Docs offer varied cures for ailing health care system
Indianapolis physicians are mixed on the merits of a government-run, "public" health insurance plan. How reforms
might affect their pay is another major concern.
Health Insurance
Articles
Health reform breaking WellPoint’s way so far
With the Obama administration backing away from a government-run, "public" plan, the insurance
industry faces a much smaller threat in the form of privately run insurance co-ops.
Businesses help older workers confront Medicare dilemma
Companies are helping workers age 65 and above decide whether to forgo their company health insurance and shift to Medicare.
Medicare is becoming more attractive as costs of company policies rise.
Monarch program persuades young, male workers to care about their health
Indianapolis-based Monarch Beverage is among hundreds of central Indiana companies that
have introduced wellness programs to counteract the rising costs of health insurance and Worker’s Compensation.
HETRICK: A health insurance beneficiary pleads for reform
As a hearing-impaired, migraine-suffering, diabetic cancer survivor who’s also the father of a cancer survivor and the widower
of a cancer victim, I’ve experienced more than my fair share of American health care.
Government-run insurance plan draws mixed reviews from employers
Businesses all want to see reform of the health care system, but they diverge on how much the U.S. government’s entrance into
the insurance market would help or hurt them.
State insurance program containing health costs
Doug Stratton, executive director of the Indiana Comprehensive Health Insurance Association, slashes costs, pushes disease
control to keep prices as low as possible.
UnitedHealthcare hopes cards bring customers
Dan Krajnovich thinks UnitedHealthcare’s new and improved swipe cards will help his company add more doctors to its network of providers, boosting its competitiveness in the marketplace.
Entrepreneurs pursuing patient advocacy trend
Patients are seeking help with their doctors, records and referrals as the health care system grows increasingly complex.
WellPoint could grow during tough time for health insurers
The health insurance industry — hurt by falling profits and threatened by Democratic reform bills — could see
another wave of
consolidation, and that may well involve Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc.
New health plans will cost more later
Consumer-driven health plans will lead to greater medical expenses later because people avoid going to the doctor now.
Executives must stress wellness program benefits consistently
Health care benefits that promote wellness should be an ongoing executive suite focus, not simply an annual budget concern.
St. Francis Hospitals, Anthem disagree over health insurance reimbursements
The St. Francis hospital system and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana are haggling over insurance reimbursement
costs. The original demand of Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc. would have increased reimbursement amounts $80 million
over three years, Rick Rhodes, an Anthem regional vice president, wrote in an Oct. 30 letter to employers covered by Anthem.
The increase would mean $12 million more in out-of-pocket costs to Anthem customers. But St. Francis claims its request for
an increase only brings it in line with what other hospitals are getting.
Hoosiers need greater access to quality health care
Indiana’s economic woes are long standing and may be having an adverse effect on the health of our people,
because Hoosiers can’t consistently gain access to excellent health care.
Study says consumerism cuts costs
Consumer-directed health plans really work, at least according to WellPoint Inc., which has made a big push to sell them recently.
OneAmerica well positioned to acquire other insurance companies
OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. has made no secret of its desire to acquire other companies. Well, if it wants to buy,
it could hardly find a better time.
WellPoint, St. Francis battle over insurer’s IT problems
A year of computer snafus boiled over Oct. 13 when the St. Francis system declared WellPoint Inc. in breach of its contract
because of habitually late payments.
Rooney’s death spawns uncertainty for struggling insurance company, not-for-profit
After the unexpected death of insurance magnate J. Patrick Rooney, two organizations he led until the day he died are scrambling
to figure out who will lead them into the future.
WellPoint pushes sales force to market life, dental, vision
WellPoint Inc. touts as the company’s biggest strength its dominant market share in its health insurance markets. But now
the officers of the company are working to branch out beyond health insurance. They’re training their sales force
on how to better sell dental, vision and even life and disability insurance–which WellPoint refers to as its specialty group
of products.
Ex-WellPoint VP sues, says he was axed for testifying in drug case
WellPoint Inc. prides itself on working to hold down the rising cost of health care. But to hear one of its former vice
presidents tell it, the company retaliated against him when he worked to do just that. In a lawsuit against
WellPoint, Dr. Randy Axelrod claims his former employer forced him out when he tried to curtail a drugmaker’s
controversial pricing strategy that was costing WellPoint money.