Health insurers willing to give up key Obamacare provision
U.S. health insurers signaled Tuesday that they’re willing to give up a cornerstone provision of Obamacare that requires all Americans to have insurance.
Insurance
Articles
Anthem’s Cigna takeover could draw $3B Blue Cross fine, exec testifies
Twenty-three percent of Cigna’s domestic revenue would need to be rebranded to comply with rules of the Blue Cross Blue Shield association, said Anthem executive Steve Schlegel under questioning Wednesday by a Justice Department lawyer.
Anthem-Cigna CEOs’ deep clash exposed in unsealed testimony
The rift between merging health insurance companies Cigna Corp. and Anthem Inc. came further into public view Tuesday as transcripts of testimony from both chief executives were unsealed during a U.S. antitrust trial
Anthem experts testify Cigna merger won’t hurt competition
Anthem Inc. fired back against U.S. claims that the health insurer’s planned $48 billion takeover of rival Cigna Corp. will undermine competition.
Economist testifies Anthem-Cigna deal a risk to competition
Anthem Inc.’s proposed $48 billion merger with Cigna Corp. could give the insurer the power to raise prices for employers across the country, according to a witness in the U.S. government’s lawsuit to block the deal.
Anthem, Cigna to begin court fight to save $48 billion merger
Anthem Inc.’s proposed merger with Cigna Corp. would reduce health-care competition and raise costs for consumers, U.S. antitrust lawyers will argue Monday when the government goes to court to try to block the transaction.
Patients rush to surgery before insurance deductibles reset
For patients, the difference between getting an operation now or in January could amount to thousands of dollars out of pocket.
Drugmakers’ stocks jump on promise of Trump presidency
Pharmaceutical company stocks were among the winners in early trading Wednesday as Republicans’ sweeping election victory eased concerns that Democrats would enact controls on drug prices. Eli Lilly and Co. shares jumped 4 percent.
Baldwin & Lyons reports quarterly profit on record premiums
The Carmel-based property and casualty insurance underwriter reported higher revenue but less profit in the latest period.
CNO Financial beats third quarter analyst estimates
CNO Financial Group Inc. on Tuesday reported third-quarter results that topped Wall Street expectations despite a 45 percent decline in profit.
Anthem threatens Obamacare retreat if results don’t improve
If Indianapolis-based Anthem retreats from the Affordable Care Act, it would mean that almost all of the major American for-profit health insurers have substantially pulled back from the law.
Health law consumers face least choice in program’s history
Americans in the health insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's law will have less choice next year than any time since the program started.
Anthem, Cigna may be forced to reveal merger-dispute documents
Letters and emails between the two companies might become evidence in the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to halt the $48 billion deal.
UPDATE: CNO ends deal with Platinum-tied insurer, to take $55M loss
CNO Financial Group Inc. said it ended a risk-transfer deal with a reinsurer tied to embattled hedge fund Platinum Partners and has filed suit against executives of Beechwood Re. CNO shares tumbled after the news.
IU Health Plans quits Obamacare exchange, citing ‘heightened financial uncertainty’
The move combined with other insurer defections will leave Hoosiers with just five Obamacare marketplace options.
Dental, vision insurance company plans hiring binge
An Indianapolis health insurance company said it plans to add 82 customer-service positions and is holding a job fair Thursday to find candidates.
Feds seek letters allegedly showing disputes between Anthem, Cigna
Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. are refusing to provide letters between the two insurers that the U.S. government contends will show that they get along so poorly that they wouldn’t be able to effectively merge.
UPDATE: Anthem, Cigna accusing one another of merger breach, U.S. says
The Justice Department, which is trying to stop a $48 billion merger between insurance giants Anthem and Cigna, said in a court filing that the firms are accusing each other of breaching their agreement, creating a “state of hostility” between the companies.
Obama tries to sell insurers on Obamacare after 2016 defections
President Barack Obama met with top executives from more than a dozen health insurers on Monday to re-affirm his support for the Affordable Care Act after several companies retreated from the law’s government-run insurance markets.
Federal survey confirms slowdown in health insurance gains
The nation's progress in getting more people covered by health insurance slowed significantly this year, the government confirmed Wednesday in a report that tempers a historic but troubled achievement of the Obama administration.