Health Insurance

The contract, covering 140,000 St. Louis-area patients, had been set to expire at midnight Wednesday.

The agreement comes as other patients await a decision between UnitedHealthCare and SSM.

Thousands of SSM patients could lose access to in-network providers if the two companies don’t reach a deal soon.

Medicare Advantage, a private alternative to traditional Medicare, offers extra benefits and low monthly premiums. However, prior authorizations and claim denials complicate this increasingly popular — and profitable — program for Medicare beneficiaries and their health care providers.

An average benchmark plan on the ACA Marketplace will cost Missouri customers almost 24% more than the year before as costs for food and energy are increasing.

Certain insurance customers will see some of the highest premium hikes in the country when they start shopping for plans on the open enrollment marketplace.

Democrats in Congress have held off voting on a spending bill unless legislators agree to again approve the tax credits for people who buy insurance on healthcare.gov.

Centene subsidiary Ambetter from Home State Health failed to meet Affordable Care Act requirements for medical care spending. The refunds to Missourians will be more than all insurers paid out nationally rebates in 2023.

The Farm Bureau aims to reach an underinsured population, but without government oversight.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield came under scrutiny for planning to put time limits on anesthesia care in Missouri, Connecticut and New York. The original move, which would have started next year, alarmed doctors and policymakers.