Massachusetts advocates fear Trump's bill will unravel health safety net in Obamacare's model state
Provisions contained in both the Senate and House versions of the massive tax and spending cuts bill advancing in Congress — a centerpiece of President Donald Trump's agenda — could strip health insurance from up to a quarter of the roughly 400,000 people enrolled in the Massachusetts Health Connector, according to state estimates.
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Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Stock Is One of the Worst-Performing S&P 500 Stocks in 2025. Should You Buy the Dip?
Wall Street is cheering fresh highs as the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) wraps a solid second quarter, closing June 2025 strong. The rally has been powered by cooling inflation, resilient earnings, and fading tariff concerns after April's policy shock. Just three months back, the market briefly dipped toward bear territory amid geopolitical tensions, China's AI push, tariff fears, and fiscal uncertainty, keeping investors on edge about the rebound's staying power. Despite the S&P rallying over 28% from its April lows of $4,835, the bull run has still left many big names behind. Nearly a third of the index's stocks still ended the first half of 2025 in the red. UnitedHealth (UNH), a giant in health insurance and managed care services, has plunged 39% so far in 2025. UNH stock has been hit by soaring Medicare Advantage costs, a probe into Medicare fraud, and a sudden CEO exit, making it the index's fourth-worst performer. Michael Saylor Says 'You'll Wish You'd Bought More' Bitcoin as MicroStrategy Doubles Down Is Microsoft Stock About to Go Nuclear? Is Super Micro Computer Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for July 2025? Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! While UNH is at five-year lows, a 1.8% five-day bounce hints at some life. With the dividend-paying stock halved and trading at a compelling valuation, is this a classic 'buy the dip' setup? Or a moment for caution despite the allure of value and yield? Founded in 1977, UnitedHealth has grown into a $295 billion healthcare heavyweight. With its deep roots in health insurance and care services, the company runs on two powerhouse engines: UnitedHealthcare and Optum. UnitedHealthcare handles the insurance side, offering plans that serve over 50 million people. It's the backbone, giving the company scale, reach, and reliable revenue. But it's Optum that brings the spark, driving growth through data, tech, and pharmacy solutions. From analytics to care delivery, Optum's strategy pushes innovation across the system. Together, these segments give the company its edge in a complex healthcare landscape. UNH stock has been in free fall in 2025, hitting a low of $248.88 in May. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has declined 38%, trailing far behind the broader S&P's surge of 13%. However, UNH stock is rebounding, up 1% over the past month. UnitedHealth's downfall in 2025 was not just a single bad headline. It was a chain reaction that started fast and spiraled hard. It kicked off on April 17, when the company shocked the Street by slashing its full-year earnings forecast. This was because a flood of higher-acuity Medicare Advantage patients drove costs far beyond expectations, exposing just how outdated and fragile their forecasting models had become. Then May hit like a wrecking ball. CEO Andrew Witty abruptly resigned, raising eyebrows amid growing pressure. Days later, reports surfaced of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into alleged Medicare fraud. By mid-May, the stock had crashed, hitting five-year lows. Just when it seemed the damage was done, more scandal dropped with accusations of UnitedHealth secretly paying nursing homes to avoid costly hospital transfers. Even insider buying gave only a brief lift to UNH. In a short span, UnitedHealth went from a rock-solid name to a cautionary tale unraveling in real time. After its brutal springtime plunge, UNH stock is priced at 14 times forward earnings and 0.7 times sales, trading in bargain territory. Those multiples sit well below both the sector medians and