Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey agreed to pay $100 million to resolve allegations that the health-insurance company had ripped off taxpayers by overpaying for care, in a pact made public on Friday.The settlement with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin brings to an end a lawsuit against Horizon initiated by several whistleblowers. Rising expenses in the state employee health plan had been pushing up costs for taxpayers for years. The state entrusted Horizon to provide benefits for hundr ...

LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) (the "Company†) today announced that it priced $850 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.500% senior notes due 2031 (the "Notes†) to be sold in a private offering to individuals reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers†pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act†), and to certain non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under. ...

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm is reminding investors who purchased Molina Healthcare, Inc. securities between February 5, 2025, and July 23, 2025, of the December 2, 2025, deadline to become lead plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit [1] Group 1: Class Action Details - Investors who purchased Molina securities during the specified Class Period may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [1] - A class action lawsuit has already been filed, and interested parties must move the Court by December 2, 2025, to serve as lead plaintiff [2] - The lawsuit alleges that Molina failed to disclose several material adverse facts regarding its financial health and operational assumptions, which misled investors [4] Group 2: Rosen Law Firm's Credentials - Rosen Law Firm emphasizes the importance of selecting qualified legal counsel with a successful track record in securities class actions [3] - The firm has achieved significant settlements, including the largest securities class action settlement against a Chinese company at the time and has been ranked highly for its performance in securities class action settlements [3] - In 2019, the firm secured over $438 million for investors, showcasing its capability in recovering funds for clients [3]

Core Insights - Medicare premiums are set to increase significantly in 2026, impacting retirees' Social Security benefits [1][3] - The increase in Part B premiums is the second-highest in the program's history, with a rise of $17.90 to $202.90 per month [2] - The annual Part B deductible will also increase by $26, reaching $283 in 2026 [1] Medicare Premiums and Social Security - The higher Medicare premiums will consume nearly a third of the average Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of $56 for 2026 [3] - The average monthly benefit for retired workers will increase from $2,015 to $2,071, but the Part B premium increase is significantly higher at a rate of 9.7% compared to the COLA's 2.8% [3][4] - Part B premiums are rising almost 3.5 times faster than the COLA [4] Hold Harmless Provision - Not all beneficiaries will experience the full impact of the premium increase due to the "hold harmless" provision, which caps the Part B premium increase for some individuals [4][5] - Approximately one million Social Security beneficiaries are expected to have their Part B increase capped under this provision [5] Additional Medicare Costs - Other Medicare cost increases for 2026 include high-income surcharges, affecting about 8% of Medicare users who earn too much to qualify for standard premiums [8] - Beneficiaries with incomes exceeding $109,000 for single filers and $218,000 for joint filers will face surcharges, resulting in total monthly Part B premiums ranging from $284.10 to $689.90 [9]

Core Insights - The article discusses the financial challenges older Americans face regarding healthcare costs, particularly those not covered by Medicare, and suggests strategies to manage these expenses effectively. Group 1: Healthcare Costs - Medicare does not cover routine vision and dental care, leading to significant out-of-pocket expenses for seniors [2][4][11] - Average costs for various healthcare services include: - Prescription eyeglasses: approximately $350 [1] - Routine eye exam: about $136 [2] - Dental cleaning: between $75 and $200 [3] - Root canal: average cost of $1,165 [2] - Dentures: range from $350 to $12,450 [2] - Long-term care costs can be substantial, with averages of $77,796 for a home health aide, $70,800 for assisted living, and up to $127,750 for a private nursing home room [18] Group 2: Financial Planning Strategies - Joining organizations like AARP can provide discounts on healthcare services and help manage budgets [7][8] - Contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA) is recommended to cover future healthcare costs, with the average retirement healthcare cost for a 65-year-old estimated at $172,500 [15][14] - HSA contribution limits for 2025 are $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for families, with an additional $1,000 for those aged 55 and older [16] Group 3: Financial Advisory Services - Consulting a financial advisor can help seniors plan for healthcare expenses in retirement, including maximizing HSA contributions [21][22] - Platforms like Advisor.com can connect individuals with vetted financial advisors to assist in retirement planning [22][23]

Core Viewpoint - Molina Healthcare, Inc. plans to privately offer $750 million in senior notes due 2031, subject to market conditions [1] Group 1: Offering Details - The offering will consist of an aggregate principal amount of $750 million [1] - The notes will be due in 2031 [1] - The offering will be made under an exemption from the Securities Act of 1933 [1] Group 2: Target Investors - The initial purchasers will offer the notes only to persons reasonably believed to be "qualified institutional buyers" [1]

