers by expressing support for the Senate’s work — but so far has shown little interest in helping advance a centerpiece of the party’s efforts to address rising costs ahead of the midterms. (Hapgood and Carney, 3/12)
