Several recent studies indicate that providers have been slow to fully comply with a 2019 Trump administration final rule requiring hospitals to disclose pricing information to consumers. The hospital price transparency regulation, which met stiff legal opposition from industry groups including the American Hospital Association, has not been enforced with gusto by the Biden administration, but experts say that might change — and that the rule isn’t going anywhere.

After 2020 proved to be a banner year for initial public offerings, three separate startup health insurers — Alignment Healthcare, Clover Health and Oscar Health — rode the wave and launched IPOs in the early months of 2021. Now, Bright Health Inc. is reportedly poised to become the fourth insurer to do so, and in the meantime has picked up a telehealth asset for good measure.

UnitedHealth Group began the first quarter of 2021 on a high note, reporting earnings per share (EPS) and a medical loss ratio (MLR) that both beat the Wall Street consensus estimate and saying it expects to achieve greater full-year earnings than it previously estimated. However — mirroring much of the messaging last year when the COVID-19 pandemic was massively depressing routine and elective care — executives warned that the majority of the unfavorable COVID impact they’re expecting will transpire in the second half of the year.

Medicare beneficiaries who shopped and made a coverage change during this last Annual Election Period (AEP) were more likely to stick with their current insurer than in years past, illustrating the dual need for insurers to engage with consumers throughout the year and to innovate with benefits that will attract and retain satisfied members, according to experts speaking at a recent webinar co-hosted by Deft Research and GHG Advisors. At the same time, Medicare Supplemental (MedSupp) customers are showing increased interest in Medicare Advantage, presenting more opportunities to disrupt that market.