A.M. Best Holds Stable Outlook on U.S. Health Industry Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis
Insurance rating agency A.M. Best said it is maintaining its stable market segment outlook on the U.S. health insurance industry, despite the impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak. It cited:
- A trend of strong earnings;
- Strengthened risk-adjusted capitalization;
- Lower-than-estimated utilization and medical cost trends; and
- The cancellation or postponement of visits for routine care and elective procedures.
U.S. life insurers’ growing commercial mortgage portfolios may face virus pressure
U.S. life insurers continued in 2019 to increase their holdings of commercial mortgage loans, an asset class that industry participants say faces unique challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, S&P Global reports. The long-term nature of commercial mortgages makes them a good asset match for the long-duration liabilities life insurers carry. However, commercial mortgage loans could be under stress as the pandemic-sparked economic slowdown continues.
Calls for Medicaid expansion renewed as COVID-19 outbreak strains health care system
More than 50 Texas health policy and industry groups are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to expand the state’s Medicaid program to cover more than 1 million people as a way to slow the spread of the coronavirus and the illness it causes, COVID-19.
Coronavirus Reset: How to Get Health Insurance Now
Millions of people have lost jobs — and often the health coverage that came with those jobs. More still have had their work hours reduced or have received drastic pay cuts, so monthly premiums that may have been manageable before are now out of reach.
Estimated Cost of Treating the Uninsured Hospitalized with COVID-19
A great deal of uncertainty surrounds how the COVID-19 epidemic will evolve, including how many people will become infected and how many will become severely ill and require hospitalization. The Kaiser Family Foundation provides a range of cost estimates for the Trump administration’s proposal to reimburse hospitals for COVID-19 treatments for uninsured patients, based on results from recent studies and models.