The high cost of healthcare will affect consumer behavior in 2025: Consumers are shopping around for health products and services, presenting companies with an opportunity to differentiate themselves by prioritizing customer service.

Walgreens’ biggest healthcare moves in 2024: Amid a brutal year trying and failing to achieve profitability, the company prioritized operating with a leaner business profile and is even considering a sale.

Consumers and physicians disagree on the value of health wearables: If wearable makers are able to foster physician trust in the data generated by their devices, they could gain an edge in uptake from consumers eager to share their health data.

FTC warns ACA marketplace insurance marketers about deceptive claims: The warnings come during open enrollment season, a period that typically creates confusion among consumers.

Social media fuels micro-dosing trend with Ozempic: The trend speaks to the power of social health influencers, but emphasizes responsibility to marketers who need to make sure consumers are getting the most accurate drug information on the channel.

Our top healthcare and pharma stories of 2024: Readers engaged with our stories on consumers’ health and wellness spending, pharma marketing to doctors, healthcare information on TikTok, and Trump’s impact on drugmakers.

Lawmakers introduce bill requiring vertically integrated insurers to offload their pharmacies: Democrats and Republicans aligning on co-sponsored legislation shows that the public is at its wits’ end with rising prescription drug prices.

Eli Lilly and Ro join forces to offer lower price vials of Zepbound: Seeing competitors become business partners may seem surprising, but we detail why the deal makes sense for both parties.

Americans support some of Trump and RFK’s healthcare plans, oppose others: But people in the US distrust the leaders as reliable health sources. Healthcare and pharma stakeholders must place a premium on delivering credible information to the public as the new administration takes shape.

Consumers feel it’s the US government’s responsibility to ensure health coverage: But a for-profit healthcare system that incentivizes insurers to make coverage decisions based on what’s best for business means it’s unlikely to happen.

Nontraditional healthcare companies will account for one-third of the primary care market by 2030: But some retailers and startups have struggled to make inroads—a cautionary tale for healthcare entrants.

Walgreens discusses sale to private equity firm: The news underscores the immense financial pressure on retail pharmacies. We examine the details of a sale, and why things are even worse for Walgreens than rival CVS.

Hinge Health joins Amazon’s Health Conditions Program: Amazon’s platform will draw attention to Hinge’s services, while encouraging consumers to make related purchases from the e-commerce giant.

Public outcry pushed Anthem to backtrack on policy to cap anesthesia coverage: Faced with a reputational crisis, insurers and their PR teams should prioritize a clear and proactive communications shift to attempt to save face.

Rx advertising surges on linear TV: We examine the top TV programs for drug ads and explore why pharma marketers are still investing in linear TV amid declining viewership.

Dr. Oz could be investigated for violating FTC influencer marketing guidelines: A consumer advocacy group triggered the investigation. We examine the complaints and explore what this scrutiny means for healthcare influencers.

Patients overspent on GLP-1 meds by $200M in the past year: Lower prices for weight loss drugs are possible, but it’s up to stakeholders in the pharma industry to direct consumers to Rx savings tools and resources.

UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot, consumers react harshly: The social media discourse around Thompson’s death shows that consumers have reached their boiling point with health insurers.

Consumers are shopping online more for health and wellness: We explore which health product categories US consumers are flocking to online and examine how in-store retailers can respond.

Ozempic is becoming cheaper for Medicare beneficiaries: Falling prices are welcome news for seniors’ wallets. But a new proposal to expand access to GLP-1s for Medicare members could threaten the federal health insurance program itself.