Insurers benefiting from Part D

Now that some time has passed, we're finally beginning to make sense of how Part D is impacting the healthcare industry. As expected, the impact for insurers and pharmaceutical companies has largely been positive. Of the major insurers, UnitedHealth Group has signed up the most new customers, adding 3.9 million thanks to partnerships with AARP and the PacifiCare acquisition. Following not far behind are Humana and WellPoint. Smaller insurers, are seeing only "limited gains" the paper notes. Insurers may be enjoying the new playing field, but independent pharmacists are having a lot less fun. Many are complaining that the new benefit will put them out of business.

- see this article from the Wall Street Journal (free today)

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