• ECGI Holdings is a diversified holding company with a distinctive portfolio that includes viticulture and luxury fashion
• The company recently signed a binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”) to acquire all outstanding shares of Pacific Saddlery Inc., a renowned manufacturer and retailer of luxury equestrian tack, apparel, and accessories
• The company also announced plans to launch a new line of ready-to-wear equestrian apparel under Pacific Saddlery’s celebrated Allon brand
• ECGI is eyeing continued growth, driven by the introduction of the new Allon apparel line as well as more mainstream products, building on Pacific Saddlery’s equestrian roots
• Hermès, one of the most recognizable luxury brands today, expanded from its equestrian roots to produce mainstream luxury products, a trajectory in ECGI’s longer term strategy

A simple search of the world’s most popular luxury brands presents a list of easily recognizable names and their accompanying logos. One conspicuous logo that perhaps stands out from the rest is that of Hermès; it depicts a man standing in front of a horse and its carriage, with the company’s name emblazoned thereunder. This striking logo, which has over the years become one of the most recognizable luxury logos in the world, signifies Hermès’ rich equestrian history and heritage, which was just a beginning.

Founded in 1837 in Paris, France, the company initially created harnesses before growing its portfolio of products in 1880 to include saddles. Fast forward to today, the company creates a whole panoply of products across various métiers, from perfume, beauty products, watches, ready-to-wear apparel, and accessories to leather goods, saddlery, silk and textile products, jewelry, and homeware. It’s a good example of the potential to grow from limited equestrian market roots, to comprehensive equestrian and finally comprehensive luxury markets. ECGI Holdings is now beginning on this same proven path, but at an expedited pace.

Analyses by Global Market Insights show that the global equestrian market, which is segmented into the equestrian equipment and tack market (https://ibn.fm/5KHTr) and the equestrian apparel market (https://ibn.fm/STzRz), is expected to grow from $17.5 billion in 2023 to $26.7 billion by 2032. This growth – coupled with the market’s lucrativeness, as evidenced by the fact that there are no publicly traded equestrian companies because they are simply so profitable that they can remain private – has drawn ECGI Holdings (OTC: ECGI), a diversified holding company with a distinctive portfolio that includes viticulture and luxury fashion.

Last month, ECGI signed a binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”) to acquire all outstanding shares of Pacific Saddlery Inc., a renowned manufacturer and retailer of luxury equestrian tack, apparel, and accessories. The company noted that this acquisition strategically aligned with its objectives of expanding its presence in the luxury brands sector as well as its commitment to building high-quality luxury brands (https://ibn.fm/4ipES).

ECGI then announced plans to launch a new line of ready-to-wear equestrian apparel under Pacific Saddlery’s celebrated Allon brand. This collection is expected to cater to the burgeoning demand for quality equestrian apparel. The new line will be available online on Pacific Saddlery’s website and at Pacific Saddlery’s mobile retail trailer. In addition, the company will offer this new line for wholesale to expand its market reach (https://ibn.fm/J8cMs).

With the launch of the Allon apparel brand ongoing, ECGI has its sights set on future growth, following a path that Hermès created many years prior. The company hopes to build on Pacific Saddlery’s equestrian foundation to progressively roll out more mainstream luxury products. This move is expected to expand the company’s market and product portfolio, putting ECGI on a trajectory of even faster and more consistent growth.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ECGIHoldings.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ECGI are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ECGI

• MedCana offers a long list of proprietary essential services to its clients
• The company’s team of pharmaceutical scientists includes some of the world’s most respected chemists
• From initial grow to final product, MedCana helps partners produce pharmaceutical CBD and other extracts that have no equal

As the cannabis industry prepares to enter a new era with a pending schedule change in the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), Software Effective Solutions (d/b/a MedCana) (OTC: SFWJ) is committed to being a worldwide force for high-quality cannabis products. To achieve this lofty goal, the company is focused on building the technology, laboratories, growing facilities, and scientific teams needed to provide premium pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extracts to the world (https://ibn.fm/SwbUU).

Leading the way forward in the cannabis space, the company offers a long list of essential resources and services for its clients. That list includes proprietary blockchain technology to track every product from seed to the growing facility to the final product; a team of expert scientists, engineers and chemists from the United States and Colombia; state-of-the-art laboratory equipment; partners with growing facilities in Colombia; and an impressive international management team from the U.S. and Colombia.

