Latest news with #ProgressiveInsurance
Motor 1
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'Got A+ Rating and Took $20 Off:' Texas Woman Starts Driving With Progressive's Car Monitor. Then She Issues a Warning
A woman's vow to never again be yelled at by her Progressive insurance car monitor was tested sooner than she thought. And she's not the only one irritated by the device. TikTok user Carissa ( @chaoticallycarissa ) posted a video venting her frustration on June 12. Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . The video starts with Carissa pointing the camera at the Progressive Snapshot device plugged into her car. "If this lady yells at me one more time,' she says, before turning the camera around to display her annoyed expression. 'Ha ha. I'm gonna lose it.' The second clip is presumably right after 'this lady' yelled at Carissa again. 'Well, that didn't last long,' she says. 'If you know, you know. Suck it, Progressive." In the caption, she writes, 'It was real, but it wasn't real fun.' What Is the Progressive Snapshot? The Snapshot program is a device that plugs into a car's OBD-II port and determines a policy adjustment based on how you drive. It's what you call a telematics system, which uses GPS to track your vehicle's activities. That means Progressive will have access to the vehicle's driving data, including speeds, trip time, and hard brakes. Trending Now 'Did You Drive Off The Lot?:' Woman Gets Buyer's Remorse After Signing Car Paperwork. Now She Wants to Know If She Can 'Cancel' 'It's Bad:' Los Angeles Woman Heads to Her Mercedes Benz In Parking Lot. Then Firefighters Stop Her Drivers get an automatic discount at signup, which averages about $231, Progressive reports. If the driver is deemed safe by the Snapshot device, the average savings on their next policy is purportedly approximately $322. Customers can monitor their progress via a mobile app, but the Snapshot device also beeps to let drivers know that they've committed a hard brake. The fewer the beeps as they drive, the bigger the discount at the end of your policy period. To avoid these beeps, Progressive recommends driving more slowly, avoiding night driving, staying off your phone, and driving less overall. Of course, some users (like Carissa) might choose another option: Opting out of the program altogether. Viewers Weigh in on Snapshot In the comments section of the video, viewers took the opportunity to vent their own frustrations about the Progressive Snapshot program. "THAT THING KNEW WHEN I GOT ON MY PHONE," wrote one former program participant. "Got an A+ rating and it took $20 off of my insurance for six months of beeping," wrote a second. "Not worth it." Another person said, "I've never had one because it's not my insurance company's business to know my every move." One person defended the program. "Y'all act like it was mandatory," they wrote. "Y'all signed up voluntarily. So stop complaining." Does Progressive Snapshot Save You Money? According to Bankrate , the Snapshot program does provide drivers with the opportunity to save money on their insurance premiums. But the criticism from the commenters comes from a real place: Approximately 20% of Snapshot drivers actually see an increase in their premiums because of their driving habits, per Bankrate. So it's really up to the individual driver to determine whether they can commit to not slamming on their brakes, abstain from late-night driving, limit mileage, and eliminate speeding and cell phone usage. If they can't, they might want to follow Carissa's lead and forget about Snapshot. Motor1 reached out to Carissa via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also reached out to Progressive via email for comment. We'll update this if either responds. More From Motor1 'Her Insurance Card Is on Her Phone:' Range Rover Driver Gets Rear-Ended. Then the Person Tries to 'Gaslight' Her Over Damage Ford Will Cut You a Check If Your F-Series Truck is Stolen Allstate Allegedly Paid Smartphone App Developers to Track You You're Not Going Crazy. Auto Insurance Rates Are Skyrocketing Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Navitus Drug Trend Report: Keeping Costs Low for Plans and Members in an Era of Accelerating Inflation
MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Navitus, the nation's first transparent, pass-through pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), released its ninth annual Drug Trend Report today, revealing how commercial plan sponsors saved millions in prescription costs while maintaining high-quality member care. 30% of Navitus clients spent less in 2024 than in the previous year, while overall client book of business drug cost trend was managed to 7%. The data shows that medications such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are creating unprecedented financial pressure on plan sponsors as utilization for diabetes treatment increased 26% year-over-year. Overall health spending in the United States is nearly $4.9 trillion and projected to increase nearly 6% annually over the next decade. 1 A subset of this, prescription drug spending, was estimated to be $487 billion in 2024, an industry-wide 11.4% increase over the previous year, compared to 7% for Navitus clients. While the industry faces these escalating cost pressures, our latest Drug Trend Report highlights how Navitus continues to outperform industry trends and save clients money in this challenging environment, including companies such as Progressive Insurance. 