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Health Awareness in MARCH

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

This month highlights the critical importance of regular screenings, which can prevent the disease entirely by finding and removing precancerous polyps. With guidelines now recommending screenings begin at age 45, awareness efforts focus on destigmatizing the procedure and highlighting non-invasive testing options to increase compliance.

National Nutrition Month

Spearheaded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this observance encourages individuals to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits. The 2026 focus emphasizes how personalized, culturally accessible nutrition directly impacts chronic disease management and overall longevity.

National Kidney Month

Raising awareness about chronic kidney disease (CKD), this initiative urges people to check their risk factors, specifically high blood pressure and diabetes. Education centers on the reality that early-stage kidney disease often have no symptoms, making routine blood and urine tests vital for preserving kidney function.



2026 MARCH 11TH

ACA & Health

Premium Reality and Household Impact

A new analysis released today, March 10, 2026, highlights the severe financial strain healthcare costs are placing on families. In 19 states, premium contributions and deductibles for employer family plans now consume 10% or more of the median household income. Meanwhile, on the individual market, average ACA marketplace premiums have surged by a staggering 21.7% for 2026.

Consumer

If you are feeling the squeeze, you are not alone. The expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and the ripple effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025 (which we warned about in Edition 1's "Subsidy Cliff") have caused out-of-pocket costs to jump. It is critical to look beyond the monthly premium sticker price and carefully evaluate your total exposure, including deductibles and specialist copays.

Agent

This 21.7% jump is a jarring aberration compared to the typical 6-7% increases seen in the employer-sponsored market. Consumers are panicked. Your role as an advisor is more critical than ever; you must guide clients toward "Bridge" plans or alternative solutions that protect them from being priced out of care entirely.



References
The Commonwealth Fund. (2026, March 10). Putting the extraordinary increase in ACA premiums in 2026 in perspective.


Vollers, A. C. (2026, March 10). Many middle-income families spend at least a tenth of their income on health insurance. Stateline.



2026 MARCH 11TH

Medicare & Medicaid

Fighting "Churn" for Dual Eligibles

Building on the 2027 "One Card" mandate discussed in February, a March 5th report from the Medicare Rights Center sheds light on the devastating impact of coverage "churn" :
                                                                                            the cyclical loss and regaining of Medicaid coverage.

Consumer

If you have both Medicare and Medicaid (a D-SNP plan), an unexpected clerical error that causes you to lose your Medicaid status can immediately disrupt your long-term care, home health services, and financial assistance. You must ensure your income and household information are constantly updated with your state Medicaid office to avoid sudden drops in your health coverage.

Agent

CMS is aggressively increasing oversight to curb misleading marketing that contributes to this beneficiary confusion. Agents must prioritize thorough education over quick enrollments. You must ensure your dual-eligible clients truly understand how their D-SNP integrates care and exactly what steps they need to take to maintain their state Medicaid eligibility year-round.



References
Choi, J. (2026, March 5). Toward continuous and comprehensive coverage for dual eligibles. Medicare Rights Center.



2026 MARCH 11TH

Growth & Agency Operations

The Rise of the "Benefits Analyst"

New 2026 compensation data released on March 9th shows a massive evolution in how insurance agencies are staffing their teams. The average salary for an agency "Benefits Analyst" has surged 52.3% since 2023.

Consumer

When you work with a modern insurance agency, you are no longer just dealing with a salesperson. The professionals designing your employer benefits (like the booming ICHRA models mentioned in Editions 1 and 3) are increasingly highly trained financial and analytical experts who structure your healthcare like a financial portfolio.

Agent

The traditional "customer service rep" role is being replaced by analysts who require deep financial underwriting experience. Agencies must be prepared to invest heavily in top-tier analytical talent to remain competitive. The report highlights the "Rule of 10"—showing that retaining top P&C and Benefits talent now routinely requires minimum 10% structural compensation increases as the industry shifts to a high-level consultative model.



References
Insurance Journal. (2026, March 9). 2026 Agency compensation trends: The benefits analyst role has changed. Insurance Journal.



2026 MARCH 11TH

Property & Casualty

Cyber Risks Evolve

Released on March 6th, the 2026 Cyber Claims Report noted a massive 47% rise in ransomware demands over the past year. However, the data reveals a silver lining: 86% of victimized businesses successfully refused to pay the ransoms because they had superior, modern data backups and incident response plans in place.

Consumer & Business Owner

Threats are evolving rapidly into areas like Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Funds Transfer Fraud (FTF). Having a standard commercial insurance policy is no longer enough; you must actively maintain offline backups and robust internal security protocols to survive an attack without paying out of pocket.

Agent

You need to aggressively reframe cyber insurance for your SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) clients. It is no longer an "optional add-on" but an absolute necessity for balance-sheet protection. Ensure you are reviewing policy definitions regarding Funds Transfer Fraud with your clients so there are no surprises at the time of a claim.



References
Recamara, J. (2026, March 6). General insurance newsletter: Revealed - what's changing about cyber claims. IDEX Consulting / Insurance Business.

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