Core Viewpoint - Rosen Law Firm is reminding investors of Molina Healthcare, Inc. about an important deadline related to a securities class action lawsuit, encouraging them to secure legal counsel before December 2, 2025 [1][3]. Group 1: Class Action Details - Investors who purchased Molina securities between February 5, 2025, and July 23, 2025, may be entitled to compensation without any out-of-pocket fees through a contingency fee arrangement [2]. - A class action lawsuit has already been filed, and potential lead plaintiffs must act by December 2, 2025 [3]. - The lawsuit alleges that Molina failed to disclose several material adverse facts regarding its financial health and operational assumptions, which misled investors [5]. Group 2: Legal Representation - Investors are encouraged to select qualified legal counsel with a proven track record in securities class actions, as many firms may lack the necessary experience and resources [4]. - Rosen Law Firm has a history of successful settlements in securities class actions, having recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors [4]. Group 3: Case Specifics - The lawsuit claims that Molina's financial guidance for fiscal year 2025 was likely to be cut due to undisclosed issues related to medical cost trends and service utilization [5]. - The misleading statements made by Molina regarding its business operations and prospects are central to the claims made in the lawsuit [5].

Core Viewpoint - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is investigating potential claims against Molina Healthcare, Inc. due to allegations of violations of federal securities laws related to misleading statements and undisclosed adverse facts affecting the company's financial performance [2][5]. Summary by Sections Legal Investigation - Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP is encouraging investors who suffered losses in Molina to contact them regarding their legal options, particularly for those who purchased securities between February 5, 2025, and July 23, 2025 [1][2]. Allegations Against Molina - The complaint alleges that Molina and its executives made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose critical information, including: - Material adverse facts regarding the company's medical cost trend assumptions [5]. - A dislocation between premium rates and medical costs [5]. - Dependency on low utilization of behavioral health, pharmacy, and inpatient and outpatient services for near-term growth [5]. - Likelihood of substantial cuts to financial guidance for fiscal year 2025 [5]. - Misleading positive statements about the company's business and prospects [5]. Financial Performance and Stock Impact - On July 7, 2025, Molina announced second-quarter financial results, revealing adjusted earnings of approximately $5.50 per share, which was below prior expectations due to medical cost pressures across all business lines. The company cut its full-year adjusted earnings guidance by 10.2%, from at least $24.50 per share to a range of $21.50 to $22.50 per share [6]. - Following this announcement, Molina's stock price fell by $6.97, or 2.9%, closing at $232.61 per share on July 7, 2025, with unusually heavy trading volume [6]. - On July 23, 2025, Molina further slashed its full-year earnings guidance, reporting GAAP net income of $4.75 per diluted share for the second quarter, an 8% decrease year-over-year, and cutting its full-year adjusted earnings guidance to no less than $19.00 per diluted share, representing a 13.6% cut from the previous guidance [7][8]. - This led to a significant drop in Molina's stock price by $32.03, or 16.84%, closing at $158.22 per share on July 24, 2025, also on unusually heavy trading volume [8].

Market Overview - The S&P 500 is currently only 2.5% off its highs, indicating that there is no immediate cause for concern despite recent volatility [1] - Investors are reassessing the AI trade, questioning whether there is a bubble, as evidenced by significant declines in blue-chip stocks like Oracle and Meta [2][3] AI and Tech Stocks - Oracle has lost one-third of its value since August, while Meta is down nearly 20% in the last month, prompting investors to reconsider their positions [2] - Concerns are growing regarding capital expenditures in AI and the timing and magnitude of potential payoffs [4] - Nvidia's upcoming earnings report is critical, as its performance could significantly influence market sentiment [7][9] Investment Strategies - A cautious approach is being adopted, with many investors taking profits and rebalancing portfolios due to the high concentration of market cap in top AI-related stocks [6] - Despite concerns about an AI bubble, there are still opportunities in tech, with analysts like Dan Ives highlighting potential investments [5] Company-Specific Insights - Craft Heinz is viewed as a cheap stock with an 11% free cash flow yield and a 6.4% dividend, despite its struggles [12][13] - SLB (formerly Schlumberger) is favored due to its position in oil field services and its recent performance, rising 11% in the last month while the S&P 500 remained flat [15][16] - Molina Healthcare is down 46% year-to-date, but is expected to rebound as it adjusts premiums in response to rising claims costs [17][19] Economic Indicators - The Federal Reserve is expected to cut rates, with current speculation around the true unemployment and inflation rates affecting market dynamics [22][24] - The 10-year Treasury yield has been fluctuating around 4%, indicating a stable economic outlook despite some concerns about unemployment [26][28] Tariffs and Affordability - The administration's focus on affordability, including potential tariff adjustments and housing affordability measures, is seen as a positive step for the economy [29]

Core Insights - Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired 17.9 million shares of Alphabet Inc., valued at approximately $4.9 billion, representing 0.31% of outstanding shares [1] - Berkshire's cash reserves reached a record $382 billion, prompting investments in Occidental Petroleum Corp. and UnitedHealth Group Inc. [2] - Berkshire reduced its Apple stake by 15%, now valued at $60.7 billion, while still holding nearly 25% of its equity portfolio in Apple [3] - The company sold 37.2 million shares of Bank of America, maintaining a 7.7% stake in the firm [3] - Berkshire exited its position in D.R. Horton Inc., a US home builder [3]