'Navitus stands out for its commitment to transparency and managing to lowest net cost, which has significantly benefited Progressive and its members. From the outset, their 100% pass-through model has ensured that we receive the full value of manufacturer rebates and discounts, directly translating to reduced pharmacy costs,' said Heidi Minter, Data Analyst, Benefits & Design Services, Progressive Insurance. The Navitus Drug Trend Report revealed three critical trends influencing the broader industry: 1. 26% increase in GLP-1 RAs use for treatment of type 2 diabetes. While delivering significant clinical benefits, these medications are contributing substantially to pharmaceutical cost increases for benefit plans: Net trend in the diabetes category increased 8.5%, driven by growth in both the use of GLP-1 RAs, including Ozempic, Mounjaro and Trulicity, and a 16% increase in use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2s), including Farxiga and Jardiance. The prevalence and cost of GLP-1 RAs and SLGT-2s resulted in an overall unit cost increase of 3.0% for the diabetes category, in spite of the net cost decrease of more than 28% for insulin in 2024. 2. Biosimilars delivered $315 million in savings with a 60% reduction in Humira costs. Targeted immunomodulators (TIMs) treat a wide range of autoimmune disorders, from rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis to inflammatory bowel diseases. The launch of Humira biosimilar alternatives in 2023 significantly changed the landscape of the category as these clinically-equivalent, much lower cost options were added to formulary. After adding biosimilars to formulary, Navitus took a decisive step to lower costs further by removing Humira from formulary in June 2024. This led to key results including: Over $315 million in upfront cost savings. 60% reduction in net costs per claim. 3. Specialty medication utilization increased 12%. Approximately 75% of new drug approvals have been for specialty or medical specialty agents, and that trend is expected to continue in the next two years. Key factors included: Oncology net trend increased more than 13%, driven by both higher utilization and unit cost: Utilization of newer breast cancer treatments (Kisqali, Verzenio) increased 20%, driving overall cost. In specialty dermatology, Dupixent (dupilumab) emerged as the most rapidly growing drug of 2024. The category saw a net trend increase of more than 45% and Dupixent represented 96% of category cost and utilization. While increased use of newer, more expensive agents like Kesimpta created upward pressure within the multiple sclerosis category, generics represented more than 50% of prescriptions filled at 10% of the cost. Expand 'Our annual Drug Trend Report confirms we were able to control year-over-year costs for commercial clients - both large and small - and deliver savings greater than the estimated industry averages,' said Sharon Faust, PharmD, MBA, CSP, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Navitus Health Solutions. 'Deploying generic-first strategies, facilitating adoption of new biosimilars, ensuring 100% pass-through of negotiated rebates and discounts, and supporting clinically appropriate prescribing, utilization and formulary management remain core to our focus.' Access the Navitus Drug Trend Report executive summary here: Methodology: The Navitus drug trend is calculated by comparing the net total cost per-member per-month (PMPM) for 2024 to that for 2023. Net cost PMPM represents full-year (Q1-Q4) data for total member copays and plan paid amounts minus manufacturer rebates and fees. This value is divided by the total number of members and by 12 months of the year. The data represents employer plan sponsors and health plans. In order to be included organizations must have been with Navitus for two full calendar years. * Due to varying coverage decisions by clients, GLP-1s for weight loss were not included in the Drug Trend Report, yet they still warrant thoughtful consideration and conversation in the overall picture of trend and future decisions. The DTR only represents prescriptions under the pharmacy benefit. 40% of Rx spend is through the medical benefit and warrants careful consideration by plans. Sources: About Navitus Navitus remains the nation's first transparent, pass-through pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). It uniquely brings clarity to drug pricing and takes costs out of the drug supply chain. Unlike traditional PBMs that generate profit by retaining an undisclosed portion of rebates and discounts negotiated with drug manufacturers and pharmacies, Navitus passes along the complete savings to clients, enabling them to make medication more affordable for their members. Navitus was established more than 20 years ago by Navitus Health Solutions, LLC, a pioneering pharmacy solutions company. The organization delivers a range of services through portfolio brands including Navitus, Lumicera, Archimedes. Owned by SSM Health and Costco, Navitus Health Solutions serves over 18 million lives across 800 clients including employers, unions, government plans, payors and health systems. For more information, please visit
