MoneyWatch

UnitedHealthcare, Kaiser Permanente and other major U.S. health insurers say they want to make it faster and easier for patients to obtain care. Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a trade association that represents the health insurance industry, announced Monday that some of its biggest members are taking steps to streamline “prior …

The Trump administration says it’s pausing the garnishment of Social Security benefits for student loan borrowers who have defaulted.  That means a temporary pause on a decision announced in April to restart collections on student loans in default. On May 5, the restart policy was put into action when the …

Stocks are up on Thursday following an early morning boost after a U.S. court blocked many of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. But the gains got less strong as trading progressed from Asia to New York. The S&P 500 rose 26 points, or 0.5% as of 1:03 p.m. EST. The …

A U.S. District judge has halted the merger between the makers of Coach and Michael Kors handbags, saying it would reduce competition and hurt consumers. In her ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rochon noted that Tapestry Inc. and Capri Holdings are “close competitors” and that the merger would result …

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said late Wednesday that the electric vehicle company’s shareholders were voting to approve his multibillion-dollar pay package by “wide margins,” in a post on his social media platform X ahead of the vote’s conclusion. “Both Tesla shareholder resolutions are currently passing by wide margins!” Musk wrote, …

Federal health officials are expanding a warning about salmonella poisoning tied to charcuterie meat snack trays sold at Sam’s Club and Costco stores. At least 47 people in 22 states have been sickened and 10 people have been hospitalized after eating Busseto brand and Fratelli Beretta brand meats, officials with …

If you think U.S. roads have gotten busier on your morning commute, you’re not alone. The rate of workers driving to their jobs crept upwards nationwide last year, as did the rate of those who carpool to work by car, truck or van. In addition, the mean-commuting time jumped by …

Citigroup has grown into the nation’s third-largest financial institution in part because its predecessors in the 1800s indirectly profited from slavery, the company acknowledged in a blog post this week. The admission came as the Wall Street firm, JPMorgan Chase and other big banks have re-examined their roots in years, looking to …

Inflation is rapidly cooling across the U.S. — unless you live in Florida. Residents in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area saw prices shoot up 9% in May compared with a year earlier. By comparison, nationwide inflation for the same period was less than half that rate, with prices rising …

When it comes to being a woman in the workplace, there is “no right age” for promotion. Ageism is often thought of as a bias that impacts older workers, but new findings published in the Harvard Business Review reveal that women face age bias whether they are young, middle-aged or older. Younger …