Lee R. Patton, Patton Insurance Benefits Broker

10/16/2026

🎃👻 🏒🥅🚨 Get your tickets today to join us for some Halloween fun on Sunday, November 1st! 🚨🥅🏒👻🎃

🏒🎃 HOCKEYWEEN WITH PATTON INSURANCE BENEFITS! 🍬👻

We’re excited to announce that Patton Insurance Benefits will be hosting a table at the Iowa Wild’s Hockeyween Game on Sunday, November 1st! 🏒

🚪 Doors Open: 2:00 PM

🍬 Stop by our table on the concourse and say hello! We’ll be handing out candy to all, so bring the family, show off those Halloween costumes, and get ready for some hockey and Halloween fun!

We’re looking forward to seeing all the little ghosts, goblins, superheroes, and hockey fans! 👻🦸‍♀️🧛‍♂️

📍 Find us on the concourse at the Iowa Wild game!

Need tickets to the game? Use the Link below:

Hockeyween Tickets:
https://hyveetix.evenue.net/promotions/WILDSPOOKY

Happy Hockeyween from your friends at Patton Insurance Benefits! 🧡🏒

10/14/2026

Talking employee benefits today

10/13/2026

CMS releases MA star ratings for 2027

The CMS released its 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings on Friday. Humana excelled in the MA and Part D star ratings, with 95% of its members in plans rated at least four stars and 42 in 4.5 stars. The achievement led to a nearly 12% increase in the company's shares, surpassing J.P. Morgan's estimates. Aetna also performed well, with about 70% of members in high-rated plans.

CVS Health announced that Aetna had more than 69% of its Medicare Advantage members in plans rated 4 stars or higher for 2027.

“These results position Aetna as one of the highest-performing large, publicly traded Medicare Advantage organizations in the Star Ratings program for the third consecutive year and highlight strong performance across various clinical quality, preventive care and member experience measures,” Aetna said.

The number of UnitedHealthcare plans rated 4 stars or higher fell as the insurer will announce Q3 earnings Tuesday morning.

09/14/2026

More changes are coming to Medicare Advantage in 2027 — and this one is worth watching.

CMS has released its draft Star Rating cutpoints for 2027, and according to this recent Healthcare Dive article, roughly 50% of the thresholds are getting tougher to reach, while 33% remain unchanged and only 17% are getting easier.

Why does this matter?

Star Ratings can have a significant impact on Medicare Advantage plans — including the bonus payments they receive and their ability to offer competitive benefits. Even a half-star change can have a substantial financial impact on a plan.

What caught my attention is that many of the tougher thresholds are tied to HEDIS measures involving things like preventive care, screenings and health outcomes. In other words, plans are going to have to continue finding ways to improve how they engage with and care for their members.

And with 2027 Medicare plan information just around the corner, this is another reminder that Medicare Advantage is anything but “set it and forget it.”

For beneficiaries, it will be important to look beyond just the premium or extra benefits when comparing plans. Network, prescription coverage, provider access, plan changes, and overall plan quality all deserve a closer look.

As brokers, staying on top of these changes is a big part of helping our clients make informed decisions during the Annual Enrollment Period.

Interesting times ahead in the Medicare Advantage market.

Worth the read:
“Half of Medicare Advantage stars thresholds harder to reach in 2027”

https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/medicare-advantage-stars-cutpoints-2027-cms/829963/

The CMS released draft star ratings, including the thresholds for reaching those ratings, to plans earlier this week. The grading sheet got stricter, which doesn’t bode well for insurers, one MA expert said.

09/04/2026

GoodRx offers health subscription for families, to launch as employee benefit in 2027
By Amina Niasse

GoodRx has introduced Companion, a family healthcare subscription that offers access to more than 250 generic medications, telehealth, dental, vision and lab services for $24.99 per month. The program, previously available only to individuals, will be offered as an employer benefit starting in 2027. GoodRX CEO Wendy Barnes said the initiative aims to address the growing health care affordability crisis as rising deductibles and out-of-pocket costs strain families.

GoodRx, a prescription drug savings site, announced on Thursday a family healthcare subscription for access to common medical services and ​over 250 medications, and it plans to launch the program ‌as part of employer health benefits in 2027.

08/24/2026

Healthcare costs aren’t slowing down!

With employer health costs projected to rise another 9.5% in 2027, businesses are going to have some tough decisions ahead.

The good news? Employers don’t have to simply accept higher costs without exploring their options. There are strategies that can help businesses manage expenses while continuing to offer quality benefits to their employees.

This is exactly why reviewing your health plan strategy before renewal season is so important.

If you’re a business owner or HR professional wondering what 2027 could look like for your company, we’d be happy to help you explore your options.

Near double-digit health cost increases are set to continue in 2027.

08/17/2026

Rural retirees are facing increasing challenges as essential retailers and pharmacies close, creating so-called "retail deserts." Family Dollar has closed at least 350 stores in the past year, and nearly 30% of pharmacies have closed since 2010, with closures continuing to outpace openings. Many retirees living on fixed incomes in rural areas are forced to travel long distances for basic necessities and prescriptions, increasing their expenses and dependence on others for transportation.

Family Dollar is closing hundreds of stores as pharmacy deserts spread across rural America. Here's how retirees are affected, and what actually helps.

08/17/2026

Prescription drug prices have seen their largest drop in over six decades, falling 3.1% year over year in July, according to the Consumer Price Index. The Trump administration credits the TrumpRx program and deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for the decline, while economists note that market forces, including the introduction of generics and increased competition, play a significant role.

The decline comes amid a major Washington push to lower drug costs.

08/17/2026

One more article, showing the importance of having a certified broker to assist with the ever changing MA landscape.

'Profit growth over enrollment growth': Health insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans — many older Americans will be affected

by Vawn Himmelsbach

Thousands of seniors are receiving notification that their Medicare Advantage plan won’t be available next year, and there’s nothing they can do about it except find another option.

One in 10 Medicare Advantage policyholders face forced disenrollment this year, according to an analysis by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. That’s as many as 2.9 million Americans.

One in 10 Medicare Advantage policyholders face disenrollment as insurers exit markets citing financial pressures.

08/10/2026

Join our team!

We are Hiring!

Company Description
Patton Insurance Benefits is located in West Des Moines, Iowa, and specializes in employee benefits, particularly healthcare coverages. The company offers healthcare coverages to associations, employee benefit programs to individual employers, and benefits for individuals under ACA below 65 and 65+.

Role Description
This is a full-time on-site role for an Administrative Support Specialist based in West Des Moines, IA. The specialist will be responsible for tasks such as phone etiquette, administrative assistance, communication, customer service, and basic accounting.

Qualifications
Phone Etiquette, Communication, and Customer Service skills
Administrative Assistance skills
Basic knowledge of accounting principles
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Experience in the insurance or benefits industry is a plus