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
How the NASCAR sponsorship model is changing: ‘A massive shift' in Amazon era
It was a jarring sight earlier this year when the Joe Gibbs Racing hauler carrying Denny Hamlin's car had a large vacancy on its side paneling typically filled by the branding for Hamlin's main sponsor. For nearly 20 years, FedEx occupied this spot, serving as the primary sponsor for Hamlin's No. 11 team, and in many years did so by sponsoring the vast majority of the races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Such was the relationship between driver, team and sponsor, it became one of the most identifiable in NASCAR history. Advertisement But the partnership between FedEx and JGR ended after the 2024 season, and a replacement still hadn't been secured by late January when the No. 11 team's hauler had pulled into Charlotte Motor Speedway before that weekend's season-opening Clash exhibition race. That JGR wasn't able to immediately land a replacement for a driver in Hamlin, who's one of the most recognizable and successful current drivers, seemed to speak of a bigger issue — an indictment on the state of NASCAR as a whole. In some circles, alarms went off. Flash forward four months, and when Hamlin's hauler pulls into Charlotte for this weekend's race, the once-vacant spot on its side paneling has since been filled. In March, JGR announced Progressive Insurance had signed on as primary sponsor for the 18 races that had not yet been filled. The news cast a spotlight on both the ever-changing landscape teams are fighting on the sponsorship side and why teams are largely optimistic about the direction the sport is headed. 'The marketing side of it is very bullish right now,' said team owner Rick Ware, whose team signed a 12-race deal with Arby's earlier this year. 'We're obviously one of the smaller teams and we're having dramatically more conversations than we typically have in the past. That doesn't mean that you close them all, but the interest is there.' Nearly every team owner or executive who spoke to The Athletic for this story expressed similar enthusiasm. Many said this was the most optimistic they've felt about sponsorship in some time, pointing to increased interested due to two main factors: A new media rights deal that notably includes Amazon Prime picking up five races — the first time NASCAR has paired with a streaming service to carry Cup races — and the inclusion on the schedule of the first international Cup points race since the 1950s. 'The marketers know that's the path of where audiences are going,' 23XI Racing president Steve Lauletta said. 'So this isn't a one-year light switch, it's going to be more of a dimmer to try to keep growing and follow the audience as it grows.' When NASCAR announced its deal with Prime in late 2023, the excitement expressed by the league was offset to some degree by a number of teams who, while encouraged, also had reservations on whether a sport dependent on corporate sponsorship was meant to air on a subscription streaming service. But teams have come to learn that a good number of fans already had access to Prime — some not even realizing it — and that being associated with a leading streaming service was something that proved attractive to both existing sponsors and potential future sponsors. Multiple team executives said they had companies outside the sport reach out to them wanting to explore potential deals solely because of the value Prime offered. Advertisement 'Sponsors are very intrigued by Amazon,' Richard Childress Racing president Mike Verlander said. 'Now, we have no result back yet, so let's see what the result looks like. But you see what they did with the NFL. It's only grown. We expect the same. 'It's been a massive shift. You'll hear the naysayers about the unknowns of Amazon, but at the end of the day, I think it's an all-positive narrative because there's new players that are putting their stake into this. Now, is it tough because the avid fan has to now figure out where to find it? Yeah, but in time, everyone will fall in line and figure it out.' A similar reaction occurred last August when NASCAR announced Mexico City's addition to the 2025 Cup schedule. Several companies were intrigued by the potential marketing opportunities, envisioning a large crowd of fans when NASCAR visited the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. One such company is Colgate, which has funded the non-profit Estrellas Colgate since 1980, providing athletic and wellness programs to underserved children. Having become connected with RFK Racing through the team's new primary sponsorship with supermarket giant Kroger, a business-to-business deal was put together where one of RFK's three cars will carry Colgate branding in Mexico City. A race in Mexico does bring a set of new sponsorship challenges, however. Mexico imposes stringent regulations on what products can be advertised there. For some teams, this is a non-issue. For others, like RCR, it's been problematic. Among the team's sponsors are Rebel Bourbon, Bet MGM, Zone nicotine pouches and Winchester Ammunition, none of which are allowed to advertise in