"[T]he first year of the pandemic was historic not only for COVID, but for a surprising side effect -- the health system known for inexorable growth actually provided less care in most categories.... Health insurers were huge financial beneficiaries of this surprise. Their profits increased 52% as they continued collecting insurance premiums while fewer patients went to the doctor.... Fast forward past the end of the pandemic, and the health care finance story has changed dramatically -- premiums are rising much faster now, amid a health care cost surge that includes costly new GLP-1 medications for diabetes and weight loss."  MORE >>