Hip surgery back on the iCal… Health insurers padded their profits during the pandemic as folks hunkered down at home and avoided germy waiting rooms. As Americans postponed non-urgent surgeries, insurance giants got to keep their monthly premiums without having to cover as many doc bills. But last month, UnitedHealth said its costs are rising as older adults finally return for pricey procedures. The US’s biggest healthcare provider posted a strong $5.6B profit in May, but its streak could be losing steam as older people rack up higher insurance bills.
Zero-conversation Ubers… This week, California regulators are expected to approve permits for Waymo and Cruise to run their driverless ride-hail services 24/7 anywhere in San Francisco. Currently, the city has restrictions for when and where driverless rides can happen. Waymo and Cruise both have standalone apps, and Uber plans to start offering Waymo rides later this year. Hilly SF has been a “hey look, it works” city for autonomous-vehicle makers, but officials say the cars create traffic, block fire trucks, and even whiz through crime scenes.