MedCana’s team of pharmaceutical scientists includes some of the most respected chemists in the world. This extraordinary group is committed to ensuring that MedCana customers and partners can create premium pharmaceutical-grade cannabis extracts that satisfy the growing worldwide demand while also meeting the highest industry standards.

Unlike any other software in the market, the company’s proprietary software ensures traceability and quality from seed to products. In addition, one of MedCana’s partners will be a globally certified lab that will provide certification for distribution through the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S). PIC/S presently comprises 54 participating authorities worldwide, including Europe, Africa, America, Asia and Australia.

As MedCana works to achieve its objective of becoming a worldwide cannabis-market force, the company’s initial emphasis is on partnering with and developing companies in Latin America with a focus in Colombia and partnerships with laboratories, research facilities, and hospitals throughout the world. “MedCana’s advantage is our global view and reach,” the company states. “From initial grow to final product, we’ll be helping partners produce pharmaceutical CBD and other extracts that will have no equal.”

Software Effective Solutions is a global infrastructure and holding company in the cannabis industry. MedCana currently has five companies focused on pharmaceutical cannabis production, as well a software company focused on managing processes for plant-to-patient operations. The recent acquisition of an irrigation and greenhouse technology company rounds out MedCana’s portfolio of holdings.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.MedCana.net.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SFWJ are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SFWJ

• Aston Bay reports on 2024 exploration plans for Epworth sediment-hosted copper-silver-zinc-cobalt project located in Nunavut, Canada
• Property has impressive copper, silver, zinc and cobalt grades at the surface
• Project includes airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey, geological and structural mapping, prospecting, and rock and lake sediment sampling

With silver and copper projections looking good for this year, Aston Bay Holdings (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF) has announced its 2024 exploration plans for its Epworth sediment-hosted copper-silver-zinc-cobalt project located in Nunavut, Canada (https://ibn.fm/CcBjS). Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Canada and the United States.

The company noted that it has $2 million in flow-through funds in place to be put to work this season, with additional financing available to support the planned exploration projects. Those projects include a 5,000 line-kilometer airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey to identify copper exploration targets and delineate regional and property-scale structures, and geological and structural mapping, prospecting, and rock and lake sediment sampling, directed by Dr. Elizabeth Turner, to augment geophysical targeting. In addition, the company plans to hold community meetings in Kugluktuk to keep its community partners informed and involved.

“We are eager to get to work at our Epworth property,” said Thomas Ullrich, Aston Bay CEO. “The classic tale of exploration starts with high grade mineralization found at surface, then chased up with geological mapping and geophysical surveys that point to the drill targets leading to significant discovery at depth. That is how the major copper deposits of Central Africa were discovered, and that is our playbook for Epworth. We have impressive copper, silver, zinc and cobalt grades at the surface and are excited to begin the geophysical surveys and surface work to develop drill targets this season. And with drill permits already in hand and funding in place, we are ready continue on the path toward discovery next year.”

The potential at the Epworth property is promising. Mineralization at the location is similar in style to that in deposits of the Central African Copper Belt and Aston Bay’s Storm Copper Project. The company noted that chalcocite boulders at the surface yield up to 61.2% copper with 5,600 grams per tonne silver in select rock grab samples from more than 300 historic samples. In addition, recent prospecting rock grab samples yielded more than 37.8% copper, 27.4% zinc, 1,100 grams per tonne silver, 3 grams per tonne gold and 1,700 parts per million cobalt.

“Emerald Geological Services is excited to implement the 2024 field program in pursuing critical and precious metal discoveries, 30 years following the discovery of the chalcocite boulder by EGS’s founder,” said Bruce MacLachlan from Emerald Geological Services, vendor of the Epworth property.

The Epworth property is located approximately 80 kilometers southeast of the village of Kugluktuk (formerly Coppermine) in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada. Logistical access is provided by float plane and helicopter from Kugluktuk and the city of Yellowknife, 500 kilometers to the south. The size of the property has been significantly increased with recent staking. The property originally included 15 claims measuring more than 8,320 hectares; it now consists of 51 claims covering an area of 71,135 hectares.

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada, and the state of Virginia. The company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich, with exploration in Virginia directed by the company’s advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona.

