Allison Bell
@allison-bell.bsky.social
I'm a senior reporter at ThinkAdvisor and BenefitsPRO, two ALM publications.
Employer and Medicare PBM provisions roll through Senate aboard the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 minibus:
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/s...
#hr7148 #caa2026 #pbm
If sign for a *free* account, you can see the whole article.
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/s...
#hr7148 #caa2026 #pbm
If sign for a *free* account, you can see the whole article.
Senate passes $1.2T 'minibus' spending package that includes employer PBM transparency provisions
The House could vote on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 bill Monday.
www.benefitspro.com
January 31, 2026 at 1:14 AM
Employer and Medicare PBM provisions roll through Senate aboard the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 minibus:
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/s...
#hr7148 #caa2026 #pbm
If sign for a *free* account, you can see the whole article.
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/s...
#hr7148 #caa2026 #pbm
If sign for a *free* account, you can see the whole article.
Senate: debating the appropriations leg needed to avert a partial federal government shutdown tomorrow + lots of video of aides milling around the podium. "Minibus" package currently includes #PBM transparency bills.
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/p... (free login wall) #pbm #hr7148
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/p... (free login wall) #pbm #hr7148
PBM transparency mandates in spending bill hit Senate roadblock
Parts of the federal government might shut down tomorrow if supporters can't close a 'minibus' passage deal.
www.benefitspro.com
January 30, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Senate: debating the appropriations leg needed to avert a partial federal government shutdown tomorrow + lots of video of aides milling around the podium. "Minibus" package currently includes #PBM transparency bills.
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/p... (free login wall) #pbm #hr7148
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/30/p... (free login wall) #pbm #hr7148
Medicare Advantage as we know it: Dead? Or just involved in a cliffhanger?
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/27/m... #medicareadvantage
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/27/m... #medicareadvantage
Medicare Advantage Managers Propose 0.09% Plan Pay Hike for 2027
A UnitedHealth executive said the proposal "simply doesn't reflect the reality of medical utilization and cost trends."
www.thinkadvisor.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:58 AM
Medicare Advantage as we know it: Dead? Or just involved in a cliffhanger?
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/27/m... #medicareadvantage
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/27/m... #medicareadvantage
Transamerica: Trying to shake off the winter (and geopolitical) blahs and shake up the middle-market market...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/12/t...
Transamerica, Will Fuller, Michael Brodeur, #middlemarket
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/12/t...
Transamerica, Will Fuller, Michael Brodeur, #middlemarket
Transamerica to Put Mike Brodeur in Charge of 92,000-Agent Network
The longtime executive will help lead the company's effort to make the middle market hot again.
www.thinkadvisor.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Transamerica: Trying to shake off the winter (and geopolitical) blahs and shake up the middle-market market...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/12/t...
Transamerica, Will Fuller, Michael Brodeur, #middlemarket
www.thinkadvisor.com/2026/01/12/t...
Transamerica, Will Fuller, Michael Brodeur, #middlemarket
House, ACA premium subsidy boost cliff fight: 9 Republicans voted with all Dems to talk about voting on a cliff fix bill. Could it tug PBM, ICHRA, etc. bills along?
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/07/r...
#acasubsidycliff #acasubsidyfight #ichra #pbm
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/07/r...
#acasubsidycliff #acasubsidyfight #ichra #pbm
Republicans and Democrats join to put ACA premium subsidy bill resolution on House floor
The House has already started debate on the resolution, but the actual vote was postponed.
www.benefitspro.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:09 AM
House, ACA premium subsidy boost cliff fight: 9 Republicans voted with all Dems to talk about voting on a cliff fix bill. Could it tug PBM, ICHRA, etc. bills along?
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/07/r...
#acasubsidycliff #acasubsidyfight #ichra #pbm
www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/07/r...
#acasubsidycliff #acasubsidyfight #ichra #pbm
An idea that might now be in play in Washington: Increasing the normal eligibility age for Medicare to 67.
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/22/5...
Urban Institute, #medicare #urbaninstitute
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/22/5...
Urban Institute, #medicare #urbaninstitute
December 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
An idea that might now be in play in Washington: Increasing the normal eligibility age for Medicare to 67.
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/22/5...
Urban Institute, #medicare #urbaninstitute
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/22/5...
Urban Institute, #medicare #urbaninstitute
House Rules is streaming a big non-ACA-subsidy-health-bill meeting live now: www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/16/5...
