15 trends from UnitedHealthcare
A surge in high-cost claims was among the trends last year that UnitedHealthcare identified in its employer-sponsored health plans. The dominant healthcare payer’s 2026 Health Trends Report used data from UnitedHealthcare’s self-funded and fully insured plans. The annual report used claims filed from November 2024 to October 2025 and paid through January 2026. Top findings from the…
Concerns raised over copay-only plans
Fast-growing copay-only health plans can have adverse financial effects for health systems, an adviser warned. Health system CFOs have told Mike Ruiz, senior director, financial transformation advisory services at Premier, that the requirements around the use of copay-only plans have left a growing number of patients with uncovered bills that are turning into bad debt.…
Unpaid medical bills rise as patients pay less out-of-pocket
Out-of-pocket payments by commercially insured patients have decreased in recent years, with the mean repayment rate decreasing from 54% in pre-pandemic years to 46% by 2023, according to a study in JAMA Health Forum.