Tag: healthcare trends

Why New Insurance Rules Could Make Weight Loss Treatments Harder to Access

Nordstrom
weight loss medications

Independence Blue Cross Restricts Weight Loss Drug Coverage Starting January 1, 2025, Independence Blue Cross (IBX), the largest health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, will no longer cover certain weight loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists like Wegovy and Ozempic, when prescribed solely for managing weight. The company will continue covering these medications for individuals with FDA-approved conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. This change impacts both group and individual commercial plan holders, shifting the full cost of these drugs—ranging from $700 to $1,350 per month—to patients who…

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Health insurance coverage could increase ER visits

G. Turner
health insurance coverage emergency room ER visits

A study has suggested that those who are newly insured may start visiting emergency rooms more often. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology economist has indicated that previous predictions that the reduction in the cost of heading to the ER through a rise in health insurance coverage rates would cause the number of visits to increase, have not lost their relevance. Research has now indicated that the newly insured among the poor are more likely to head to the ER. The research was conducted in the Boston area and offered evidence…

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