View: Health system change legislation is like the Terminator. Even if it gets killed, incinerated and fed to fish: It will be back. #hr6703 #subsidycliff
View: Health system change legislation is like the Terminator. Even if it gets killed, incinerated and fed to fish: It will be back. #hr6703 #subsidycliff
5 Things for Advisors to Know About the Health Insurance Subsidy Rumble
The most important: Clients under 65 who pay for their own coverage face some uncertainty.
www.thinkadvisor.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:37 PM
House Rules is streaming a big non-ACA-subsidy-health-bill meeting live now: www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/16/5...
View: Health system change legislation is like the Terminator. Even if it gets killed, incinerated and fed to fish: It will be back. #hr6703 #subsidycliff
View: Health system change legislation is like the Terminator. Even if it gets killed, incinerated and fed to fish: It will be back. #hr6703 #subsidycliff
In the tradition of great, long-running battles such as cats vs. dogs, cake vs. pie, Batman vs. Superman, and Star Trek vs. Stars Wars, LinkedIn brings you... commission-based annuities vs. fee-based annuities....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/12/t...
#annuities
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/12/t...
#annuities
December 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
In the tradition of great, long-running battles such as cats vs. dogs, cake vs. pie, Batman vs. Superman, and Star Trek vs. Stars Wars, LinkedIn brings you... commission-based annuities vs. fee-based annuities....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/12/t...
#annuities
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/12/t...
#annuities
Aegon's planned future: Less into tulips, more into hot dogs.
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/11/t...
Transamerica, Aegon, #Netherlands, #UnitedStates
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/11/t...
Transamerica, Aegon, #Netherlands, #UnitedStates
Transamerica's Dutch Parent to Move Headquarters to U.S. by 2028
Aegon would change its own name to Transamerica and make Delaware its corporate home.
thinkadvisor.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Aegon's planned future: Less into tulips, more into hot dogs.
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/11/t...
Transamerica, Aegon, #Netherlands, #UnitedStates
thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/11/t...
Transamerica, Aegon, #Netherlands, #UnitedStates
Thinking of just telling clients to cash their RILAs in for fun, just because?
FINRA: Go ahead. Make our day.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/09/f...
FINRA, #annuities, #rila, #regbi
FINRA: Go ahead. Make our day.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/09/f...
FINRA, #annuities, #rila, #regbi
FINRA Warns Against Careless 'Mid-Segment' RILA Withdrawals
Advisors who recommend taking cash out early must think about the current value, according to a new oversight report.
www.thinkadvisor.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Thinking of just telling clients to cash their RILAs in for fun, just because?
FINRA: Go ahead. Make our day.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/09/f...
FINRA, #annuities, #rila, #regbi
FINRA: Go ahead. Make our day.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/12/09/f...
FINRA, #annuities, #rila, #regbi
Many of the insurers tried to hide from the shoppers -- but maybe they sold a lot of 2026 Medicare plans, anyway.
www.thinkadvisor.com/life-health/...
#medicare, #NABIP
www.thinkadvisor.com/life-health/...
#medicare, #NABIP
December 9, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Many of the insurers tried to hide from the shoppers -- but maybe they sold a lot of 2026 Medicare plans, anyway.
www.thinkadvisor.com/life-health/...
#medicare, #NABIP
www.thinkadvisor.com/life-health/...
#medicare, #NABIP
Tthe new draft Medicare regulations for 2027 might:
- Shorten how long Medicare plan agents have to save recordings of calls with consumers.
- Make it easier for Medicare plan agents to talk to consumers after seminars.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/26/d... #medicare
- Shorten how long Medicare plan agents have to save recordings of calls with consumers.
- Make it easier for Medicare plan agents to talk to consumers after seminars.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/26/d... #medicare
Draft Trump 2027 Medicare Regs May Help Enrollees Who Lose Their Doctors
The proposal could also expand a drug price negotiation program and overhaul marketing rules.
www.thinkadvisor.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Tthe new draft Medicare regulations for 2027 might:
- Shorten how long Medicare plan agents have to save recordings of calls with consumers.
- Make it easier for Medicare plan agents to talk to consumers after seminars.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/26/d... #medicare
- Shorten how long Medicare plan agents have to save recordings of calls with consumers.
