Cigna plans to simplify its claims process and tie executive compensation to customer satisfaction, prioritizing the member experience and potentially reducing stress for patients dealing with health conditions. Health insurance is complex, and most subscribers don't understand it well. Insurers can further improve the member experience through proactive engagement and education, using data and technology to improve communications, helping patients navigate health care, value-based care models and empathy, writes Dan Gingiss, chief experience officer at The Experience Maker.

Nearly half of respondents to a survey did not know whether their organization had adopted any HHS Cybersecurity Performance Goals, and 9.2% said they had no plans to adopt any of the goals. However, answers to other survey questions revealed that at least 80% of respondents had adopted some of the goals, which were introduced in early 2024. The goals are voluntary but may become mandatory under a proposed update to the HIPAA Security Rule.

A KLAS Research report on data analytics platforms for health insurance carriers ranked MedInsight at the top, followed by MedeAnalytics and Clarify Health Solutions. The report analyzed metrics including customer experiences, data ingestion, analytics and financial performance.

Chief financial officers in the health care sector increasingly recognize the importance of being involved in data governance, says Jim Dregney, CFO of Sauk Prairie Healthcare. Data governance is essential for understanding how data is used, protected and leveraged for financial and operational stability, and CFOs should collaborate on data protection strategies and governance, Dregney says. "Every piece of data can be an effective analytic tool to improve operations," he said.

A survey revealed gaps in enrollees' understanding about health insurance, especially regarding prescription copays and out-of-pocket limits. The survey also found low usage of employee benefit guides during open enrollment season. Additionally, although around 40% of respondents use technology that can sense or track health metrics, few share that data with their health insurers or health care professionals.

A recent incident involving an AI support agent for the code editor Cursor highlights the importance of human oversight. The AI agent mistakenly told a user that logging in on multiple machines was not allowed under a new policy, but Cursor has no such policy. Moreover, the response appeared to come from a person named Sam, not an AI agent. The incorrect information led to user complaints and subscription cancellations.

Sutter Health and SCAN Group are partnering to introduce new Medicare Advantage products in Northern California in 2026, including care models that integrate technology, chronic disease management and preventive care. The organizations also intend to establish a joint venture MA plan.

Surescripts Health Information Network has been designated as a Qualified Health Information Network under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement. This designation allows health care stakeholders to participate in national health information exchange through Surescripts, which has seen a 10% increase in patient data sharing from 2022 to 2023.

A proposed rule would limit coverage of gender-affirming care in health insurance plans sold through Affordable Care Act exchanges, beginning with the 2026 plan year. Health plans would be allowed to cover gender-affirming care voluntarily, but such care would not be considered an essential health benefit.

Nearly 140,000 people enrolled in health insurance coverage during the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace's open enrollment season for the 2025 plan year, and many residents who had been dropped from Medicaid found coverage through the marketplace. About 80% of enrollees received financial assistance, with average monthly premiums of $272 after tax credits, and 11% of enrollees paying less than $10 a month.