Bruce Japsen

Chicago

Senior Contributor at Forbes

Senior Contributor @Forbes. Talking healthcare & biz @WBBMNewsradio @forbesonfox. Author: Inside Obamacare & Walmart's 2nd Opinion. Adjunct @UIOWA_SJMC. Hawkeye

Articles

AMA Picks WebMD Doctor With U.S. Health Policy Background As New CEO

5 days ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

The American Medical Association named as its new CEO Dr. John J. Whyte, the chief medical officer at WebMD who also worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Humana Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Oscar Health Profits Exceed $275 Million As Obamacare Enrollment Soars

1 week ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

Oscar Health reported a $275 million first quarter profit as the health insurer’s enrollment hit yet another record, surpassing two million individual and small group members. The provider of individual coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, Wednesday reported net income of $275.3 million, or 92 cents a share, for the first quarter ended March 31 compared to $177.4 million, or 62 cents a share in the first quarter of last year.
As Trump Cuts Health, More May Exit Obamacare Like CVS Health’s Aetna

1 week ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

News that CVS Health’s Aetna is pulling out of the individual health insurance business, also known as Obamacare, could mean more insurers will follow if President Trump and his fellow Republicans in Congress cut health benefits. CVS’ decision, announced last week, leaves about 1 million people in 17 states looking for new coverage in 2026. That’s a fraction of the more than 24 million Americans who signed up for such coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges last fall.
Cigna Profits Hit $1.3 Billion As Health Insurer Gets Handle On Costs

1 week ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

The Cigna Group swung to a first quarter profit of $1.3 billion as the health insurer begins to gain control of rising medical costs and its Evernorth business continues to perform well. Cigna, which includes Evernorth Health Services and one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit management companies, said first quarter net income was $1.3 billion, or $4.85 per share, compared with a net loss of $277 million, or 97 cents per share, in the first quarter of last year.
CVS Plans To Exit Obamacare In 2026, Impacting 1 Million Aetna Members

1 week ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

CVS Health plans to exit the individual health insurance business also known as Obamacare next year, leaving about 1 million Aetna members in 17 states looking for new coverage in 2026. The decision, disclosed Thursday on a day when the company reported nearly $1.8 billion in net income amid a financial turnaround, comes as a relatively new management team at CVS works to get rising healthcare costs in its Aetna brand health insurance plans under control.
Humana Reports $1.2 Billion Profit As Medicare Costs Fall Within Expectations

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

Humana Wednesday reported $1.2 billion in first quarter profits as the company gets better control of medical cost trends in its Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans, which are a big share of Humana’s business, contract with the federal government to provide extra benefits and services to seniors, such as disease management and nurse help hotlines with some also offering vision, dental care and wellness programs.
UnitedHealth Group Shakes Up Management, Taps New Optum CEO

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

United Health Group Tuesday elevated Dr. Patrick Conway to become the chief executive officer of Optum, one of the nation’s largest providers of medical care. Conway, who is currently chief executive of Optum Rx, the company’s pharmacy benefit management company, will become Optum chief executive officer effective May 6. Conway will replace Heather Cianfrocco, who has been named UnitedHealth Group’s executive vice president of Governance, Compliance and Information Security.
Humana’s CenterWell Expands Specialty Pharmacy As GLP-1 Drugs Take Off

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

Humana is the latest health insurer to expand into the fast-growing and lucrative business of direct-to-patient specialty pharmacy as demand grows for popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
Health Plans Brace For Cell And Gene Therapy Costs

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

Cell and gene therapies are breaking ground as life-saving treatments, but their six- and seven-figure price tags are an increasing worry for employers and healths, according to a new analysis. More than 70% of employers and health plans expect affordability of gene therapy for their health plan members and workers will be a “moderate or major challenge” over the next 2 to 3 years, according to a report released Monday at Asembia ASX25 in Las Vegas by Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG).
Obamacare Leads Centene To $1.3 Billion Profit And A 2025 Revenue Boost

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Bruce Japsen

Centene reported first quarter profits of $1.3 billion as membership and premium revenue grew thanks to a big increase in Obamacare enrollment, the health insurer said Friday. Centene’s enrollment in individual coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, grew what Centene calls its “commercial marketplace” business to 5.6 million members from 4.3 a year-ago.