Susan Rupe

Camp Hill

Award-winning writer, editor and blogger covering the world of life/health insurance for the nation's leading industry publication. #fintwit @InsNewsNet

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Articles

Agent groups condemn United Healthcare eliminating commissions

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Professional associations representing the agent community have come out against United Healthcare's recent decision to eliminate agent commissions across more than 100 Medicare Advantage plans in more 20 states. The National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals said this move limits access to trusted, licensed guidance for Medicare beneficiaries and threatens the role of independent agents who serve as vital advocates for older Americans.
Annuities 'can add a little juice to the retirement portfolio'

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Retirement is not a one-time event; it is a dynamic phase of life that requires a vision of what the post-employment years will look like for each individual and how that vision will be funded. Tamiko Toland, founder of IncomePath, discussed the process of individualized retirement planning and how annuities can help fund each individualâ€™s retirement vision during a recent webinar by the National Association for Fixed Annuities.
Birth rate rise among 40-somethings spikes interest in benefits

1 week ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Birth rates in the U.S. have been declining since 1990, but thereâ€™s one population segment that is seeing a rise in births â€“ women age 40 and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that revealed more babies were born to women over 40 than teens for the first time in history. The increase in births to women in their prime wage-earning years coincides with a spike in interest in disability and paid leave benefits among women in that age group, MetLife found.
Insurers show strongest financial performance in a decade

2 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Publicly traded insurance companies showed strong financial performance in 2024 compared to the prior year, according to an analysis by Compensation Advisory Partners. CAP released its annual research on executive compensation and financial performance across two industry segments, including 19 of the largest publicly traded property/casualty and life/health insurers.
Group health: What sets high-ranked plans apart?

3 weeks ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Whatâs the difference between the highest- and lowest-performing employer-sponsored health plans? High-performing plans ranked high on their ability to deliver clear communication and meaningful member support. Meanwhile, bottom-ranked plans struggle to deliver a positive member experience. Those were among the findings of the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Study.
Caregiving and an aging population: How can government help?

1 month ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

An increasing number of older Americans will need long-term care at some point, with most of the care performed by unpaid family members. What types of public policy should be put in place to support an aging population and its caregivers? A recent webinar by The Harkin Institute looked at some options.
When a VA with lifetime income benefits offers the greatest value

1 month ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

The number of annuity offerings available in the marketplace continues to expand, but sometimes it’s a good idea to take another look at a product that’s a bit more traditional: a variable annuity with lifetime income benefit riders. A new white paper identifies when a VA with lifetime income benefits can offer the greatest relative value to a retiree. Wade Pfau, professor of practice at The American College, wrote the paper for Equitable.
FIA indices evolve as the interest rate environment changes

1 month ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Insurance companies continue to add newly launched indices to their fixed indexed annuity products, leading to a growing need to educate on the difference between live and back-tested index performance to help properly set policyholder expectations. A panel of industry leaders discussed what goes into the development of an index during a recent National Association for Fixed Annuities webinar.
Health agents prepare for potential class action suit against CMS

1 month ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

A Washington law firm is interviewing health advisors who were unfairly targeted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in preparation for a potential class action lawsuit against the federal agency for its use of algorithms to punish agents who enrolled consumers in Affordable Care Act coverage.
Medicaid cuts, prescription drugs among health care issues in DC

1 month ago | insurancenewsnet.com | Susan Rupe

Cuts to Medicaid are at the forefront of health-related news from Washington, as the House of Representatives passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes an estimated $792 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next 10 years. But the bill is only one of the health-related initiatives to take flight in the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Analysts from Avalere Health discussed some highlights of the new administrationâ€™s first three months in a recent webinar.