Risk Managers – Thought Leadership on Health Insurance

The Future of Community Pharmacies

“To survive, community pharmacies are evolving beyond the traditional “product-dispensing” revenue model. The future of local pharmacy relies on diversifying revenue away from product margin alone—shifting toward clinical service delivery, point-of-care testing, specialized compounding, disease state management, and direct-care service contracts with local employers and health plans” – Erin Albert

ICHRA Stories

Watch Real Experiences and Insights from Employers, Employees and Brokers

Wondering what ICHRA looks like in practice? Hear testimonials directly from employers, employees, and brokers as they share real experiences with Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), offering practical insights, lessons learned, and perspectives on personalized health coverage, employee choice, and cost control.

The Life of a Prescription in the USA in 2026–Drug Formularies, Pricing, and Money at the Pharmacy Counter

This is Part 6 of a 6 Part Series By Erin L. Albert, MBA, PharmD, JD, DASPL

“To understand why a medication costs $10 for one person and $1,000 for another under the exact same plan design, one must examine how drug formularies handle money at the counter—and how modern pricing structures, like the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC) bolt-on model, attempt to disrupt that framework.”

100 Best Health Insurance Blogs to Follow in 2026

Psssst……RiskManagers.us is NUMBER TWENTY!

The best Health Insurance blogs curated and ranked based on multiple factors, including content relevancy, subject expertise, posting frequency, and freshness of content.

Greenback Health – Simplifying Healthcare Costs Through Innovative Technology

Greenback Health is a healthcare technology company that partners with insurers, PBMs, and health plans to analyze thousands of drug prices in real time and identify the most cost‑effective payment options at the point of sale.

Amazon Pharmacy RxPass Program

SOURCE: Amazon Pharmacy: RxPass

RxPass has you covered

While other savings programs charge for each individual medication, RxPass is always $5 a month—no matter how many meds you take.

Navigating Cash-Pay Prescriptions: A Guide for Pharmacies

Written byEmily Smith – Product Marketing Manager, RedSail Technologies – April 9, 2024

We know the prescription drug supply chain is complex, shaping medication pricing in complicated ways. As prescription costs continue to rise, and insurance coverage fluctuates, cash-pay prescriptions have emerged as a viable option for many people seeking affordable medication.

Return of Cash Pay for Drugs

Why on earth do we use insurance to pay for a $4 benefit? That makes no sense………

Cash price Rx plans already exist producing significant savings for consumers. Why aren’t more employer sponsored health plans moving to cash pay Rx plans? Do they not understand the economic value or are they welded to status quo strategies fueled by lack of critical thinking skills?

Ruben Cavazos, Willacy County Treasurer Appointed To NACO Committees

Ruben Cavazos is the Willacy County Treasurer in Raymondville, Texas, serving since January 1, 2007 when he became the youngest country treasurer in Texas ever to win office.

Iran’s Healthcare Crunch Forces Patients To Cut Treatment

“One person undergoing tests for an abdominal and pelvic mass said CT and MRI scans, with and without contrast, cost 210 million rials ($113) despite having Social Security insurance.”

The PBM Fiduciary Double Standard?

By Robyn Tikia

Here’s the part of the PBM debate that bothers me…..Employers are increasingly being told, “You’re the fiduciary. You should have known.”

Your PBM Met Every Guarantee. You Still Lost the Money.

SOURCE: siriusb.ai

Every broker promises “savings” and “transparency”. Then renewal comes and the CFO asks: “Where’s the proof?”

RosettaFest 2026: I Didn’t Expect Employer-Sponsored Healthcare to Restore My Faith in American Healthcare

By Matthew Zachary

For most of my adult life, I have looked at American healthcare through a single window.

RBP Claim Repricing For $1 / Claim

My Price Health was formed in 2021…..……….We seek to lower the healthcare costs by 50% by reducing administrative costs…………

Zero Copay Medication

MyFreeMeds members get access to medications included on their selected formulary (list of included drugs) with no out of pocket cost at over 55,000 local pharmacies nationwide.

Dental Insurance Market Report

Affordability pressures drive shift toward voluntary plans

DALLAS, May 18, 2026 — Despite a 2024 dip in U.S. dental plan enrollment, dental benefits companies increased payments per member to dental providers and continued to expand enrollees’ financial protection by raising annual maximum benefit levels, according to the NADP 2025 State of the Dental Benefits Market Report.

