Obamacare exchanges could zap WellPoint profits
According to one estimate, the Indianapolis-based health insurer will shed $400 million in pre-tax profits by 2017.
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WellPoint CEO: Acquisitions of hospitals, doctors unlikely
Joe Swedish, who took the helm of the Indianapolis-based health insurer a month ago, threw cold-water Wednesday on widespread speculation that he will lead the company through a wave of buying hospitals and medical practices.
Anthem tries new ‘narrow network’ strategy
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has selected Community Health Network to be the “exclusive provider” for a new kind of health insurance plan—a sharp departure from Anthem’s typical strategy of offering the broadest network of hospitals and doctors.
Anthem rolling out 401(k)-style medical benefits
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana will open a new online exchange to Indiana employers on Jan. 1, where workers could purchase medical benefits from a group of plans using a fixed sum of money given them by their employers.
Deal provides peek at Anthem’s narrow networks
A new agreement in Wisconsin provides a glimpse of the kind of “narrow network” arrangements that Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield might attempt in Indiana.
Longtime insurance agency acquired by local rival
Property-casualty and employee benefits firm MJ Insurance buys Mead & Co., which dates to the 1860s.
Some hospitals, doctors might be cut from health plans
With health insurance premiums continuing to outstrip inflation, some health insurers and hospital systems are considering bringing back an old strategy: limiting patient access to a “narrow” network of doctors and hospitals.
OneAmerica unit using hybrid policies to grow long-term-care sales
Using banks as a sales channel also boosts business in what has been a languishing product segment.
High-deductible premiums rising, too
Since 2007, premiums for high-deductible health plans’ family coverage have grown 32 percent—compared with 30 percent among all health plans, according to survey data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Truck fleet insurer’s move to diversify gains traction
Sales of professional liability products are still a small part of total revenue but could reach $50 million by the end of 2013.
S&P completes biggest first-quarter rally since 1998
More than $3.6 trillion has been restored to U.S. equity values since October amid better-than-estimated earnings and economic data. Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. surged 11 percent this week, as the Supreme Court debated the health care law.
WellPoint replaces fired Medicare plan chief
Venkata Rajamannar Madabhushi will take control of the various Medicare Advantage plans WellPoint runs around the country, replacing Brian Sassi, whom WellPoint fired last month.
HHGregg gets $40M from life insurance on former CEO
HHGregg has collected a $40 million payout from a life insurance policy it took out on former executive chairman Jerry W. Throgmartin, who died in January after a sudden illness.
Scrutiny rises on Bankers Life
After the insurer's name went on Indianapolis' downtown arena, CBS News focused on how hundreds of Bankers Life’s long-term-care insurance policyholders have accused the company of having “beat them down with bureaucracy."
Deficit committee could bite CNO
Medicare supplement policies are reportedly one of the targets of Congress’ special deficit-reduction committee—and that’s not good news for Carmel-based CNO Financial Group Inc.
Private exchange could boost WellPoint profits
WellPoint Inc.’s participation in buying a majority stake of the private health insurance exchange operator Bloom Health could help it get back to its roots as a health insurer—and make a bit more money in the process.
WellPoint buying private health insurance exchange
The deal helps WellPoint compete for employers with the U.S. state-run marketplaces set to open in 2014 under President Obama’s health-care overhaul.
United Financial Systems slapped with lawsuit
An Indianapolis insurance brokerage disciplined for unauthorized legal practice might now face millions of dollars in claims from more than 4,000 former clients because of a class-action suit filed in Marion Superior Court.
Self-funded plans draw small-firm interest
In the face of new health reform restrictions, expect more small employers to opt for self-funded health benefits, concludes a report this week from Indianapolis-based United Benefit Advisors.
OneAmerica enjoys 24-percent surge in sales
The Indianapolis-based life insurer pulled in sales last year of $1.7 billion and boosted its overall assets 12 percent, to $24.4 billion.