The company is currently exploring the Storm Copper and Epworth properties in Nunavut and the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://AstonBayHoldings.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ATBHF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ATBHF

• Energy and Water Development, a green-tech engineering solutions company focused on delivering water and energy to extreme environments, understands the existing issues associated with climate change and its impact on water access
• Studies have demonstrated that climate change threatens critical existing water sources for populations all over the world
• Through its innovative, off-grid solution, using solar power or other available energy sources to pull water directly from the atmosphere, the company looks to address this problem, making clean water accessible to especially endangered populations

Energy and Water Development (OTCQB: EAWD), a green-tech engineering solutions company focused on delivering water and energy to extreme environments, is cognizant of the ongoing challenge of climate change and is looking to address it. As a company well-versed in building water and energy systems out of already existing and proven technologies, and integrating its patent-pending systems configuration, EAWD fully understands the strain that climate change is putting on natural water sources.

Various studies have shown that climate change can threaten the quality of water, primarily through increased runoff of pollutants and sediments. In some areas, climate change has brought heavy downpours, which, in turn, has increased pollutant runoff and sedimentation in source waters such as rivers, lakes, and streams. This complicates water treatment and even diminishes water quality (https://ibn.fm/jVNFM).

For other areas climate change results in shorter rainy seasons and faster depletion of existing fresh water resources. Drought can affect ground water and other sources, as well as reducing important glaciers and increasing sea levels. The latter can increase saltwater intrusion into source waters, reducing the amount of available source water or degrading the quality of existing sources (https://ibn.fm/jRzUM).

EAWD, through its solar-powered atmosphere water generation, can offer a significant amount of independence from groundwater and other traditional sources for fresh water. Their systems can provide an unlimited water resource with no adverse environmental effects. The system works on the core principle that clean air contains significant amounts of water. By tapping into this resource, EAWD can reduce dependence on existing resources, reducing climate change’s impact on existing water resources (https://ibn.fm/e31kt).

“We know that water scarcity is a critical and growing issue that does not discriminate,” noted Irma Velazquez, EAWD’s CEO. “Everyone, anywhere, is entitled to clean, abundant drinking water and our improved off-grid atmosphere water generation systems can help communities provide an unlimited source of fresh water without drawing any power from the grid, even in the most severely drought-stricken areas,” he added (https://ibn.fm/onuIw).

EAWD’s mission is clear, and its management is confident that its industry-leading, innovative solution can offer a sustainable solution to the growing clean water problem, especially in areas where energy and clean water access are challenging.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Energy-Water.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to EAWD are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/EAWD

• Bank of America highlights Pinterest for significant revenue growth in 2024, driven by strategic partnerships and AI integration
• Wedbush maintains a “Neutral” rating on Pinterest but raises the price target to $46, indicating a potential upside of 5.73%
• Pinterest’s stock shows a stable trading pattern with a year’s high of $45.185 and a low of $23.59, reflecting growth potential amidst market volatility

Bank of America has recently highlighted Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) as a key stock to watch in the latter half of 2024, emphasizing its potential for significant revenue growth. This interest in Pinterest is part of a larger analysis focusing on over 100 market catalysts, particularly within the internet and e-commerce sectors. Pinterest’s anticipated revenue boost is attributed to its strategic third-party partnerships, a notable collaboration with Google, and the integration of innovative AI tools. These initiatives are expected to generate around $140 million in partnership revenues for 2024, showcasing Pinterest’s proactive approach to leveraging technology and partnerships to drive growth.

In a related development, Wedbush maintained a “Neutral” rating on Pinterest, with analyst Scott Devitt setting a new price target of $46, up from its current price of approximately $43.51. This adjustment reflects a modest optimism about Pinterest’s stock, suggesting a potential upside of 5.73%. This valuation adjustment by Wedbush, as reported by StreetInsider, underscores the cautious yet positive outlook some analysts have regarding Pinterest’s financial future.

Pinterest’s stock performance further supports the company’s promising outlook. On a recent trading day, Pinterest’s shares saw a slight increase of 0.69%, closing at $43.74. The stock’s movement within the day ranged from a low of $43.11 to a high of $44.05, indicating a stable yet positive trading pattern. With a market capitalization of approximately $29.88 billion and a trading volume of 2.53 million shares, Pinterest demonstrates solid market presence and investor interest. The stock’s performance over the year, reaching a high of $45.185 and a low of $23.59, reflects its volatility but also highlights its growth potential amidst the fluctuating market conditions.