Marpai Announces $12 Million Private Placement led by Mitchell Companies

TAMPA, Fla., July 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marpai, Inc. (“Marpai” or the “Company”) (OTCQX: MRAI), a leader in innovative healthcare technology, Third-Party Administration (“TPA”), and Pharmacy Benefit Management (“PBM”) services, today announced that it entered into securities purchase agreements with accredited investors in a private placement of newly designated convertible preferred stock. The offering was led by Mitchell Companies.

OZEMPIC HORROR SHOW: $2 BILLION LAWSUIT JUST EXPLODED

“Patients are losing DECADES of muscle in a SINGLE YEAR. Bodies aging at warp speed. Hearts weakening. Then the real hell starts: gastroparesis — stomach paralysis so bad food literally ROTS inside you. Weeks of nonstop vomiting. ER visits on repeat. Some say their entire GI tract has completely failed. Teeth falling out from chronic dryness. Sudden PERMANENT blindness. Pancreatitis. Kidney failure.”

Best Benefits Online

Best Benefits Online™ modernizes employee benefits with real choice, and zero admin complexity—all in one platform. A modern, sensible and common-sense solution for employer sponsored health plans and associations.

$278.33 Premium Only Policy vs $550 Claim Paying Policy

By Bill Rusteberg

Large employers typically sponsor ACA complaint claim paying group health insurance policies instead of lower cost government enforced premium only policies.

Loophole City – Weight Loss Drugs Without A Prescription At Your Local Supermarket

“There’s this loophole where you can create a chemical and so long as you say it’s for lab research, it can be sold. It’s not otherwise controlled, he said…………’I don’t think it’s illegal to sell it and I don’t think it’s illegal to take it. The loophole is that everyone is lying about what the original purpose of it is.”

Maintaining The Win – Survival Tips For Insurance Brokers

By Bill Rusteberg

An insurance broker’s financial survival is dependent upon monthly residuals built over time. Winning business is only good for as long as its kept.

Edinburg ISD Considers Move From Free Blue Cross ASO Health Plan

The Edinburg Independent School District is considering a move from Blue Cross Blue Shield to United Healthcare effective January 2027.

School District Changes Health Insurance For 1.25% Premium Savings

The Edcouch Elsa Independent School District believes every penny counts. The district’s insurance consultant recommended a move from Blue Cross Blue Shield to United Healthcare for a premium savings of 1.25%.

Medicare Price Lookup Is Easy

QUESTION: What is the Medicare price for an established patient 10-19 minute office visit?

“Don’t Be Bullied. Be The Bull” Say Doctor Bill

By Bill Hennessey, M.D.

Ballad Health Bills Critical Care Codes Instead of ER Codes for ER Visit – Charges $4,664 for 10 minutes of Face Time with Patient

How Much Is This Going To Cost Me?

By Cam Wynn

I’d bet most of us have asked ourselves “How much is this going to cost me?” That’s what made me wonder how many employees are making healthcare decisions with their wallet instead of their health?

ICHRA Explained In One Picture

Memorial Hermann To Exit Health Insurance Business

SOURCE: Program Closing | Memorial Hermann Health Plan

Memorial Hermann has made the decision to wind down and close Memorial Hermann Commercial Health Plan, Memorial Hermann Insurance Company and Memorial Hermann Health Solutions, known collectively as the “Memorial Hermann Commercial Health Plans” (“MH Commercial Health Plans”).

Texas Local Government Code Section 271.903

Texas Local Government Code § 271.903, titled “Commitment of Current Revenue,” is not often understood by vendors who insist on multi-year contracts tied to rigid evergreen clauses………..

There’s A Doctor Shortage In Corpus Christi

“In 2023, Dominguez told the Nueces County Commissioners Court that the community needed 162 primary care providers but only had about 60. Dominguez described months-long wait times at clinics.”

Meanwhile ERs are raking in millions off a broken system that has a capacity problem.

Hint Health Launches Marketplace to Bring Apps and Partners Into Its Direct Care Platform

Hint Health is the leading digital health company dedicated to supporting the growth and success of the Direct Primary Care (DPC) movement.

+400,000 Patients Choose MDVIP Direct Primary Care

SOURCE: MDVIP

MDVIP is the national leader in membership-based primary care, with a network of over 1,400 affiliated physicians across the country, caring for more than 400,000 patients.

First Primary Care Expands To Corpus Christi, Texas

First Primary Care is expanding their direct primary care services to Corpus Christi, Texas.

The World’s Easiest Blood Test

Painless at-home blood testing for everyone. Actionable results in less than 72 hours.

Moore County Beats Medical Trend

By Josh Butler

How many Texas Counties can claim they are paying LOWER premiums today than they were 7 years ago? None – but our client can!

