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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.

Check out UPPO, a next-generation benefits administration platform that is fundamentally changing how small and mid-sized businesses handle employee healthcare.

As companies face skyrocketing traditional group health renewals in 2026, UPPO offers a high-tech off-ramp: replacing rigid, one-size-fits-all group plans with a streamlined Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA).

By allowing business owners to set a predictable, tax-free monthly healthcare budget, UPPO is helping companies save a massive 20% to 30% on their overall benefits spending. The real magic happens on the employee side; workers simply log into UPPO’s intuitive, guided marketplace to shop for and select the individual ACA policies that actually fit their specific doctors, prescriptions, and family needs. For agents and employers alike, UPPO acts as the ultimate digital bridge, seamlessly managing the complex compliance, tracking, and reimbursement logistics behind the scenes so businesses can focus on growth instead of healthcare red tape.

Write your awesome label here.


uppobenefits.com

Check out UPPO, a next-generation benefits administration platform that is fundamentally changing how small and mid-sized businesses handle employee healthcare.

As companies face skyrocketing traditional group health renewals in 2026, UPPO offers a high-tech off-ramp: replacing rigid, one-size-fits-all group plans with a streamlined Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA).

By allowing business owners to set a predictable, tax-free monthly healthcare budget, UPPO is helping companies save a massive 20% to 30% on their overall benefits spending. The real magic happens on the employee side; workers simply log into UPPO’s intuitive, guided marketplace to shop for and select the individual ACA policies that actually fit their specific doctors, prescriptions, and family needs. For agents and employers alike, UPPO acts as the ultimate digital bridge, seamlessly managing the complex compliance, tracking, and reimbursement logistics behind the scenes so businesses can focus on growth instead of healthcare red tape.

Write your awesome label here.


reg.theacaway.com/acaway2026
www.youtube.com/@TheACAWay

Check out OpenCharts, a collaborative spatial workspace that is completely changing the way teams visualize and organize their processes. Whether you are mapping out complex agency workflows or brainstorming new client strategies, OpenCharts lets your team create and update system maps using simple natural language. It allows you to seamlessly sync diagrams and notes on an infinite canvas, and even reuse built-in community templates so you never have to start from scratch. With features like AI-powered chart building, interactive presentations, and a smart Web Clipper that saves and tags online content directly into your workspace, it acts as the ultimate digital whiteboard for your business. It is a powerful, distraction-free tool designed to help you document ideas and streamline your operations all in one place!

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www.opencharts.com



2026 MARCH 25 TH

ACA & Consumer Health

The "Wait for Medicare" Crisis

On March 23, 2026, KFF Health News highlighted a growing and dangerous crisis: older adults (ages 60–64) are actively delaying critical diagnostic procedures, such as colonoscopies and root canals, until they turn 65 and qualify for Medicare. This trend is being driven by the expiration of ACA subsidies, which has caused monthly premiums for some older adults to triple (reaching upwards of $2,460 a month) alongside massive deductibles.

Consumer

Delaying preventive care to save money on a high-deductible plan can lead to catastrophic health and financial consequences later. If your premium is consuming a massive portion of your income, do not just stop going to the doctor. You must explore alternative coverages or specific bridge plans to ensure early detection of serious illnesses.

Agent

This is a critical educational gap in the market. Your role is not just to sell a policy; it’s to consult. When counseling clients in the 60-64 age bracket, agents must proactively discuss the total cost of care versus just the premium. Designing comprehensive educational approaches around "bridge" strategies for this specific demographic will set top-tier advisors apart from mere order-takers.



References
Whitehead, S. (2026, March 23). Rising Health Costs Push Some Middle-Aged Adults To Skip The Doc Until Medicare. KFF Health News.



2026 MARCH 25 TH

Medicare Finance

The MedPAC 2026 Report to Congress

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) officially released its March 2026 Report to Congress on March 20. The independent commission raised serious alarms regarding Medicare Advantage (MA), projecting a massive $76 billion in MA overpayments for 2026, a 14% premium over what the government would spend on traditional Medicare. To ensure the fiscal survival of the system, MedPAC is heavily recommending that Congress rein in MA coding intensity and transition disproportionate share hospital payments to a new Medicare Safety-Net Index (MSNI) for 2027

Consumer

The government is aggressively investigating how Medicare Advantage plans are funded. While your current benefits are secure, this mounting pressure on Congress means you could see stricter networks, higher out-of-pocket maximums, or reduced extra perks (like dental and gym memberships) in the coming years as carriers face tighter profit margins.

Agent

Regulatory scrutiny on MA coding and payments has reached a boiling point. You must prepare your book of business for potential carrier pullbacks. Relying entirely on zero-dollar MA plans is a fragile long-term strategy; diversifying your expertise into Medicare Supplement (Medigap) and robust hospital indemnity plans is an essential pivot.



References
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). (2026, March 20). March 2026 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). (2026, March 20). MedPAC Releases March 2026 Report to Congress on Medicare Payment Policy.



2026 MARCH 25 TH

Prescription Drugs

The Expansion of Direct-to-Consumer Rx

The shift toward direct-to-consumer pharmacy continues to disrupt traditional insurance benefits. Over the weekend, it was officially confirmed that the White House has expanded the new self-pay platform, TrumpRx. As of March 23, three new critical medications specifically for diabetes and lung disease have been added to the portal to bypass traditional pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Consumer

You now have more avenues to bypass traditional pharmacy benefits for chronic condition medications. It is highly recommended to compare your Part D copay against the direct-to-consumer price, but remember, cash payments on these external platforms do not count toward your Part D annual out-of-pocket maximums.

Agent

The pharmacy landscape is fracturing rapidly. You must master the mechanics of these alternative direct-pay platforms to truly serve your clients. Incorporating direct-to-consumer Rx platforms into your standard Medicare Part D educational seminars is now a mandatory standard for comprehensive client care.



References
NBC News / KFF Health News. (2026, March 23). White House Expands TrumpRx With Three New Drugs.



2026 MARCH 25 TH

Property & Casualty

Secondary Perils Dominate Global Claims

On March 23, 2026, global reinsurer Swiss Re released a staggering data point: "secondary perils"—such as severe convective storms, localized floods, and wildfires. Now account for a record 92% of all global insured property losses, completely overshadowing traditional "primary" events like massive coastal hurricanes or earthquakes

Consumer 

We tend to only worry about primary events like a Category 5 hurricane hitting a coastline. However, this data proves that localized, severe weather (like the massive March wildfires currently burning through Nebraska) is what is actually driving up your home insurance premiums. You must ensure you have adequate coverage for inland flooding and wind/hail, regardless of your zip code.

Agent

The traditional P&C risk map is obsolete. As carriers bleed capital from these "secondary" storms, underwriting is becoming fiercely hyper-localized. Agents need to proactively educate homeowners on their specific community-level risks and push for comprehensive flood and wind endorsements before carriers restrict binding authority in their region.



References
Howard, L.S. (2026, March 23). Wildfires, Storms, Floods Account for Record 92% of Global Insured Losses: Swiss Re. Insurance Journal.

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