- Make it easier for Medicare plan agents to talk to consumers after seminars.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/26/d... #medicare
News of the Financial Services Survey Weird: Many 55+ people who have financial professionals say that their financial professionals did not even talk to them about their retirement savings and investment strategies.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/25/7...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/25/7...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
7 Things Clients Do — and Don't — Talk About With Their Advisors
Lincoln Financial found that some retirement savers have shocking holes in their planning.
www.thinkadvisor.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:53 PM
News of the Financial Services Survey Weird: Many 55+ people who have financial professionals say that their financial professionals did not even talk to them about their retirement savings and investment strategies.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/25/7...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/25/7...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
Should the government require 401(k) plans accounts to come with in-plan annuities? A Michigan law professor says: Yeah. www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/24/b... #annuities #401k
Benefits Law Specialist Calls for All 401(k) Plans to Add Annuities
Andrew Stumpff Morrison argues that trying to tap nest eggs without help from annuities is unwise.
www.thinkadvisor.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Should the government require 401(k) plans accounts to come with in-plan annuities? A Michigan law professor says: Yeah. www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/24/b... #annuities #401k
At the signing event for the anti-government-shutdown bill, Trump repeated that he wants to move away from the current ACA premium tax credit subsidies and replace them with cash payments sent straight to consumers.
www.benefitspro.com/2025/11/13/t...
#trump #caa2026 #aptc #cashforcoverage
www.benefitspro.com/2025/11/13/t...
#trump #caa2026 #aptc #cashforcoverage
Trump calls for direct cash health payments to consumers while signing anti-shutdown bill
"I'm calling today for insurance companies not to be paid, but for the money to be paid directly to the people of our country, so that they can buy their own health care, which will be far better and ...
www.benefitspro.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
At the signing event for the anti-government-shutdown bill, Trump repeated that he wants to move away from the current ACA premium tax credit subsidies and replace them with cash payments sent straight to consumers.
www.benefitspro.com/2025/11/13/t...
#trump #caa2026 #aptc #cashforcoverage
www.benefitspro.com/2025/11/13/t...
#trump #caa2026 #aptc #cashforcoverage
Possible sign of financial services stability: The Fed is worried about the same things about life and annuity issuers that it always worries about.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/12/5... #systemicrisk #federalreserve #annuities
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/12/5... #systemicrisk #federalreserve #annuities
5 Things About Life Insurers That Worry the Fed
Risk trackers continue to wonder how quickly issuers can come up with cash in a crunch.
www.thinkadvisor.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Possible sign of financial services stability: The Fed is worried about the same things about life and annuity issuers that it always worries about.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/12/5... #systemicrisk #federalreserve #annuities
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/12/5... #systemicrisk #federalreserve #annuities
So, how do caregivers really pay for their share of the cost of care for loved ones?
Here are some of the ways....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/09/7...
Northwestern Mutual, Waterlily, Nationwide, OneAmerica Financial, Genworth, #ltc, #longtermcare, #maybe3in4didneedmore
Here are some of the ways....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/09/7...
Northwestern Mutual, Waterlily, Nationwide, OneAmerica Financial, Genworth, #ltc, #longtermcare, #maybe3in4didneedmore
7 Ways Caregivers Really Pay for Loved Ones' Care
Northwestern Mutual looked inside consumers' actual LTC arrangements and found holes.
www.thinkadvisor.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
So, how do caregivers really pay for their share of the cost of care for loved ones?
Here are some of the ways....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/09/7...
Northwestern Mutual, Waterlily, Nationwide, OneAmerica Financial, Genworth, #ltc, #longtermcare, #maybe3in4didneedmore
Here are some of the ways....
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/09/7...
Northwestern Mutual, Waterlily, Nationwide, OneAmerica Financial, Genworth, #ltc, #longtermcare, #maybe3in4didneedmore
Reposted by Allison Bell
“.. The strong growth usually seen due to shipments of holiday merchandise, “we are not seeing that,” said Dale Rogers ..
@cnbc.com #FreightRecession
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/07/s...
@cnbc.com #FreightRecession
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/07/s...
October 7, 2025 at 10:28 PM
“.. The strong growth usually seen due to shipments of holiday merchandise, “we are not seeing that,” said Dale Rogers ..
@cnbc.com #FreightRecession
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/07/s...
@cnbc.com #FreightRecession
www.cnbc.com/2025/10/07/s...
