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

How UnitedHealthcare became the face of America’s health insurance frustrations

How UnitedHealthcare became the face of America’s health insurance frustrations

Flags fly at half staff outside the United Healthcare corporate headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota, Dec. 4, 2024. Stephen Maturen | Getty Images News | Getty Images It took six months, countless hours on hold and intervention from state regulators before Sue Cover says she finally resolved an over $1,000 billing dispute with UnitedHealthcare in 2023. … 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

Walgreens doubles down on prescription-filling robots to cut costs, free up pharmacists amid turnaround

Walgreens doubles down on prescription-filling robots to cut costs, free up pharmacists amid turnaround

A robotic arm fills prescriptions at a Walgreens’ micro-fulfillment center. Courtesy: Walgreens As struggling drugstore chains work to regain their footing, Walgreens is doubling down on automation.  The company is expanding the number of retail stores served by its micro-fulfillment centers, which use robots to fill thousands of prescriptions for patients who take medications to … Read more

Healthy Returns: Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy deal with CVS won’t derail Eli Lilly’s obesity market dominance

Healthy Returns: Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy deal with CVS won’t derail Eli Lilly’s obesity market dominance

A combination image shows an injection pen of Zepbound, Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, and boxes of Wegovy, made by Novo Nordisk. Hollie Adams | 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. Despite … Read more

CVS to boost access to Novo Nordisk’s weight loss treatment Wegovy for patients on its drug plans

CVS to boost access to Novo Nordisk’s weight loss treatment Wegovy for patients on its drug plans

The “Wegovy” brand slimming syringe is sold in the Achat pharmacy in Mitte. The “Wegovy” slimming syringe has been available in Germany for a year. Jens Kalaene | Picture Alliance | Getty Images CVS Health on Thursday said it will significantly expand access to the blockbuster weight loss drug Wegovy for patients covered by its … Read more

CVS tops estimates, hikes guidance as insurance business shows some improvement

CVS tops estimates, hikes guidance as insurance business shows some improvement

CVS Pharmacy logo is seen in Washington DC, United States on July 9, 2024. Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images CVS Health on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings and revenue that topped estimates and hiked its guidance, as its troubled insurance business showed some improvement during the period.  Shares of CVS were up 7% in … 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

Walgreens to go private in $10 billion deal with Sycamore Partners

Walgreens to go private in  billion deal with Sycamore Partners

The Walgreens logo is displayed at a Walgreens store on October 15, 2024 in San Rafael, California.  Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Struggling drugstore chain Walgreens is going private.  The company on Thursday said it inked a deal with private equity firm Sycamore Partners that will take it off the public market for an equity … Read more