Business
business
J. Edward Moreno

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield cancels controversial anesthesia cap

Anthem walked back its new cap on anesthesia coverage set to go into effect in Connecticut, New York, and Missouri.

The insurer had announced on November 1 that it would change its policy to limit anesthesia coverage, which led to backlash from physicians, state governments, and consumer-advocacy groups.

The company said in a statement today that there was “significant widespread misinformation about an update to our anesthesia policy” and therefore it decided not to move forward with it. Anthem, which in 2022 rebranded as Elevance Health, said the update was “only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.”

The change came after about a month of backlash, including from The American Society of Anesthesiologists, which said that the cap was “arbitrary” and “designed to take advantage of the commitment anesthesiologists make thousands of times each day to provide their patients with expert, complete, and safe anesthesia care.”

Connecticut’s comptroller, Sean Scanlon, said Thursday that his office reached out to Anthem about the policy and “is pleased to share this policy will no longer be going into effect here in Connecticut.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a Thursday statement that the state pushed Anthem “to reverse course and today they will be announcing a full reversal of this misguided policy.” State officials in Missouri did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The move comes the day after the Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, was killed in Manhattan hours before the company’s investor day. The shooter is still at large, and though police have not determined a motive, they reported that the bullet casings had the words “delay” and “deny” inscribed on them.

Online discourse since Thompson’s death has highlighted resentment many Americans feel toward private health insurers, which stand to make higher profits when they deny medical claims.

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business
Nia Warfield

Starbucks issues apology after viral “Bearista” cup meltdown

Holiday cheer turned into chaos this week for Starbucks after the coffee giant’s new “Bearista” holiday cup sent fans into a frenzy. 

Dropped alongside its 2025 holiday menu, the $30 beanie-wearing glass bear tumbler sparked long lines, sellouts, and even in-store scuffles before Starbucks stepped in with an apology.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” the company said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to our coffeehouses than almost any other item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.”

Within hours of launch, frustrated fans flooded Starbucks’ social media pages and even store hotlines. Some customers waited in line before dawn and others said their stores received only a handful of cups. In one Houston location, the craze even turned physical, with police reportedly called to break up a brawl. Meanwhile, the cup is already reselling on sites like eBay, with listings topping $600.

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused,” Starbucks said. While in-store customers may be upset, investors seem happy about the viral hit, as the stock has risen over 3% on Friday.

If you’re still hoping for a Bearista at market price, that may not be on order: the chain didn’t disclose how many cups were made or whether a restock is planned.

business
Hyunsoo Rim

Target tells workers to smile, wave, and greet shoppers if they come within 10 feet of them

Target just rolled out a new rule for store employees: “smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave” when a shopper comes within 10 feet — and if they get closer, within four feet, “ask whether they need help or how their day is going,” according to a new Bloomberg report.

Dubbed the “10-4 program” internally, the rule mirrors rival Walmart’s own 10-foot policy, formalizing behavior Target had previously only encouraged.

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Target Mandates Worker Smiles, Friendliness to Boost Sales

Target Mandates Worker Smiles, Friendliness to Boost Sales
Hyunsoo Rim
LIMITED LIFE COMPANY
12h
Half of new US companies disappear within 5 years — and only 1 in 3 makes it to year 10

Survival depends on more than luck, from where it starts, to what it does, to when it’s born.

Seedling on dry dirt.
business
Millie Giles

Monster surges on energy drink buzz, while Celsius sinks on distribution concerns

Shares of Monster Beverage climbed 5% after the bell on Thursday, and held most of those gains into early trading on Friday, following strong Q3 results.

The energy drink giant topped market expectations, with quarterly sales up 17% year over year to $2.2 billion and adjusted net profits growing 41% to $524.5 million — 11% ahead of Wall Street’s estimates. In the report, Monster highlighted its zero-sugar line and new product launches, with a stack of novel flavors already released this year, as bright spots.

During a call with analysts, Chief Executive Hilton Schlosberg said that the global energy drink category “remains healthy with robust growth,” The Wall Street Journal reported, adding that demand for more affordable caffeinated drinks is rising as coffee has become “really expensive.”

Meanwhile, rival beverage business Celsius saw shares fall as much as 23% on its Q3 results yesterday — despite beating expectations, with revenue jumping 173% — largely due to concerns about a change in the company’s distribution channel, as its newly acquired Alani Nu brand joins the PepsiCo distribution network.

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Millie Giles
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11/6/25
Tinder taps AI that can analyze your camera roll to find better matches

As Tinder’s paid subscriber count dwindles, Match Group wants to fight “swipe fatigue” with new features.

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