The combined insights from Bank of America and Wedbush paint a picture of cautious optimism for Pinterest. The company’s strategic initiatives, particularly in partnerships and technology integration, are set to propel its revenue growth, aligning with broader market trends that favor innovative and growth-oriented stocks. As Pinterest continues to navigate the dynamic e-commerce and internet sectors, its stock remains a notable one to watch, offering potential opportunities for investors attuned to the evolving digital landscape.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Pinterest.com

The NECANN New Jersey Cannabis Convention will be held in partnership with 420NJevents at the Atlantic City Convention Center, September 6-7. As the NECANN family continues to grow every year, the turnout this year is expected to cross 4,000+ attendees with 200 exhibitors showcasing their innovative business ideas.

The NECANN New Jersey Cannabis Convention has developed robust networking and business connections since its first event in 2019. The convention will be attended by influential canna traders, license holders, dispensary owners, suppliers, investors, ancillary industries, and industry leaders from the East Coast and beyond. New Jersey has a thriving cannabis market, and the NECANN Convention is considered a powerful business platform for the region’s cannabis trading community.

Local traders, growers, and entrepreneurs, set up exhibitor booths to showcase their innovative products, and services. Industry thought leaders and experts will share insights on important trends in the cannabis industry. Attendees can discover the newest canna products and enjoy the unique experiences for which the New Jersey NECANN event is well known.

The NECANN New Jersey Convention strives to unite the local cannabis community by offering phenomenal networking and business opportunities for the region. The event will be graced by important cannabis industry leaders and investors looking for the best investment avenues. Local traders can leverage this key opportunity to learn the latest industry trends in order to stay in line with growing competition. They can also connect with serious investors to establish long-term business ties.

The NECANN event is one of the largest cannabis events in the northeast. The event offers collaborative business opportunities and high returns for sponsors, exhibitors, traders, and regional cannabis businesses. Exhibitor spaces and sponsorships are available for interested parties.

To know more, please visit https://ibn.fm/SxzuY

• SenesTech, a rodent fertility control product provider, has announced the deployment of its already successful Evolve(TM) product to the U.S. Virgin Islands
• The Wild Ecology Group will administer the initiative and will see a rollout on over 60 islands under the group’s care
• The deal signifies an opportunity for additional growth for the company, on the heels of an already highly successful rollout in the U.S.

SenesTech (NASDAQ: SNES), a rodent fertility control product provider and the inventor of the only EPA-registered contraceptive for male and female rats, just announced the deployment of its Evolve(TM) flagship product to the U.S. Virgin Islands in an effort administered by The Wild Ecology Group. This represents a new growth opportunity for the company, given that Wild Ecology will place regular orders as it seeks to address the growing invasive rat problem (https://ibn.fm/tqBiN).

“The Wild Ecology Group sees Evolve as part of a long term, sustainable solution to invasive species proliferation and is being rolled out to over 60 islands in our care,” noted Nick Morrison from Wild Ecology Group. “Ultimately, Evolve will be our ‘standard of care’ as we assess our programs worldwide,” he added.

“The initial multi-pallet order is already en route to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and we have reserved The Wild Ecology’s regular order in our production schedule,” noted Joel Fruendt, President and CEO of SenesTech.

The active ingredient in SenesTech’s minimum-risk soft bait for proactive control of rats has proven to effectively reduce fertility in rodents in various independent studies. This, in addition to its high palatability, easy deployment, and diverse placement in many different environments, makes it the go-to pest control product. Additionally, it presents organizations and individual consumers with a more proactive option for addressing the rodent population, as opposed to a more reactive one, as is the case with traps and poisons.

SenesTech’s management remains optimistic that 2024 will be the company’s biggest year yet, and the milestones achieved thus far point to that. They also reflect the team’s commitment to creating shareholder value and fulfilling the promises and goals set at the beginning of the year.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SenesTech.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SNES are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/SNES

• American West Metals Limited entered into binding agreement with Australian-based Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P.
• The royalty funding supports the advancement of the Storm Copper Project
• The investment from Taurus is a strong endorsement of the potential at Storm

Aston Bay Holdings (TSX.V: BAY) (OTCQB: ATBHF), a publicly traded mineral exploration company, and its joint venture partner, American West Metals Limited, are making significant plans to move forward on development of the Storm Copper Project, located in Nunavut, Canada. The plans follow the announcement that American West secured nondilutive financing from a leading royalty fund to support exploration and development at Storm (https://ibn.fm/L5Bn2).