Frontier Direct Care 2026 Q2 Report

“Commercially, we continued to advance a healthy sales pipeline, with Pflugerville ISD (3,600 members) having signed their contract to start on November 1st, and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit – 6,600 members)……”

Premise Health

Premise Health works with health plans across the U.S. to deliver advanced primary care to their members virtually and in-person. Together, we help payers lower healthcare costs and give members access to convenient care, incredible experiences, and better health outcomes.

Insuring Generic Drugs Makes No Sense

Does it make sense to run a $3 generic prescription through the full insurance apparatus?

Consider the math. When a PBM is in the mix, the PBM captures $41 of every $100 spent on generic drugs; drugs that cost, on average, about 47 cents to manufacture. That makes the administrative layer the single most expensive component of the transaction.

One Stop Shopping For All Things Health

Finally, a better healthcare shopping experience.

Medical Group Blamed For Raising Premiums For TRS ActiveCare Members

Medical group blamed for raising insurance premiums for hundreds of thousands of Texas teachers……………..

Another Day Begins Near Stratton, Texas

“Stratton, TX.Stratton is on Farm Road 1447 nine miles northeast of Cuero in eastern DeWitt County. It was established as a post office in November 1887 and named for John Stratton, a Cuero saddler, who owned land in the area.”

Blue Cross Has 49 Prices For Level 4 Office Visits

By Jason Nakka

The blue card in your wallet looks like one national insurance company. It is not. It is a federation of independent companies with exclusive territories, and most people will go their whole lives without learning which one they actually have.

4th Annual School Finance & Operations Conference

We are excited to share new updates for the 4th Annual School Finance & Operations Conference + Purchasing Coop Product Show. The conference is open to all Texas school systems, including district and campus administrators, human resources, payroll, procurement, budgeting, school finance, grants management, and operations professionals.

Marpai Buys Time………..

“The restructuring addresses the Company’s debt service profile, alleviates immediate liquidity pressures and provides the necessary runway to support operations and execute the Company’s business plan.”

Cash Pay Centric Health Plans Come of Age

It’s not rocket science. It’s easy to implement. It can be placed side by side to any existing health plan gifting plan members a choice at the point of service between “Free Care” and “Not so free care.”

J Patrick Rooney – Godfather of Reference Based Pricing

J Patrick Rooney is considered by many to be the Father of Margin Based Pricing better known these days as Reference Based Pricing. Many believe his conclusion of what the “sweet spot” reference point should be still holds true today.

MEDICAL SERVICES CASH PAY PROGRAM

New type of health plan unleashes the power of cash……………..

Blue Cross Explains Why PPO is a Good Choice

“This is part of an overall national trend to move away from PPO plans that come with high costs to consumers and offer little in the way of coordinated care” – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois – Source: CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) November 2015

Large Claim Financing Without Stop Loss Insurance

By Bill Rusteberg

Imagine backing your self-funded health plan through capital markets instead of an insurance carrier.

Model Legislation Mandates Reference Based Pricing For Prescription Drugs

SOURCE: HERE and HERE

Model legislation could apply to state regulated commercial market and self-insured plans…………..

Aging BUCA Representative Lets It Rip

The BUCA World Is Aghast

A riveting video of an aging BUCA rep. is going viral in BUCA boardrooms across the Fruited Plains.

Days & Weeks Followed By 5 Minute Doc Visits Drives DPC Market Demand

Primary Care Personnel (PCP) Slave At The Chocolate Factory

By Bill Rusteberg

Traditional fee-for-service office visits these days reminds one of the iconic and chaotic Chocolate Factory Scene from “I Love Lucy.” High speed conveyor belt care, meeting with patients five minutes at a time followed by a prescription coupled with time consuming after encounter recordkeeping is chaotic and inefficient.

4-Year-Old Wants To Become An Actuary When He Grows Up

Jack Rusteberg, age 4, announced yesterday, he wants to be an actuary when he grows up.

Willacy County Hires 90 Degree Benefits

Willacy County commissioners have approved 90 Degree Benefits as their third party administrator effective October 1, 2026 as a result of a a competitive Request For Proposal process.

Abbott Unveils Plan That Could Cut Texas Home and Auto Insurance Costs

Governor says roof fortification grants and auto insurance changes could reduce premiums

Expert Orthopedic Care When You Need It

From digital triage to orthopedic care, Upswing Health meets members where they are………………

PPO Physician Network + RBP = Best of All Worlds

Looking for a health plan that offers flexibility, affordability, and strong member support? Freedom Hybrid delivers the best of both worlds by combining a PPO physician network with the savings power of reference-based pricing.

