Czech Government Agrees to Pay Health Insurance for Unemployed Foreigners Holding Employee Cards

27 January 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, the Czech government will cover public health-insurance premiums for unemployed foreigners holding employee cards who remain registered as job seekers. Previously, these non-EU nationals had to pay premiums themselves or buy costly private coverage, leaving many uninsured. The new policy automatically enrolls eligible individuals in public health insurance, regardless of whether their employee card is dual or non-dual. This change simplifies administration for HR teams and removes the need for interim commercial policies, allowing employees to focus on finding new work. The reform responds to pressure from the Czech Ombudsman and legal cases highlighting gaps in coverage. Companies are advised to update procedures and inform departing foreign staff about their new entitlement.

Humana, UnitedHealth plunge 20% after Trump administration proposes keeping Medicare Advantage rates flat

27 January 2026

Shares of major U.S. health insurers, including Humana, UnitedHealth, CVS, Elevance, and Centene, fell sharply after the Trump administration proposed nearly flat Medicare Advantage rates for 2027. The plan calls for a 0.09% average payment increase, far below analysts’ expectations of 4–6%, prompting Humana and UnitedHealth to drop more than 20% and 19%, respectively. The proposal would add roughly $700 million in payments to Medicare Advantage plans but limits insurers’ revenue growth and potential profits. CMS aims to improve payment accuracy and modernize risk adjustment, while ensuring beneficiaries maintain affordable plans and reliable benefits. The move also targets industry billing practices to prevent unnecessary spending. Analysts and investors reacted strongly due to the lower-than-expected rate increase and its impact on insurer earnings.

Kazakhstan audit exposes massive violations in Social Health Insurance Fund

26 January 2026

A recent audit of Kazakhstan’s Social Health Insurance Fund revealed widespread violations and inefficiencies despite rising public spending. The IT review of medical systems exposed extreme cases, such as doctors reportedly seeing thousands of patients far beyond normal workloads and billing services for nearly 1,000 deceased patients. The audit also found hundreds of thousands of screenings and prescriptions that were inappropriate for patients’ gender or age, resulting in losses of roughly 1.8 billion tenge. In response, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered the Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund to be moved under the Ministry of Finance to improve oversight. The findings highlight serious mismanagement and misuse of public health funds. Authorities are also tightening medical checks for driving licenses to prevent unfit individuals from operating vehicles.