According to the announcement, American West entered into a binding agreement with Australian-based Taurus Mining Royalty Fund L.P. The agreement calls for Taurus to provide up to $12.5 million under a royalty package for the Storm Copper Project. In return, Taurus receives a new 0.95% gross override royalty from all production at the project.

“We are very pleased to have secured royalty funding to support the advancement of the Storm Copper Project,” said Dave O’Neill, managing director of American West Metals. “The royalty financing provides American West with a substantial quantum of funds on terms that are considerably more attractive and less dilutionary than alternative equity funding.

“The investment from Taurus is a strong endorsement of the potential at Storm and recognizes the strong foundations for growth established by the exploration and resource delineation work conducted by American West to date,” O’Neill continued. “The company is now well positioned to accelerate the 2024 and 2025 work programs at Storm, with the 2024 summer drilling program now in full swing. This puts American West in a strong position to grow shareholder wealth as the demand outlook for copper reaches an all-time high.”

AmericanWest plans to use the funds to accelerate the Storm 2024 resource expansion and exploration programs. Funds will also be used to bring forward the logistics for the 2025 field activities and expedite the completion of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”); mining; and development studies. Aston Bay will receive 20% of the funding with no use-of-proceeds restriction.

“This is an excellent development for the Storm Project and Aston Bay,” said Thomas Ullrich, Aston Bay CEO. “The royalty financing provides significant funding and is structured to promote rapid advancement of the Storm Copper Project for our partner American West. At the same time, it provides a significant amount of nondilutive funds for Aston Bay to advance our other critical minerals and gold exploration projects in Nunavut and Virginia.”

Aston Bay conducts exploration through safe, socially and environmentally responsible and sustainable work practices. The company embeds core values of health and safety throughout its operations by adhering to strict health and safety standards and practices that meet or exceed industry standards and government codes and regulations.

Aston Bay is a publicly traded mineral exploration company exploring for high-grade critical and precious metal deposits in Nunavut, Canada, and the state of Virginia. The company is led by CEO Thomas Ullrich with exploration in Virginia directed by the company’s advisor, Don Taylor, the 2018 Thayer Lindsley Award winner for his discovery of the Taylor Pb-Zn-Ag Deposit in Arizona. The company is currently exploring the Storm Copper and Epworth Properties in Nunavut and the high-grade Buckingham Gold Vein in central Virginia. The company is also in advanced stages of negotiation on other lands with high-grade critical metals potential in North America.

For more information, visit the company’s website at https://AstonBayHoldings.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to ATBHF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/ATBHF

• Israel-headquartered SuperCom Ltd. has developed its PureSecurity Suite of secure identification and electronic monitoring products as an end-to-end solution for increasing public safety worldwide
• SuperCom recently announced it has received orders valued at over $3 million from European governments, to be delivered in Q3 of 2024
• In April, the company similarly announced over $5 million in new orders from European governments for the company’s EM solutions, showing that SuperCom’s products and services remain popular in the region

Security solutions innovator SuperCom (NASDAQ: SPCB) is a growing provider of electronic monitoring technologies for a variety of primarily governmental client needs. Applications include the supervision of individuals in criminal cases who have qualified for home-based detention as an alternative to incarceration, as well as rehabilitation and domestic violence prevention programs.

Most recently, the company has announced more than $3 million of orders from EU governments to serve the needs of correctional facilities and law enforcement agencies, adding to the $5 million of new European government orders the company announced in April.

“The new orders strengthen our position as a global leader in electronic monitoring solutions for public safety,” SuperCom President and CEO Ordan Trabelsi stated (https://ibn.fm/3biTe). “Our recent successes in securing substantial orders from European governments reflect our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results and our ability to meet the evolving needs of our clients. SuperCom remains dedicated to ensuring successful project execution and fostering lasting partnerships with governments worldwide.”

SuperCom provides traditional and digital identity solutions on an internationally. This year, its most recent contracts have been requisitioned to meet the needs of agencies in Europe. The company has also expressed a particular focus on serving public safety agency needs in the United States as well.

SuperCom’s end-to-end electronic monitoring solution is branded as PureSecurity Suite. It delivers state-of-the-art GPS tracking and monitoring technologies through a secure software platform.

The PureSecurity Suite provides real-time reporting as part of its communication functions. Needs that are served range from ensuring that home-detention orders are obeyed, to substance abuse rehabilitation conditions established as part of treatment.  In addition, real-time reporting can be of critical value when used for court-ordered EM tracking of domestic violence offenders.