In a world where (for whatever reason) the government stops changing life and annuity issuers' rules every three minutes, maybe the focus will suddenly, weirdly shift to... the issuers...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/08/1...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/08/1...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
10 New Life & Annuity Issuer Efforts to Get Your Attention
The federal government put itself in an eclipse. That may give insurers' product moves a chance to shine.
www.thinkadvisor.com
October 8, 2025 at 9:22 PM
In a world where (for whatever reason) the government stops changing life and annuity issuers' rules every three minutes, maybe the focus will suddenly, weirdly shift to... the issuers...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/08/1...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/08/1...
#annuities, #lifeinsurance
The weirdest thing about the upcoming Medicare annual enrollment period:
Either it will, miraculously, be sort of normal, for no good reason.
Or an enrollment period will, finally, actually implode, and that will be pretty unusual.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/07/7... #medicare
Either it will, miraculously, be sort of normal, for no good reason.
Or an enrollment period will, finally, actually implode, and that will be pretty unusual.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/07/7... #medicare
7 Weird Facts About This Medicare Plan Enrollment Period
It starts Oct. 15, and it's already tying advisors' brains into knots.
www.thinkadvisor.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The weirdest thing about the upcoming Medicare annual enrollment period:
Either it will, miraculously, be sort of normal, for no good reason.
Or an enrollment period will, finally, actually implode, and that will be pretty unusual.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/07/7... #medicare
Either it will, miraculously, be sort of normal, for no good reason.
Or an enrollment period will, finally, actually implode, and that will be pretty unusual.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/07/7... #medicare
Ethos Technologies: sort of the life insurance spawn of Stark Enterprises and Men in Black. Kind of sort of...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/01/l...
Ethos, Sequoia Capital, Downey Ventures, #ipo, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/01/l...
Ethos, Sequoia Capital, Downey Ventures, #ipo, #lifeinsurance
Life Broker Backed by Robert Downey Jr. Moves Toward IPO
Ethos Technologies' filings value its life commission stream at about $400 per policy sold.
www.thinkadvisor.com
October 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Ethos Technologies: sort of the life insurance spawn of Stark Enterprises and Men in Black. Kind of sort of...
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/01/l...
Ethos, Sequoia Capital, Downey Ventures, #ipo, #lifeinsurance
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/10/01/l...
Ethos, Sequoia Capital, Downey Ventures, #ipo, #lifeinsurance
Frank Adkisson of National Senior Insurance will be watching to see if insurers do this one weird thing that makes Medicare agents just shake their heads.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/29/m...
#medicare
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/29/m...
#medicare
Medicare Advantage Plans Zero Out Agents
A market veteran wonders whether the real problem is market upheaval or AI dreams.
www.thinkadvisor.com
September 29, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Frank Adkisson of National Senior Insurance will be watching to see if insurers do this one weird thing that makes Medicare agents just shake their heads.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/29/m...
#medicare
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/29/m...
#medicare
The real moral of the Urban Institute report on Medicare agents may be: The shortage of health policy news relating to topics other than telehealth and the ACA premium tax credit structure may be about to end.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/25/m...
#medicare #urbaninstitute #agentcommissions
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/25/m...
#medicare #urbaninstitute #agentcommissions
Medicare Could Tie Commission Growth to Overall Inflation Rate
That's one of the suggestions in an Urban Institute report on the role of Medicare plans' agents and brokers.
www.thinkadvisor.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
The real moral of the Urban Institute report on Medicare agents may be: The shortage of health policy news relating to topics other than telehealth and the ACA premium tax credit structure may be about to end.
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/25/m...
#medicare #urbaninstitute #agentcommissions
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/25/m...
#medicare #urbaninstitute #agentcommissions
If Aquarian really wants to buy Brighthouse Financial (e.g., the true heart of Metropolitan Life, the company that got milk pasteurized and tuberculosis conquered), Greenlight Capital might help with that:
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/23/b...
$BHF, Brighthouse Financial, David Einhorn
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/23/b...
$BHF, Brighthouse Financial, David Einhorn
Brighthouse Investor Asks Company to Talk to Potential Suitor
Greenlight Capital's David Einhorn says the annuity issuer would be more successful as a private company.
www.thinkadvisor.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
If Aquarian really wants to buy Brighthouse Financial (e.g., the true heart of Metropolitan Life, the company that got milk pasteurized and tuberculosis conquered), Greenlight Capital might help with that:
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/23/b...
$BHF, Brighthouse Financial, David Einhorn
www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/09/23/b...
$BHF, Brighthouse Financial, David Einhorn