June 11, 2026

Wakely supports a range of providers who take risk in Medicare Advantage (MA) and other government and commercial insurance programs.

The study found insurance denials before care was provided delayed patients’ treatments and worsened their health problems. Denials after care frequently left patients with unexpected medical bills or threw them into long-term debt. Perceptions about rising rates of denials have resulted in widespread frustration, especially as the cost of health insurance spikes, with patients arguing they’re still not able to access the care they need even if they shell out high monthly premiums for coverage.

The top reasons for excluding coverage for obesity medications include the high cost of covering all members who may be prescribed the medication (45%), the perception that these medications are lifestyle drugs (24%), ongoing cost exposure (18%), and high discontinuation rates resulting in limited ROI (5%).

Illinois plans to award new Medicaid managed care contracts to six insurers through 2030, including incumbents such as Centene, Aetna, Molina, and Humana. The contracts are worth more than $140 billion over the initial term and place greater emphasis on care coordination, behavioral health and social determinants of health. These contract awards come as Medicaid faces major uncertainty from federal funding cuts; however, market share is not expected to be significantly disrupted.

Several cities and healthcare organizations are suing HHS over a new ACA regulation that adds stricter enrollment requirements for marketplace plans beginning in 2027. The rule requires additional income and eligibility verification, changes tax credit rules, and expands access to lower-premium catastrophic plans. Opponents argue it will reduce enrollment and increase the number of uninsured Americans.

Medicare’s Hospital Insurance trust fund is now expected to be depleted in the second quarter of 2033, one quarter sooner than previously projected. CMS Chief Actuary Paul Spitalnic summed up the reason plainly: “lower taxation means... there’s a little less income coming in.” The fund is also being pressured by rising enrollment in Medicare Advantage, which costs Medicare more per beneficiary than traditional fee-for-service coverage according to the trustees.