News
Opinion: Health insurance cost increases are unsustainable for Maine families
3+ hour, 49+ min ago (241+ words) Kristin Perpignano is a freelance graphic designer and writer living in central Maine. The bill was for $128, which was what I still owed after my copay of $55 was applied, and after my insurance covered their part. Fine, I thought. I'll…...
Health subsidies expire, launching millions of Americans into 2026 with steep insurance hikes
1+ week, 4+ day ago (789+ words) Democrats forced a 43-day government shutdown over the issue. Moderate Republicans called for a solution to save their 2026 political aspirations. President Donald Trump floated a way out, only to back off after conservative backlash. In the end, no one's efforts…...
Thousands cancel Maine ACA plans over rising costs
3+ week, 2+ day ago (673+ words) Maine's Affordable Care Act enrollment for 2026 is down and thousands have dropped'their plans, with many saying they couldn't afford the higher monthly premiums. Enrollment had dropped 7% as of Dec. 15, compared to the same time last year, and about 5,500 enrollees have…...
Trump announces lower drug price deals with 9 pharmaceutical companies
3+ week, 3+ day ago (702+ words) U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday that nine drugmakers have agreed to lower the cost of their prescription drugs in the U.S. Pharmaceutical companies Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Genentech, Gilead Sciences, GSK, Merck, Novartis and Sanofi will now rein in…...
State files $4M in liens against eastern Maine service agency
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (748+ words) Downeast Community Partners, the struggling social service agency serving Hancock and Washington counties that's in the process of shutting down, owes the Maine Department of Health and Human Services more than $4 million. That's according to liens filed last month in…...
Northern Light vows to treat Anthem patients in-network as contract negotiations continue
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (111+ words) Negotiations between Northern Light Health and Anthem continue this weekend, despite'the deadline for reaching an agreement expiring early Saturday. Anthem is Maine's largest health insurer. Negotiations over the contract have gone on for months. If no agreement is reached, Northern…...
Today is the deadline for Northern Light Health and Anthem to reach a deal
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (352+ words) Friday is the last day for Northern Light Health to reach an agreement with Maine's largest health insurer after the organizations extended their contract deadline'by one month. If the health care system fails to come to an agreement with Anthem…...
UMaine System switching to Anthem health insurance despite contract dispute with Northern Light
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (660+ words) This story appears as part of a collaboration'to strengthen investigative journalism in Maine between the BDN and The Maine Monitor. Read more about the partnership. The University of Maine System plans to switch to Anthem health insurance for its employees,…...
Northern Light's new president wants to keep building toward financial stability
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (804+ words) Northern Light Health's new leader is confident that he can help bring long-term sustainability to the struggling health system. The system's new CEO and president, Dr. Guy Hudson, started last week'and said he wants to build on marked improvements in…...
What to know as the Northern Light and Anthem contract deadline nears
3+ mon, 1+ week ago (916+ words) A version of this story was originally published earlier this month. A monthslong, public dispute between one of Maine's largest health care providers and one of the country's largest insurance companies has left tens of thousands of patients in limbo,…...