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To make prescription drugs more affordable for everyone, Blue Shield has shared an announcement of pen-administered insulin for just $45 for a set of five pens marking a significant milestone in that mission. Beginning January 1, 2026, this low-cost prescription drug will be available to members enrolled in Blue Shield’s commercial health plans. This milestone underscores Blue Shield’s commitment to transforming the pharmacy supply chain to ensure equitable access, lower costs and greater price transparency. For Details Click Here For More Information or Help Quoting Blue Shield, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Representative.

A new law in California (SB 729, effective January 1, 2026) requires health plans to offer product options which cover infertility diagnosis and treatment services. Under this law, large group health care service plan contracts must provide infertility benefits. Small group health care service plan contracts must offer these benefits, although small employer groups are not obligated to provide them. The Department of Managed Health Care has determined that products offered through the CaliforniaChoice Program are not required to include options covering infertility benefits, as employer groups may access such options directly from the health plan. All groups in the CaliforniaChoice Program operate under small group health care service plan contracts. To See Other Carrier Responses to SB 729 Click Here For More Information or Help Quoting CaliforniaChoice, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Representative.

No benefits package is complete without offering accident and critical illness insurance. Equitable offers a full suite of employee benefits anchored by the supplemental health coverage employees value most. Equitable delivers the same dependable supplemental health coverage for groups from 10 to 10,000+. These benefits keep your clients competitive, add value for employees and enhance your reputation as a trusted expert — all without raising costs. Equitable delivers these benefits through intuitive platforms ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. That's why we've created a Powerfully Simple® experience designed to drive client success. For More Information or Help Quoting Equitable, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Representative.

Health Net is now able to offer coverage to groups that are currently age-rated or transitioning from small group to large group rates— alongside Kaiser , subject to a participation requirement of 33% of total active employees or 33 subscribers , whichever is greater. One of the most flexible in the industry. Please note: • Minimum contribution requirements apply • This offer applies only when offered alongside Kaiser composite rates • Groups must meet the participation requirement at the time of quoting in order to qualify. For More Information or Help Quoting Health Net, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Representative.

Humana’s dental product remains a leader in the industry, and a great fit for your clients. Humana has shared with us the following dental quoting updates: Participation determines Voluntary vs Employer Sponsored rates, not contribution. Funding type will no longer be displayed on quotes to eliminate confusion in the marketplace Please reference the “Options Included in Monthly Total” box within quote details page to determine if plan is employer sponsored or voluntary. Reminder: Employer contributions are not required for dental and/or vision plans. The voluntary rider is added if less than 50% of eligible employees enroll in the dental and/or vision plan. For More Information or Help Quoting Humana, Please Contact Your Dickerson Sales Representative.

(By Rebecca Pifer -Healthcare Dive) - Molina cut its 2025 earnings guidance for the third time this year. The earnings reduction is despite Molina now believing it will bring in higher premiums this year. Molina covers 5.6 million members in Medicaid, Medicare and ACA marketplace plans, citing doggedly high medical costs particularly in its ACA plans for its reduced earnings. Close followers of insurers’ recent financial quarters know this story well. Payers are slogging through a difficult time, absorbing elevated medical spending from their members. The utilization pressure is particularly acute in government programs, making the trend more challenging for insurers without other businesses to fall back upon. Molina, which covers 5.6 million members in Medicaid, Medicare and ACA marketplace plans, is one such insurer. And now, the California-based company is lowering its profit guidance for 2025 once again, despite upwardly revising its expectations for premium revenue this year. Medical cost growth was apparent in all of Molina’s business segments, but disproportionately high in the ACA marketplaces. CEO Joe Zubretsky called the ACA trend “unprecedented” during a Thursday morning call with investors. The ACA is Molina’s second-largest business behind Medicaid, accounting for roughly one-tenth of its members and premium revenue. Last year, Molina grew its ACA presence for 2024, a move that appeared shrewd at the time given that the ACA exchanges appeared insulated from the costs hitting Medicaid and Medicare Advantage. However, the strategy has come back to bite the insurer, as the members it added for 2025 came saddled with higher costs themselves. The problem isn’t unique to Molina. There’s been a market-wide increase in enrollees’ health needs that has outpaced checks and balances against spiking costs in the ACA risk pools. To Read More Click Here