Indiana warns consumers about questionable insurance
State insurance officials are warning Indiana residents about questionable health insurance policies being offered by companies
touting themselves as associations.
Health Insurance
Articles
Q&A: Jim Parker
Jim Parker was an executive at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and WellPoint for 14 years, including a year and a half as
chief of staff to CEO Angela Braly. He now is president of his own consulting firm, Meridian Strategic Advisors, in Indianapolis.
He spoke about the impact of the new health reform law on health insurers.
Employers want cake, and to eat it, too
Employers are still trying to get their arms around what the new health insurance law will mean for them. But on the eve of
the law's passage last month, a survey by Indianapolis-based United Benefit Advisors LLC showed employers as a group had
no hope the law would reduce their costs but also no coherent plan for reforming the current system.
WellPoint, UnitedHealth, grapple with medical-cost mandate
A U.S. mandate forcing insurers led by UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc. to spend 85 percent of revenue from premiums
on medical care is the newest front in the battle between the Obama administration and companies over industry profits.
Members: Anthem health plans subpar
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana fell slightly below average for customer satisfaction among scores of health
plans,
according to a new survey by California-based J.D. Power & Associates.
Shareholder group wants WellPoint to become not-for-profit
Proposal at annual meeting will ask health insurer to study feasibility of converting to not-for-profit status.
WellPoint faces biggest changes under new law
The Indianapolis-based health insurer has more individual and small-business customers than its major competitors, increasing
the impact of health reform.
Employers fret over health care overhaul
Most employers in central Indiana are just beginning to figure out what the health insurance reform bill will mean for their
businesses. Caterpillar Inc., which employs nearly 1,500 at an engine plant in Lafayette, expects costs to rise about 20 percent.
Reform offers risk, opportunities for Lilly, WellPoint
Drugmakers and insurers could gain millions of customers under the legislation, but the industry also will pay new fees and
face stricter rules that may shrink profit and fuel mergers.
Congress passes historic health care bill
To pay for the changes, the legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade, roughly half of it
from a new Medicare payroll tax on individuals with incomes over $200,000 and couples over $250,000.
Simon Property Group adds Glasscock to board
Former WellPoint Inc. leader Larry Glasscock has joined the board of directors of the Indianapolis-based real estate giant.
WellPoint expects loss of 400,000 insured members this year
Indianapolis-based health insurer expects revenue, profit to fall as persistently high unemployment reduces employer-sponsored
insurance enrollment.
WellPoint spent $1.2M lobbying government in 4Q
Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., the nation's largest health insurer based on membership, spent $1.2 million lobbying
the federal government in the fourth quarter of 2009 as it weighed in on several topics tied to the health care overhaul debate.
Sebelius asks insurers to justify rate hikes
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius met at the White House with the CEOs of Indianapolis-based WellPoint,
Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group, as well as several state insurance commissioners.
Consumer group sues Anthem over policy changes
A consumer watchdog group filed a lawsuit Monday against WellPoint’s California subsidiary on behalf of policyholders, claiming
they were pushed to take coverage with fewer benefits and higher deductibles.
WellPoint records subpoened in California probe
The California attorney general has demanded documents from several health insurers, including Indianapolis' WellPoint,
believing that their rate-setting and claims practices might be illegal.
Study: Hospital clout spurs higher Calif. health costs
While insurers get the blame for rising health-care costs for consumers, surging fees from hospitals and the growing dominance
of such providers may be just as responsible for driving up expenses, according to a new study examining California's
market.
WellPoint CEO blames health costs for hikes
Amid attacks from Democrats over high executive salaries, Angela Braly testified in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that big
insurance-premium increases are
the result of growing price tags for hospital care and pharmaceuticals.
California lawmakers question Anthem about rate hikes
California lawmakers grilled Anthem Blue Cross executives on Tuesday about their plan to boost individual insurance premiums
by as much as 39 percent, only to hear them blame the economy and a broken health care system.
WellPoint to face questioning over rate hike
Executives are scheduled to testify Tuesday before a California legislative committee and on Wednesday before a U.S. House
of Representatives committee about big premium increases.