its own five-year averages, catching the eye of value hunters sniffing out a possible rebound. Despite the stock's decline, UnitedHealth has signaled some confidence where it counts: dividends. In June, the company hiked its quarterly payout by 5.2% to $2.21, marking 15 consecutive years of increases. Paid out on June 24, the hike pushed its annual yield near 2.6%. On April 17, UnitedHealth reported Q1 2025 earnings, and it wasn't the kind of update Wall Street wanted to hear. Revenue climbed 9.8% year-over-year (YOY) to $109.6 billion but still came in shy of expectations. Adjusted EPS rose 4.2% to $7.20 yet missed the estimated mark of $7.27. UnitedHealthcare, the insurance arm, posted a solid 12.2% revenue gain to $84.6 billion. Meanwhile, Optum saw more modest growth of 4.6% to $63.9 billion, with Optum Rx doing the heavy lifting. Still, rising costs loomed large. Total operating expenses surged 9.4% annually to $100.5 billion. On the brighter side, the company exited the quarter with $34.3 billion in cash and short-term investments and generated $5.5 billion in operating cash flow. Shareholders weren't left in the cold either, with over $5 billion returned through buybacks and dividends. UnitedHealth's steep selloff wasn't just about Q1 results. It was the guidance cut that really rattled sentiment. Management slashed its 2025 adjusted EPS outlook to between $26 and $26.50, down from the initially forecast range of $29.50 to $30 in December 2024 and below fiscal 2024 adjusted EPS of $27.66. Surging Medicare Advantage costs and shifts in Optum's patient mix have taken a real bite. Now, all eyes are on the fiscal Q2 report, expected to be released on July 29 before the market opens. Analysts forecast the Q2 bottom line to be around $5.08 per share, down 25% YOY. Looking to fiscal 2025, adjusted EPS is expected to decline 20% annually to $22.07, then surge by 15% to $25.39 in fiscal 2026. Last Wednesday, UBS reiterated its 'Buy' rating on UNH stock but trimmed the price target to $385 from $400. The cut followed CEO Stephen Hemsley's cautious tone at the June 2 meeting, hinting at more conservative 2025 guidance. UBS anticipates fiscal 2025 EPS closer to $20, down from the earlier $22.50 consensus. Margins were also revised, with Medicare Advantage trimmed to 1.5% and Optum Health lowered to 4.5%. Despite the recent shakeups, Wall Street hasn't completely hit the panic button yet. Last month, UnitedHealth shook things up by axing broker commissions on select Medicare Advantage plans — a move aimed at trimming the cost that forced it to yank full-year guidance. Hightower Chief Investment Strategist Stephanie Link called it a smart pivot, saying the same issue 'got them in trouble' to begin with. Link is bracing for short-term volatility but stays bullish long-term, calling UNH stock 'too cheap' for a top-tier name in the industry. There's still optimism in the air, but with a touch of caution. UNH stock has a 'Moderate Buy' consensus overall, down from a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating a month ago. Of the 24 analysts covering the stock, 15 advise a 'Strong Buy,' two suggest a 'Moderate Buy,' and seven analysts play it safe with a 'Hold.' The mean price target of $363.43 implies shares could rise as much as 18%. The Street-high target of $440, way below this year's highs, signals that UNH has an upside potential of 43% from current levels. The U.S. healthcare industry, despite constant political firestorms, is built to endure. For years, UnitedHealth has stood as its crown jewel. Defensive, dividend-paying, and shock-resistant, it has been the kind of stock long-term investors can count on. But 2025 has shattered that illusion. While the broader market climbs to record highs, UnitedHealth's dramatic plunge reminds us that even giants can stumble hard. Sure, UNH stock now trades at a discount, offering an attractive dividend yield. Insiders are buying shares, and UnitedHealth still commands significant market share and robust cash flow. But is this really a 'buy the dip' moment? It's probably a bet that management can steady the ship, and the storm eventually clears. Until then, UnitedHealth sits in a gray zone between legacy and uncertainty, where long-term promise collides with short-term pain. Investors should exercise caution before jumping in. On the date of publication, Sristi Suman Jayaswal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fox News
