| ERISA and Arnold's health plan: Poizner's lawyers "are looking at ...
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner called a little while ago to talk about the huge mess with the State Compensation Insurance Fund. After a while, I got to shift the topic to my white whale: the governor's health insurance plan and its (non)compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the 1974 federal law which bans states from telling companies which offer benefits what those benefits must entail. In nearly three months of interviews, Nexis hunts and Googling, this is what I have learned: 1) No expert anywhere not in the employ of the governor has said his plan appears legal. 2) No similar plan in the United States has been found legal by courts. 3) No court ruling since 1974 has undercut the core premise of ERISA, which is that multistate companies should be able to offer the same benefits nationwide and not be undercut by the dictates of 50 individual state legislatures.
Blue Cross of California Improperly Canceled Health Insurance ...
Blue Cross of California improperly canceled individual health insurance policies after some members became pregnant or sought medical treatment for chronic conditions, an investigation by the California Department of Managed Health Care has concluded, the Los Angeles Times reports. DMHC officials on Thursday informed Blue Cross of their intent to file an accusation against the company and issue a $1 million fine in the case. Under California law, health insurers must prove that members intentionally misrepresented their medical histories on policy applications to cancel policies. State investigators reviewed 90 cases from 2004 to 2006 in which Blue Cross canceled individual health insurance policies and found the company had violated the law in each case. According to state investigators, Blue Cross used computer programs and maintained a department to review the policies of members with chronic illnesses and women who became pregnant to consider cancellation.
Blue Cross of California Keeps Promise to Members: Enhanced ...
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross of California (Blue Cross), through its affiliate BC Life & Health Insurance company, is now offering new health plan options for employers and individuals that will change the way consumers think about health care, helping them to lead healthier lives while also helping them gain control over the rising cost of care. These new consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) products and services are now available to large and small businesses as well as individuals. Previously, these products were offered only to national employers' members. "Our customers who choose these consumer-driven products will have new opportunities to lead healthier lives," said Blue Cross president Brian A. Sassi. "Our suite of Lumenos CDHP products puts consumers in control of their health care dollars and offers them an incentive to spend wisely and demand better health care quality and value." Blue Cross will offer the following core CDHP products: -- Lumenos Health Reimbursement Account -- Lumenos Health Savings Account -- Lumenos Health Incentive Account -- Lumenos Health Incentive Account Plus Consumers who choose Lumenos products will be eligible for extensive preventive care and personal health coaching, as well as smoking cessation and weight management programs.
|
