#healthinsurance

If they started offering Cafeteria Benefits allowing people to pay for selected coverage and not for coverage they will never/no longer need such as OB, Peds, or opt out of other coverage options to include BH, SNF, etc they might actually be seen as a decent provider other than a greed machine. Healthy and younger people may not need any of this coverage and could add it much later in life. Along with stop forcing house staff to buy the Cadillac plan of the year vs basic coverage. I for one don't need a variety of coverage, and I damn sure am not interested in their "high touch" BS offerings.

What does this mean? TBH doesn't seem like a bad idea if they want to avoid market volatility for now.

with the current state of the cost of medical coverage. Not just at Verizon, but nationwide. Could it be that when these multi millionaire Fox News hosts call us SoCialiSts for wanting universal healthcare here in the US, they might not not really have the working stiff's best interests at heart?

With the coming layoffs can we share what severance package is offered? Do you keep health insurance? What happens to accumulated vacation?

Thanks!

What happens to one’s health insurance after being laid off? Does anyone know?

Got my cobra estimate retiring early it’s like $1200 a month. Better check your fiqures before you pull the trigger on retiring early. It’s an eye opener!!
Bumping this so folks don't miss it. Too many are so focused on leaving as soon as possible (not that I blame anybody) that things like this get overlooked.

Disney initiated a new round of layoffs under CEO Josh D'Amaro. Severance packages are determined by employee level and company tenure. Payouts range from four weeks to 52 weeks of pay. Some departing staff also received prorated bonuses and health coverage. Disney's severance structure differs from other recent media company offers.

https://www.businessinsider.com/disney-layoffs-severance-employees-marketing-team-josh-damaro-2026-4

How much premium i would end up paying for me, wife and 3 kids if I elect COBRA. Is such a family option available ? How long we can continue COBRA ? Appreciate your inputs.

i have a feeling i'll be cut soon (weird vibe coming from the manager, being ghosted and gaslit) i am thinking about keeping cobra and wanted to see if anyone had experience with it. thank you...

Does anybody know when insurance for laid off employees ends?

Oracle said 4/10
UHC said 12/31/26 up until two days ago
UHC now says 4/30/26

I was undergoing cancer treatment and radiation therapy when my manager asked me if I could work three days a week and take a part-time FMLA instead of the full disability leave. This would allow me to regain my rhythm and continue earning commissions.

I decided that this arrangement would be beneficial for my morale and overall well-being, so I agreed. However, two weeks later, I was laid off! I had been pre-approved for the entire year to receive 90% of my pay and full medical coverage. Now, I will lose my coverage and have no job or income while I am recovering. I spoke to a few lawyers, but they all told me that I was in trouble.

I am ex employee who was affected by last month's RiF. To date, my health insurance was terminated 4 days early and they have "ghosted" me when I am asking for updates on when I will receive my severance payments. Not surprising for this company of course. Anyone else have similar issues?

What are the perks of retiring from fidelity? Can you stay on fidelitys health insurance if you retire at a certain age / tenure?

I'm in therapy now thanks to this job. I did everything right, great reviews, no issues. New management is awful, threatening, plays favorites. I have a health condition that needs good insurance and I live somewhere with few other jobs. So I stay. But I'm done ki-ling myself for them.

Swift River School is considering layoffs for paraprofessional positions. Rising health insurance costs are creating a significant financial strain. Up to five paraprofessional jobs are on the chopping block for fiscal year 2027. New Salem voters will decide on an override next month to potentially reduce these cuts. The school's state aid increase is minimal, impacting rural districts disproportionately.

New Salem,

https://recorder.com/2026/04/06/swift-river-school-layoffs/

Well.. it is what it is. But it’s heart breaking to read the comments regarding laid off O employees and that they were cut from medical insurance and work after many years with just one cold e-mail. Employee that was planning serious surgery next month, a woman 30-week pregnant opened mailbox and suddenly her access was cut…. There are lots of stories where just
As I observe on Linkedin people really are getting ungry for this AI bullsh-ts published on Lnkdn, and are leaving the comments regarding yesterday and todays layoffs. People just got sick with that situation. It lacked basic human decency.

"Blue Shield of California, a nonprofit health insurance company, has reported layoffs across multiple California locations, according to a recent WARN filings."

edhat.com

I'm mostly curious about the medical coverage.

A new report released by the bipartisan Senate Joint Economic Committee (JEC) on Tuesday found that overpaying for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans caused Medicare Part B premiums to rise across the board.

According to the JEC’s report, overpayments to MA plans caused standard monthly Medicare Part B premiums to go from $185 in 2025 to $203 in 2026.

The report defined “overpayments” as the difference between what the federal government government paid for MA plans versus Traditional Medicare (TM) plans. When payments to MA plans exceeds those for TM plans, premiums go up for both groups.

In 2025, MA plans were paid $84 billion more than it would have cost to cover the same amount of beneficiaries with TM plans, an average of 120 percent more.

Medicare Part B covers medically necessary services like doctors visits, supplies and some outpatient prescriptions as well as preventive services. Roughly 63 million people are enrolled in Medicare Part B and a little more than half are on Medicare Advantage, which combines both Part A and Part B.
The JEC further noted that the burden of MA overpayments are spread unevenly across the country as some districts and states have lower rates of MA enrollment. The report gave the example of Wyoming, where only 21 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in MA, estimating that payers in the state will pay $25.4 million in excess premiums, with most of that from TM enrollees.

