Major health insurers prosper with expanding roles in Medicare, Medicaid

Meanwhile, a California study shows health care costs in that state are rising, while benefits are shrinking. Another study finds that coverage gaps can be disruptive to preventive care. 

The Washington Post: Private Insurers Increasingly Reliant On Government Business
Despite the sluggish economy, the nation's major health insurers have prospered in large part by expanding their role in government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, according to a study released Thursday. The share of large insurers' revenues contributed by their Medicare and Medicaid business has jumped from 36 to 42 percent over the past three years (Aizenman, 1/4).

Los Angeles Times: Survey Shows California Healthcare Costs Rising, Benefits Shrinking
Fewer California companies offered their workers health insurance last year, and the ones that did charged employees more for their coverage. That's among the findings of an annual California Employer Health Benefits Survey released Wednesday by the California HealthCare Foundation, a research and grant-making nonprofit organization (Lifsher, 1/4).

NPR: Gaps In Health Coverage Can Disrupt Preventive Care
The people who had breaks in their insurance coverage were much less likely to get tests that diabetics are supposed to have at least once a year, including cholesterol screening, kidney function and HbA1c screening. In fact, they did no better than the people who never had any insurance coverage when it came to getting those tests done. That might be because the uninsured people have to pay small copays, around $5 (Shute, 1/4). 

The Wall Street Journal's Health Bog: Study: Continuous Insurance Required For Low-Income Diabetics
Even a small gap in Medicaid coverage can have consequences for diabetics, new research suggests (Hobson, 1/4).

Also in the news -

California Healthline: New Year, New Deals? Breaking Down Health Plan, Doctor Alliances
Out: Physicians and insurance companies as mortal enemies. In: Health insurers and physicians as partners. ...  Given ongoing industry efforts to coordinate care, lock up primary care providers and cut costs, physician groups have many suitors  (Diamond, 1/4).