Mexico. Therefore, any branding on any car, uniform, hauler, pit box, etc., must be covered up. Despite the hurdles for RCR, Verlander supports NASCAR expanding internationally. Advertisement 'It's been very positive because it's a new reach, it's a new fan, it's a new everything,' he said. Though some of RCR's longtime partners may not be able to market in Mexico, RCR is well-versed in finding new partners interested in sponsoring the team in a limited capacity. In fact, they've become a leader in this approach to selling sponsorship. Not too long ago, it was common for a team to have an anchor sponsor on its car for 20-plus races, if not the near entirety of the 38-race season. JGR, for one, operated under this model; it had long-term, big-money contracts with several Fortune 500 companies to back its four teams and rarely had any holes. The game has changed, though, and JGR and other teams have had to evolve with it. As much as teams would love to have one main sponsor for 30-some races, this is no longer feasible. JGR president Dave Alpern said he's sat in more meetings with prospective sponsors this season than at any point in his 32 years working in the sport. And from this, JGR has signed six new sponsors, four of which are new to NASCAR. 'The models are changing in terms of what people are looking for, and so JGR has adapted,' said Eric Schaffer, JGR's chief commercial officer. 'We've added a marketing group that we didn't have before. And so people are focused on data and absolutely getting a return on their investment. And our job, and our team's job, is to make sure that they get that return. … It's certainly not a sticker on the car anymore, it's an integrated marketing program that we're trying to deliver value for the partners.' Many companies now understand that while being involved in NASCAR brings value, that value doesn't translate to being the primary sponsor for so many races. It's become about maximizing return on investment, and in many instances, that means identifying key markets and focusing marketing efforts heavily on this. For instance, if a company doesn't make its product available in a certain region of the United States, it might not make sense to market itself at a particular race in that area. RCR was one of the first organizations to focus heavily on a model of having several primary sponsors throughout the season, each of which would feature in only a handful of races. Competitors in the garage sometimes looked at RCR's cars and snickered at whichever new or unknown company it had signed, but for RCR, it was an effective strategy to ensure it sold out all its primary sponsorship inventory. Advertisement This model has paid dividends for RCR, even helping position the organization to land one of the biggest named drivers, Kyle Busch, to hit the free agent market in many years. After Mars Inc. informed JGR before the 2022 season that this would be its last with the team, JGR found itself in the difficult position of having to find a replacement primary sponsor and also allot enough budget to afford the salary for a two-time Cup champion still in the prime of his career. It was a puzzle JGR could not completely put together. The result saw Busch decamp to RCR, where it had a piecemeal sponsorship program in place to make a deal work. 'What I like about our model is you have six, seven brands on a car and they're all taking Austin Dillon to market, and all are taking Kyle Busch and Jesse Love to the market,' Verlander said. 'That's just a further reach by brands promoting who we are. Do you want 38 one-race sponsors? No. In a perfect world, you have a small handful, and everybody shares a little bit of the activation load. But you have to own who you are, and you have to lean into those brands, and you have to be willing to sell three at a time if you need to.' Outside of a few exceptions, gone are the days of a team having one primary sponsor for the entire season. This trend will likely continue. But at the same time, the number of companies interested has changed, too, with more enticed by NASCAR's changing complexion. 'It's certainly better than where it was when I started as a team owner in the Cup Series,' said Brad Keselowski, who became co-owner of RFK Racing beginning with the 2022 season. '… We have really good interest, interest is not a problem for us. Connecting all the dots and getting through the layers of corporate America is seemingly the challenge, more so than interest.' (Top photo of Denny Hamlin's Progressive, Christopher Bell's Dewalt, and Bubba Wallace's McDonald's-sponsored cars: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah Group Personal Accident Scheme: All 2.7 million Sabahans eligible