“Let’s be honest about the math, when Medicare Advantage is overpaid, that money doesn’t just disappear, it shows up in the Medicare Part B premiums seniors pay every month, including those paid by traditional Medicare beneficiaries who are not getting extra benefits,” said JEC Chair David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) said in a statement.

“If Congress is serious about affordability, fiscal responsibility, and fairness, we must take a hard look at Medicare Advantage and make sure the rules are the same for everyone,” he continued.

“Today, between aggressive upcoding, questionable quality bonuses, and structural overpayments in Medicare Advantage, seniors who stay in traditional Medicare are effectively subsidizing the system. That’s not sustainable, it’s not fair, and it can be reformed.”

What are the chances CMS will move off their proposed 0.09% rate for 2027?
It was approximately 5.0% for 2026 but they decided to basically eliminate it for 2027. After they announced the rate all health insurance stocks dropped massively.

UnitedHealth Group’s slogan is: “Helping people live healthier lives.”

I lost my job at Optum in 2025 and remain unemployed. As a result, I also lost my health insurance. I cannot afford COBRA, and I have a serious health condition that is currently going untreated. Each month I am forced to choose between paying rent or paying for heathcare coverage.

Without treatment, my condition will eventually become terminal.

THANK YOU OPTUM FOR NOT CARING!

Hello, I am just trying to plan for post-JE when it happens. I have a special needs, 12-year-old boy. My wife is working near min wage, has health insurance, but not great, and they don't have family plans. If I have to get health insurance for my son and myself, what are my options in CT? Since I may not have income, do I qualify for any rebates for premiums from AccessHealthCT? Is the marketplace the only option until I get a job? I read here that Cobra is expensive, not sure if it will be more expensive than the marketplace. Does anyone have any experience getting health insurance post-JE? Thanks for any inputs

I am "offboarding" this wonderful place in the US.

Of course, the links to the offboarding processes do not work or time out.

All I really care about is COBRA (they can take their surveys and shove them).

Has anyone that has recently ejected priced US High deductible family COBRA plans?

If so, what was the cost?

Keep getting letter after letter telling me insurance o longer covers this and that, have to book scan though 3 rd party, meds going up , some no longer covered. Just got letter saying all our Memorial Herman facilities and doctors are in jeopardy. Exxon changed to one provider, no more choice, went up on premium, try to keep you from going to any emergency room by making you pay 10-20 percent of the entire bill, and then tailored a cheap coverage plan that only help the company... after almost 30 yrs , this is about as low as I seen from the company, Billions in profit and it saves money by cutting from its employees, the new norm..... can't wait GTFO..... I'm embarrassed to even say I work here anymore. Don't come to work for this place, it will su-k the soul out of you and you will be miserable.

For anyone who’s left this year, do you happen to know roughly how much COBRA costs per month? I’m planning my exit and want to factor that into my budgeting. I’m currently on the HSA Premium plan, if that makes a difference. Thanks!

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/mount-sinai-anthem-elevance-contract-ends/813816/

As usual they are blaming Mount Sinai - just keeps getting worse for this place - CMS now this

The payer said that Mount Sinai had agreed on price increases but wanted Anthem to remove “contractural safeguards” protecting patients and employers from “billing errors and unnecessary costs.”

“These negotiations are about more than rates. They are about Anthem’s chronic denials of medically necessary care, delayed payments, and administrative practices that create barriers for patients and physicians alike,” Mount Sinai said in a statement on its website.

Cigna is moving to dismantle the trucare pre-authorization department. Eventually, all pre authorizations will be doing through Evicore. In the near future, trucare won’t exist and evicore will be managing all of Cigna’s preauthorization.

3 layoffs in close to 4 years with more possible depending on the outcome of 2026 registration numbers. Having trouble like other health insurance companies. Steer clear for a while unless you have no choice.

Or something else for healthcare? I haven't been affected, I'm just curious.

Does anyone know anything about Medicaid or Medicare centralization work?

The Ventura Unified School District board approved staff reductions. This impacts 46.5 full-time equivalent positions. The decision addresses a budget crisis and declining student enrollment. The district anticipates annual savings exceeding $3 million. Negotiations also include proposed changes to employee health benefits.

https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/education/schoolwatch/2026/02/20/ventura-unified-approves-layoffs-budget-crisis/88747877007/

New Seasons Market confirmed laying off 95 employees this week. The grocery chain cited increased labor costs from a new contract. These layoffs affect less than 5% of the current store staff. The New Seasons Labor Union expressed outrage over the decision. Affected workers received four weeks of pay and six weeks of health coverage.

https://www.oregonlive.com/retail/2026/02/new-seasons-lays-off-95-employees-citing-recent-labor-agreement.html

for those who started cobra, how much does it costs

Does anybody here know?

They say you can apply within 30 days to Medicare after your termination. Does anybody know when actually Medicare enrollment starts? In 2 month? January 1? Or when?

Hello, I am Mansur Shaheen and I cover health insurance companies for a Financial Times newsletter. I have heard that around 5-10% of Molina's workers were impacted by layoffs, I am sorry to hear about this.

If any one impacted would like to talk, be in touch at Mansur.Shaheen@FT.com

All health insurers are not doing great currently. Quickly look at their profit margin for the past 2-3 years and it’ll often be low single digit or negative

Medicare advantage is going to be tough again this year, so, not surprised