In Brief
Anthem Blue Cross is in the headlines again— its last headline moment was a few years ago when it sent letters to doctors asking that they report pre-existing conditions for patients new to their plans. They worded the letter artfully but no one was mistaken about the plan’s intent to end coverage for patients who could cost more to cover.
It can be hard for patients to know what a plan considers a “pre-existing” condition because the list is not explained. A pre-existing condition, at least with this plan, appeared to be whatever it decided could be called that.
The governor got involved. The plan denied any wrong-doing. The doctors never cooperated. Consumers were livid. It ended.
Having learned nothing from that last California-wide lesson, Anthem Blue Cross is in even bigger trouble now.
The president of the United States is involved. The Secretary of Health and Human Services has spoken about this. Hearings are being scheduled.
Stay tuned.
“Consumer advocates filed a class-action suit against Anthem Blue Cross on Monday, accusing California’s largest for-profit health insurer of illegally using drastic rate hikes to force customers into inferior health plans.”
Source: Reuters, March 2, 2010