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: The scheme came into effect on May 1 and will run for three years until April 30, 2028, with the State allocating RM50 million for the initiative. Masidi said this is equivalent to a RM7 premium per individual. All 2.7 million Sabahans are automatically eligible for the Sabah Group Personal Accident Scheme, the State's first social security initiative under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah Government. State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (pic) said the scheme, managed by State-owned Progressive Insurance Bhd, offers worldwide Advertisement coverage. 'It is available to all Sabahans aged 30 days to 80 years whose MyKad or MyKid carries Sabah State codes 12, 47, 48, or 49. 'Among the benefits under the policy are RM10,000 for accidental death and up to RM20,000 for permanent disablement, subject to the type of injury, including loss of limbs, sight, or speech. This initiative ensures that all eligible Sabahans, including newborns, are protected under a safety net in the event of unfortunate incidents,' he said during the launch at SICC, Friday. Advertisement The scheme came into effect on May 1 and will run for three years until April 30, 2028, with the State allocating RM50 million for the initiative. Masidi said this is equivalent to a RM7 premium per individual. The scheme covers a wide range of accidental incidents, including traffic accidents, falls and work-related injuries excluding those in high-risk occupations. Excluded occupations include armed forces personnel, professional athletes and oil and gas workers, unless the incident occurs while off-duty. Masidi emphasised that the introduction of Sabah's first social security scheme is not political candy, noting that accidents can happen at any time. 'If we associate every government scheme with elections, we won't move forward we'd have to wait for elections to take action. 'This is not only wrong, but illogical. Accidents happen during election periods, too. Why should we only insure those who die outside of that time? 'We should view this scheme from a broader perspective, one that prioritises caring for those who truly need it,' he said, referring to the B40 group. He also dismissed allegations that middlemen are profiting from the premiums, saying only the State and its people stand to benefit. Masidi said compensation is expected to be processed within 14 to 30 working days. Progressive Insurance has set up a dedicated hotline (088-335 789) and branches across Sabah to assist with claims and inquiries. Meanwhile, he urged community leaders present at the event to help spread awareness of the free government insurance, especially to those living in rural areas. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
RM50 mln insurance scheme for Sabah residents launched
Progressive Insurance chairman Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman (second right) presents Masidi with a token of appreciation at the end of the event. KOTA KINABALU (May 16): The Sabah government has officially launched a landmark insurance protection scheme aimed at providing personal accident coverage to approximately 2.7 million residents across the state. The initiative was inaugurated today by State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun. The scheme, which targets especially the underprivileged, is being hailed as a significant step in strengthening social safety nets in Sabah. Masidi emphasized that this is the first initiative of its kind in the state, designed with the people's welfare — particularly the B40 group — in mind. 'This is the first time we've introduced a social protection scheme of this scale. We hope it will pave the way for more safety nets and welfare-driven programs in the future,' he said. Funded by a RM50 million allocation over three years, the scheme provides personal accident insurance to all Sabahans automatically, without any application process. 'It's very simple. People do not need to apply because we already have the data. Around 2.7 million Sabahans will be covered automatically,' Masidi explained. Claims can be made at district council offices or any branch of Progressive Insurance. The process requires only three key documents: proof of Malaysian and Sabahan status, a police report of the accident, and a hospital report confirming injury or death. Claims will be processed within 14 to 30 days. The cost of the scheme is RM7 per person annually. Masidi described this as a small price for a significant layer of financial security, citing cases where families could not afford funeral arrangements following unexpected deaths. 'There have been heartbreaking instances where even bringing a body home was delayed due to financial constraints. We hope this scheme will help ease that burden,' he said. He firmly dismissed suggestions that the scheme is politically motivated, stating, 'If every good policy is branded as an election gimmick, then nothing will ever get done. Accidents don't wait for elections — they can happen at any time.' Implemented through state-owned Progressive Insurance Bhd, the scheme provides free accident coverage worth up to RM10,000 and a RM500 death benefit for all Sabah residents aged between one month and 80 years. The launch followed a briefing attended by district council officials, community development officers and local leaders. Masidi noted that spreading awareness to rural communities remains the key challenge. 'Our real challenge is not the system, but ensuring people know about the scheme and how to benefit from it,' he said, expressing hope that local leaders will serve as advocates, educating their communities and assisting with claims. 'This is not about politics. It's about dignity, care and the right of every Sabahan to live with a sense of security,' he concluded.
