WellPoint, insurance commissioner get earful from lawmakers
State House insurance committee chair grills executives about WellPoint’s 21-percent premium increase for individual policyholders
in Indiana.
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State lawmakers to probe WellPoint premium hikes
Three WellPoint executives will be on hand Wednesday morning to answer questions about premium increases on its individual
policies, which have risen as high as 39 percent this year.
WellPoint delays investor meeting to testify on rate flap
The Indianapolis-based insurer, preparing for Congressional testimony on proposed premium increases in California, says its
earnings forecast is now less clear.
WellPoint hits bottom with customers
Even before WellPoint dissatisfied President Obama over its rate increases in California, it wasn’t doing so hot satisfying
its actual customers, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
ANALYSIS: Insurance rate hikes at heart of health-care debate
Individual insurance rate hikes like those recently planned for WellPoint Inc.’s California customers might be unlikely to
spread to those covered through their employers. But such hikes will affect a huge number of Americans — the 46 million
with no insurance at all.
Could WellPoint woes breathe life into health reform?
The firestorm created this week by Indianapolis-based health insurer WellPoint’s spike in premiums could resurrect some parts
of
the languishing health reform bills.
UPDATE: WellPoint price hike defense fails to satisfy feds
Health insurer WellPoint is blaming the Great Recession and rising medical costs for its planned 39 percent rate increase
for some California customers of its Anthem Blue Cross plan. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius isn’t
buying the explanation proffered in a letter delivered to her Thursday.
WellPoint blames rate hike on loss of healthy customers
The Indianapolis-based health insurer says a shift in demographics and rising medical costs have led to its planned 39 percent
rate hike for some California customers.
Officials ask Anthem to justify rate hike in California
Anthem has declined to say how many of its 800,000 individual policyholders in California are being affected by the hike.
But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius demanded specifics in a sternly worded letter.
WellPoint CFO says insurance ‘mega-mergers’ unlikely
WellPoint Inc. chief financial officer Wayne DeVeydt said President Obama’s Federal Trade Commission is unlikely to approve
mergers among the biggest insurers.
Health insurers may find 2010 full of challenges
WellPoint and other health insurers were profitable in 2009, but the lingering unemployment problem is dampening the outlook
for this year.
WellPoint: More employers involved in provider talks
Employer activism is on the rise when it comes to keeping hospitals honest in their negotiations with health insurers.
Executives at Indianapolis-based WellPoint say more employers are airing their displeasure when hospital
systems ask for double-digit reimbursement increases.
Concluding the worst is over, investors warm to WellPoint
Analysts say losses of employer-sponsored insurance customers due to layoffs is finally slowing down.
Indiana GOP wants to block federal health reform mandates
Republicans in the Legislature have joined their counterparts in 25 other states in trying to prevent key aspects of reform
from taking effect in Indiana.
State Republicans try to block health reform mandates
Joint resolutions in the state Legislature seek to amend the state constitution to block enforcement of provisions in the
federal bills that would require individuals to buy insurance and all but the smallest employers to help pay for it.
Indy man gets 2 years for extorting insurance firm
Kevin Stewart stole a computer server that contained the names and confidential information of 900,000 people.
Doctors resume battle with Anthem, health insurers
Doctors are pushing again to strengthen their hands in contract negotiations with health insurers, especially market leader
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
WellPoint stock surging on positive analyst forecasts
The long-term outlook for health care reform is uncertain, but many analysts are expecting big health insurers like Indianapolis-based
WellPoint to benefit in 2010.
Grass-roots groups prepare to fill gaps in health care reform
Legislation set to come out of Washington will not change the most fundamental problems of the health
care system, leaving it up to states, cities and companies to figure out what to do about it.
Senate bill could hurt insurers in short term
The bill imposes hefty new taxes and coverage rules that will pinch insurers such as WellPoint Inc. by forcing them to cover
more sick people without gaining enough healthy, lower-cost customers, industry insiders say.