Healthcare Costs news and trends

CVS Expects 4th Quarter Medical Costs to Exceed 86% of Premiums
Healthcare // January 08, 2024

CVS Health is warning that its fourth-quarter medical costs may be higher than anticipated. The pharmacy and health insurance company’s finance chief said at a conference Monday (Jan. 8) that CVS’ medical expenses as a proportion of premiums could exceed the company’s goal for the...

Truemed Launches Platform for Using HSAs and FSAs for Wellness
Healthcare Financing // September 18, 2023

Truemed, a firm that aims to help individuals use their tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthy food, exercise and supplements, publicly launched Monday (Sept. 18). Merchants have already managed $3 billion of gross merchandise volume (GMV) through the platform,...

Payment Plans Critical for Financial Wellness as Healthcare Costs Grow
Healthcare // October 28, 2022

There’s a simple way to manage the pinch of rising health care costs: Don’t get sick. Beyond that strategy — and of course, it’s an impossible one — flexible financing at the point of care soothes the pinch of out-of-pocket health expenses. Data this week...

Healthcare Providers Face Unintended Consequences of Pre-Care Estimates
Healthcare // October 21, 2022

The frustrating fact is that healthcare often comes with high out of pocket costs even for the insured, and millions are simply unable to cover those costs. It often leads to people foregoing care now that could head off more serious — and costly —...

Interviews & Exclusives
Healthcare Providers Face Unintended Consequences of Pre-Care Estimates

October 21, 2022
The frustrating fact is that healthcare often comes with high out of pocket costs even for the insured, and millions are simply unable to cover those costs. It often leads to people foregoing care now that could head off more serious — and costly — health problems down the road. Recent PYMNTS research bears this […]

Consumers Willing to Shop Around for a Doctor That Offers Patient Plans

October 05, 2022
Despite relatively accessible health insurance options, consumers often face overwhelming out-of-pocket costs. Managing healthcare spending can be a challenge, especially for patients not expecting bills. One helpful tool is the...

Healthcare Financing Gains Broader Acceptance With Patients, Providers

August 02, 2022
The No Surprises Act of 2020 took effect this January, putting physicians and health systems on notice that large, unexpected bills after the fact aren’t acceptable anymore — and leaving...

Cost Transparency Is Patient Payments Starting Point

March 29, 2022
If the point of healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) is creating processes that get providers paid in full more quickly, we may be entering a belle epoch of patient payment...

Quick Reads
CVS Expects 4th Quarter Medical Costs to Exceed 86% of Premiums

January 08, 2024
CVS Health is warning that its fourth-quarter medical costs may be higher than anticipated. The pharmacy and health insurance company’s finance chief said at a conference Monday (Jan. 8) that CVS’ medical expenses as a proportion of premiums could exceed the company’s goal for the year, Bloomberg News reported.  “We’ve continued to see pressure” in […]

Truemed Launches Platform for Using HSAs and FSAs for Wellness

September 18, 2023
Truemed, a firm that aims to help individuals use their tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for healthy food, exercise and supplements, publicly launched Monday (Sept....

Amazon Healthcare Venture Still Seeking CEO

May 17, 2018
The healthcare venture formed by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase is having a hard time finding a CEO. According to CNBC, the search for a CEO started around the...

Small Business Owners Ready For Congress To Take On Costs

March 27, 2017
The failure of the United States Congress to either repeal or replace Obamacare has left America’s small business owners looking to Congress for new solutions for limiting their healthcare costs....