March 26, 2026

CVS Health has reached a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over allegations that pharmacy benefit managers inflated insulin prices, though the terms are not yet public. If finalized, CVS would follow Cigna’s similar agreement, leaving UnitedHealth Group as the only remaining defendant, and the deal is expected to require changes like more transparent pricing practices without major financial impact on CVS.

A KFF survey found that after enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired, most marketplace enrollees saw significant increases in premiums and out-of-pocket costs in 2026. As a result, about 1 in 10 people have become uninsured and many others are switching plans, cutting spending, or working more to afford care, highlighting growing financial strain and potential political fallout.

The 16% figure is striking not just as a data point, but as a signal of consumer frustration with traditional healthcare access. People aren’t waiting for their provider to hand them an AI tool; they're finding one themselves. This suggests that the healthcare system is already being disintermediated, and plans and providers that ignore this trend do so at their own peril.

Health systems are increasingly shifting support services from traditional cost centers into “command centers” by embedding AI, analytics, and integrated partnerships. The key differentiator is not just adopting technology, but systematizing innovation at scale, using real-time data and predictive insights to continuously optimize operations and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

This policy would eliminate the default enrollment of beneficiaries into a fee-for-service arrangement, or original Medicare. Beneficiaries could still opt into a different insurance plan or arrangement.