17 minutes ago
- Fox News
Bukele mocks Abrego Garcia's torture claims with prison highlight reel
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has released a video highlight reel showing Kilmar Abrego Garcia apparently thriving during his imprisonment, in an attempt to refute the migrant's claims that he was tortured while in custody. Abrego Garcia, who was erroneously deported by the Trump administration to El Salvador and then returned after a court order, is seen in the video gardening, playing soccer, fishing and enjoying other leisurely activities while imprisoned in his home country. The video appears at odds to Abrego Garcia's claims in legal filings that he was severely beaten, deprived of sleep and psychologically tortured while detained in the country's Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, a notorious anti-terrorism prison. According to court documents, Abrego Garcia's physical condition deteriorated quickly upon arrival there and, within two weeks, he lost roughly 31 pounds. But Bukele pushed back against those claims on Thursday, claiming he actually put on weight and released video evidence to refute claims of torture. The video shows Abrego Garcia in seemingly good spirits, playing chess and soccer, working out with fellow inmates, doing gardening and relaxing while watching a widescreen television in his cell, among other leisurely activities. "If he'd been tortured, sleep-deprived, and starved, why does he look so well in every picture?" Bukele wrote on X. "Why would he gain weight? Why are there no bruises, or even dark circles under his eyes?" "The man wasn't tortured, nor did he lose weight. In fact, photos show he gained weight while in detention. There's plenty of footage from different days, including his meeting with Senator Van Hollen, who himself confirmed the man seemed fine." Bukele went on to rip the mainstream media for seemingly believing the claims. "Apparently, anything a criminal claims is accepted as truth by the mainstream media and the crumbling Western judiciary," Bukele wrote. Under Bukele's state of emergency, the government has detained more than 1% of the Central American nation's population in its war on the country's gangs. The president has turned what was once the most dangerous country in the world -- with a homicide rate of 103 per 100,000 people in 2015 -- into one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere, with 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024. The U.S. rate was 5.5 per 100,000 people in 2023, which are the most recent records available. Hundreds of people have died in the El Salvador prisons, according to the Associated Press, citing human rights groups, which have also documented cases of torture and deteriorated conditions. Abrego Garcia, who was living in Maryland after coming to the U.S. illegally, was deported to El Salvador in March 2025. He became a prominent face of the Democrats' resistance to the Trump administration's mass deportation plans. The Trump administration accuses them of being an MS-13 gang member, a human trafficker and a serial domestic abuser amid police reports by his wife that he used violence against her. Abrego Garcia's lawyers claimed when he arrived at the prison he was immediately frog-marched to his cell by prison guards, who kicked him with boots and struck him with wooden batons along the way, leaving visible bumps and bruises across his body. He and other detainees in the cell slept on metal mattresses, with minimal access to food and satiation. They were also forced to kneel for approximately nine hours, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., "with guards striking anyone who fell from exhaustion," per the filings. They claim he was also psychologically tortured and received threats of violence during his time at CECOT where prison guards repeatedly told him they would transfer him to other prison cells housing violent gang members, whom they assured him would "tear" him apart.