What Does TrumpRx Do To Our GLP-1 Spend…….Nothing Unless You……

By Limitless Consulting

Since February, the most common question from benefits leaders has been a version of the same one: what does TrumpRx do to our GLP-1 spend?

Texas Hospitals Post Competitive Birth-Package Pricing For Pregnant Mexicans

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has requested the Attorney General’s Office to investigate whether two Rio Grande Valley hospitals — Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission and Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco — had violated state or federal laws by purchasing a billboard that Gov. Greg Abbott says targets foreign nationals traveling to Texas to give birth.

Group Account Reps. Are The Backbone Of Any TPA

By Bill Rusteberg

Group account representatives are the backbone of any TPA operation. They are like sergeants in the Army, experienced front-line managers juggling many tasks important to the plan and TPA. They become the “face” of the TPA, a group’s contact, problem solver and friend. Loyalty between plan and group account representative often becomes the overriding byproduct, with TPA loyalty of secondary importance.

MEDICAL SERVICES CASH PAY PROGRAM ELECTION FORM

The process is simple, a business transaction where buyer and seller agree on price, not a faceless back room third-party intermediary whose pricing methodology is grounded in moral hazard.

This simple process requires legwork by plan members. They become an active part of the transaction, a responsibility they have never had before. And they are rewarded for their efforts when they succeed.

Cash Pay Health Plans Made Simple

Hey Doc! What’s your best price? I’ve got cash!…………………..It’s your choice!”

By Bill Rusteberg

Plan sponsored Cash Pay Health Plans don’t have to be complicated. The process is really very simple, a business transaction where buyer and seller agree on price, not a faceless back room third-party intermediary whose pricing methodology is grounded in moral hazard.

NEW Group Health Insurance PPO Plan

Groups as Small as 1. Contact us to get starte . Call (813) 988-3200

Region One Annual Conference At South Padre Island

AI self-diagnosis rises in Iran as healthcare costs drive patients online

An Iranian doctor in this file photo checks a patient’s blood pressure during a medical examination at a healthcare facility in Iran.

July 13, 2026, 10:23 GMT+1 SOURCE: https://www.iranintl.com/en/202607130817

Patients in Iran are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for medical advice as healthcare costs outpace household incomes, prompting concerns from a public health expert that the technology could undermine treatment and trust between doctors and patients.

You’re A Deadbeat Until You Prove You’re Not

” This is like…………guilty until proving yourself innocent. The public record shows Leon owes money he refuses to pay. That makes Leon a deadbeat. Now, it’s up to Leon to prove he’s not. Most would rather pay tribute to keep their reputation intact even though that would be wrong. The hospital should pay Leon $420 in reputational damages. Bastards!” – Molly Mulebriar

Working The Margin

“Your margin is my opportunity” says Jeff Bezos. American health care finance (insurance) has margins in every crook and cranny. There are up to over 26 margins in a group health insurance plan attracting pigs to the trough.

When Was The Last Time You Reviewed Your Coverage?

By Mathew Brown

The only requirement to sell you a commercial insurance policy in the US is passing a test, typically after two to three days of study. That low bar means there’s no shortage of brokers, but very little competition on thoroughness, and unless you scrutinize yours, you’re likely either underinsured or overpaying.

Compare Your Rates With National Average Group Medical Rates

No matter how you slice it, here is a good idea where group medical rates are in today’s market.

Brownsville ISD Considers Direct Primary Care

Better Care for Staff. Lower Costs for the District.

Brownsville ISD is projected to save $4–11 million annually by implementing DPC for employees. These savings come from fewer ER visits, fewer specialist referrals, better chronic care, reduced absenteeism, and lower pharmacy costs.

Kilpatrick Companies

We are the largest GA in our markets by market share with a company that bares our family name.

Amwins adds Texas non-subscriber MGA Jackson-Lloyd to ASCS

Deal adds occupational accident coverage as Texas’ non-subscriber market keeps shifting and Amwins keeps buying specialty MGAs

By Mark Rosanes Jul 02, 2026

Amwins has acquired Jackson-Lloyd, a Texas-based managing general underwriter specializing in non-subscriber occupational accident coverage. The company will join Amwins Specialty Casualty Solutions (ASCS).

The Modern Level-Funded Health Plan

Angle Health is built for today’s employers. We provide flexible level-funded health plans designed to be simple to manage and use.

Census driven firm pricing…………

Lawmakers Target the Power of Health Insurance Giants

UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna are battling efforts to break up their control over prescription drugs.