CIGNA CorporationPhiladelphia, PA, United States (NYSE: CI)

Medicare Advantage Payments will Increase - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will increase payments to companies in the Medicare Advantage program 3.6 percent in 2009. The Medicare Advantage program is a privately run wing of the government healthcare plan for seniors. The increase is slightly lower than the estimated 3.7 percent expected growth increase for Medicare in 2009, but higher than the 3.5 percent increase approved for the Medicare Advantage program in 2007.

Consumer-Driven Health Plans Yield Small Savings - Employer savings from consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) average just 1.5 percent when adjustments are made to account for younger populations, greater cost shifting, and lower use, according to actuarial firm Milliman. Many people who enroll in the plan are healthy, which accounts for much of the savings as use rates are lower among healthier people. Experts say that the findings contradict many previous studies by CDHP vendors that found more significant savings and no adverse selection.

Legislators Limit Insurers' Ability to Cancel Coverage - The New Mexico legislature passed bills that limit insurers' ability to cancel health policies for consumers who buy their own coverage. Most states allow insurers to revoke an individual policy if they find that an applicant lied or omitted information on an application. The bills were introduced because more people are buying individual insurance policies because they're self-employed, unemployed, or don't get coverage at work. A Connecticut law requiring approval from the state insurance commissioner before an insurer can cancel an existing policy went into effect in October 2007.