Would you buy today? Pre-market is showing around $190 but I would guess that at the open it will be much higher since the sales price indicated pricing at or around $230. Only have $5400 available to buy so its only going to be around 27 shares.
No. That's UK Memphis's other handle. He's the paddock investment guru. I'm from the good end of the state.Are you from Paducah?
The transaction will probably take place and will make Aetna the largest producer of Medicare Advantage plans. I believe there will be major changes in the MA market and there should be, but probably not in the way I hope. MA companies have been overcharging Medicare for years now and Medicare knows it, but the majority of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, don't want to make waves because they want he MA product to be a huge success for companies to continue to market it.
I am an advocate for Seniors and what gets me is that the MA companies are making more money per patient even though Medicare has cut the base rate on which they are paid. They do this by circumventing the rules on how they are paid by "patient risk". However, MA companies are continuing to cut the care for Seniors with higher deductibles, higher out of pocket costs, and, in most areas, higher premiums. Many Medicare recipients have no other choice but Medicare Advantage or just Medicare alone which only pays about 80% of outpatient treatment because they can't qualify for a regular Medicare Supplement due to health issues. That is even more true with what we call "underage" Medicare recipients, those under 65 and on Medicare due to disability, whom very rarely qualify for a regular Medicare Supplement and when they do, they pay a much more hefty premium. That is why Medicare Advantage is so important to a lot of Medicare recipients.
What I'm attempting to get at is all of these companies that have a large base of Medicare Advantage clients would "take a bath" if and when these consumer groups and some members of Congress start becoming more vocal that Medicare is paying out more than they should to these companies. If and when that happens, Medicare Advantage could "bite the dust" as many Congress members fear. Many companies would simply raise premiums and cut benefits and see how it flies. Others would just simply leave the market because the overhead expense would be too great. This would leave a large void in the market for those Seniors that I described above and politicians corporate constituents that pay for their campaigns.
This coming October, when Open Enrollment starts and companies release their plans to the public, could be a big indicator of the future in the MA market. I am looking for higher premiums and less benefits...just how much yet will be determined. I am inclined to wonder if that is one of the main reasons Humana decided to sell.
I guess if you invest in these type companies, you may have time to get out if you watch what's going on in the market.
It's the insurance companies that are making all the money. I have a lot of clients that have MA plans. We don't have many problems with claims being denied.I work in ancillary services in healthcare and MA plans are awful. People get denied things all the time, and the reimbursements to our services are basically a loss every time.
The insurers have a profit margin of 2-4%. The pharma companies make +-30%.........It's the insurance companies that are making all the money.
Thanks for the info!!!I don't invest in individual stocks. Too risky and speculative.
No. That's UK Memphis's other handle. He's the paddock investment guru. I'm from the good end of the state.
I'm from there originally Bill but live in Texas now. And I'm not a stock guru as Beavis implies.Lol, I live in Paducah