Medscape
18 minutes ago
- Medscape
Officials Brace for New Normal of Dengue Cases
As summer ushers in peak mosquito season, health and vector control officials are bracing for the possibility of another year of historic rates of dengue. And with climate change, the lack of an effective vaccine, and federal research cuts, they worry the disease will become endemic to a larger swath of North America. About 3700 new dengue infections were reported last year in the contiguous United States, up from about 2050 in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of last year's cases were acquired abroad, except for 105 cases contracted in California, Florida, or Texas. The CDC issued a health alert in March warning of the ongoing risk of dengue infection. 'I think dengue is here with us to stay,' said infectious disease specialist Michael Ben-Aderet, associate medical director of hospital epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, about dengue becoming a new normal in the US. 'These mosquitoes aren't going anywhere.' Dengue is endemic — a label health officials assign when diseases appear consistently in a region — in many warmer parts of the world, including Latin America, India, and Southeast Asia. Dengue cases increased markedly last year in many of those places, especially in Central and South America. The disease, which can spread when people are bitten by infected Aedes mosquitoes, was not common in the contiguous United States for much of the last century. Today, most locally acquired (meaning unrelated to travel) dengue cases in the US happen in Puerto Rico, which saw a sharp increase in 2024, triggering a local public health emergency. Most people who contract dengue don't get sick. But in some people symptoms are severe: bleeding from the nose or mouth, intense stomach pain, vomiting, and swelling. Occasionally, dengue causes death. California offers a case study in how dengue is spreading in the US. The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that transmit dengue weren't known to be in the state 25 years ago. They are now found in 25 counties and more than 400 cities and unincorporated communities, mostly in Southern California and the Central Valley. The spread of the mosquitoes is concerning because their presence increases the likelihood of disease transmission, said Steve Abshier, president of the Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California. From 2016 through 2022, there were an average of 136 new dengue cases a year in California, each case most likely brought to the state by someone who had traveled and been infected elsewhere. In 2023, there were about 250 new cases, including two acquired locally. In 2024, California saw 725 new dengue cases, including 18 acquired locally, state data shows. Climate change could contribute to growth in the Aedes mosquitoes' population, Ben-Aderet said. These mosquitoes survive best in warm urban areas, often biting during the daytime. Locally acquired infections often occur when someone catches dengue during travel, then comes home and is bitten by an Aedes mosquito that bites and infects another person. 'They've just been spreading like wildfire throughout California,' Ben-Aderet said. Dengue presents a challenge to the many primary care doctors who have never seen it. Ben-Aderet said doctors who suspect dengue should obtain a detailed travel history from their patients, but confirming the diagnosis is not always quick. 'There's no easy test for it,' he said. 'The only test that we have for dengue is antibody tests.' He added that 'most labs probably aren't doing it commercially, so it's usually like a send-out test from most labs. So, you really have to suspect someone has dengue.' Best practices for avoiding dengue include eliminating any standing pools of water on a property — even small pools — and using mosquito repellent, Abshier said. Limiting activity at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes bite most often, can also help. Efforts to combat dengue in California became even more complicated this year after wildfires ripped through Los Angeles. The fires occurred in a hot spot for mosquito-borne illnesses. San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District officials have worked for months to treat more than 1400 unmaintained swimming pools left in the wake of fire, removing potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. San Gabriel vector control officials have used local and state resources to treat the pools, said district spokesperson Anais Medina Diaz. They have applied for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has not historically paid for vector control efforts following wildfires. In California, vector control agencies are often primarily funded by local taxes and fees on property owners. Some officials are pursuing the novel method of releasing sterilized Aedes mosquitoes to reduce the problem. That may prove effective, but deploying the method in a large number of areas would be costly and would require a massive effort at the state level, Abshier said. Meanwhile, the federal government is pulling back on interventions: Several outlets have reported that the National Institutes of Health will stop funding new climate change-related research, which could include work on dengue. This year, reported rates of dengue in much of the Americas have declined significantly from 2024. But the trend in the United States likely won't be clear until later in the year, after the summer mosquito season ends. Health and vector control researchers aren't sure how bad it will get in California. Some say there may be limited outbreaks, while others predict dengue could get much worse. Sujan Shresta, a professor and infectious disease researcher at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, said other places, like Nepal, experienced relatively few cases of dengue in the recent past but now regularly see large outbreaks. There is a vaccine for children, but it faces discontinuation from a lack of global demand. Two other dengue vaccines are unavailable in the United States. Shresta's lab is hard at work on an effective, safe vaccine for dengue. She hopes to release results from animal testing in a year or so; if the results are positive, human trials could be possible in about 2 years. 'If there's no good vaccine, no good antivirals, this will be a dengue-endemic country,' she said. Phillip Reese is a data reporting specialist and an associate professor of journalism at California State University-Sacramento.
