Major U.S. health insurers say they will streamline controversial process for approving care

Major U.S. health insurers say they will streamline controversial process for approving care

UnitedHealthcare signage is displayed on an office building in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 19, 2023. Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty Images Health plans under major U.S. insurers said Monday they have voluntarily agreed to speed up and reduce prior authorizations – a process that is often a major pain point for patients and … Read more

Healthy Returns: What to know about the FDA’s plan to speed up some drug reviews

Healthy Returns: What to know about the FDA’s plan to speed up some drug reviews

FILE PHOTO: The headquarters of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seen in Silver Spring, Maryland November 4, 2009.  Jason Reed | Reuters A version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Healthy Returns newsletter, which brings the latest health-care news straight to your inbox. Subscribe here to receive future editions. The Food … Read more

Cigna announces new deal for copay caps on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk weight loss drugs

Cigna announces new deal for copay caps on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk weight loss drugs

Wegovy injection pens arranged in Waterbury, Vermont, US, on Monday, April 28, 2025. Shelby Knowles | Bloomberg | Getty Images Only half of health insurer Cigna‘s clients currently cover the popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound because of their high costs. But the company’s pharmacy benefits unit Evernorth has reached a deal with … Read more

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty steps down, company suspends annual forecast

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty steps down, company suspends annual forecast

Andrew Witty, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, testifies during the Senate Finance Committee hearing titled “Hacking America’s Health Care: Assessing the Change Healthcare Cyber Attack and What’s Next,” in the Dirksen Building in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2024. Tom Williams | Cq-roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images UnitedHealth Group on Tuesday announced the surprise exit … Read more

GLP-1s can help employers lower medical costs in 2 years, new study finds

GLP-1s can help employers lower medical costs in 2 years, new study finds

Packages of weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro. Picture Alliance | Getty Images The growing demand for diabetes and weight loss drugs like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy has helped fuel higher health costs for large employers. For many, the big question is whether the pricy medications known as GLP-1s will pay off by improving … Read more

UnitedHealth’s stock is plunging on higher medical costs. That may mean trouble for more insurers

UnitedHealth’s stock is plunging on higher medical costs. That may mean trouble for more insurers

The logo of UnitedHealth appears on the side of one of its office buildings in Santa Ana, California, on April 13, 2020. Mike Blake | Reuters UnitedHealth Group‘s stock sank 20% on Thursday after the company slashed its annual profit forecast, citing higher-than-expected medical costs in its privately run Medicare plans.  Those bleak results from … Read more

CVS earnings: (CVS) stock rises

CVS earnings: (CVS) stock rises

The CVS pharmacy logo is displayed on a sign above a CVS Health Corp. store in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 7, 2024. Patrick T. Fallon | AFP | Getty Images After a dismal 2024, CVS Health could be starting to turn itself around.  Some investors seem convinced, especially after the retail drugstore chain on … Read more