SuperCom’s security solutions serve organizations in both the public and private sectors. The company also offers proprietary e-government platforms for traditional identification needs as well as biometrics enrollment, personalization, issuance and border control services.

The company’s e-government division announced its most recent contract acquisition in May when it landed a $1.8 million new project from a long-standing customer.

The company’s solutions also include a Safend’s Data Protection Suite as a software solution for protecting organizations from data leakage and theft. The suite product protects data-in-use, data-at-rest and data-in-motion without hampering workers’ productivity.

“Since 2018, SuperCom has secured over 50 new multi-year government projects,” Trabelsi stated in an April investor discussion about the company’s year-end financial report (https://ibn.fm/yqDoD). “Our strong growing reputation as a premium provider of electronic monitoring solutions and services enhanced our market position with each new customer win.”

The company’s announcement states the new European government contracts are expected to be delivered by the end of the third quarter this year.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.SuperCom.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to SPCB are available in the company’s newsroom at http://ibn.fm/SPCB

• For the first time in Medicare’s history, more than half of all eligible people with Medicare are enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans
• Enrollment in Medicare Advantage programs is projected to grow from 54% of the eligible population in 2024 to 60% by the end of the decade
• Astiva Health has developed one of the most diverse networks in Southern California and offers a selection of benefits tailored to the specialized needs of its members

According to a recent KFF report, a record number of people enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans last year (https://ibn.fm/YEpRJ). That trend bodes well for Astiva Health, a fast-growing Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (“MAPD”) health plan that is committed to reshaping personalized and comprehensive healthcare.

“For the first time in Medicare’s history, more than half of all eligible people with Medicare, or 30.8 million people in 2023, are enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans,” reported the KFF article. “Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private health insurance companies that receive payments from the federal government to provide Medicare-covered services. People with Medicare have a choice between traditional Medicare (sometimes called fee-for-service Medicare or Original Medicare) and Medicare Advantage plans.

“The growth in Medicare Advantage enrollment is driven by a number of factors, including the Medicare payment system, which has served to attract and retain insurers and beneficiaries, rather than reduce Medicare spending,” the article continued. “Medicare Advantage enrollment has more than doubled since 2010 and is projected to grow from 54% of the eligible population in 2024 to 60% by the end of this decade.”

The article, titled “10 Reasons Why Medicare Advantage Enrollment is Growing and Why It Matters,” noted several reasons for the upward trend. First and foremost, “people with Medicare are drawn to Medicare Advantage for the extra benefits,” stated the article. Those benefits include reduced cost-sharing, dental coverage, gym memberships and debit cards for over-the-counter medical supplies that are not covered by traditional Medicare.

In addition, people with Medicare are drawn to Medicare Advantage plans that are marketed as “zero premium” products, the article pointed out. “Like traditional Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare Advantage enrollees are required to pay the Medicare Part B premium, but unlike beneficiaries in traditional Medicare, they typically do not pay a separate premium for additional coverage or for Part D prescription drug premium because Medicare Advantage rebate dollars cover these costs.”

Other reasons for increased enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans include premiums for Part D standalone prescription drug plans that supplement traditional Medicare are rising rapidly and people with Medicare are attracted to the financial protection that comes with an annual out-of-pocket limit that Medicare Advantage plans are required to provide. In addition to the financial benefits, people with Medicare are attracted to the simplicity and convenience of Medicare Advantage, which provides all coverage in one plan, eliminating the need to obtain a Medicare Part D plan and a Medigap plan.

Astiva Health is focused on being a leader in the Medicare Advantage space. The company is keenly aware of the uniqueness of its members and is dedicated to delivering quality care to each individual. With that in mind, the company has developed one of the most diverse networks in Southern California and offers a selection of benefits tailored to the specialized needs of its members.

“We believe that health is an essential key to living a good life,” the company states (https://ibn.fm/iyf5U). “We are making it our mission to help our members love life through community-based health plans focused on serving individual member needs, tailored comprehensive benefit packages to meet member’s personalized needs and best support our local, underserved member population, and a culturally responsive approach to healthcare offering multilingual solutions for customer service, marketing materials and educational materials. Our mission is to deliver an unparalleled level of quality care to our members and establish relationships that will last a lifetime.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.AstivaHealth.com.

NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Astiva Health are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/Astiva