Nevadans Demonstrate for Health Care Reform; Wellpoint fights back
Photo: Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun
Demonstrators, who gathered at the intersection of Fort Apache and Russell roads in Las Vegas, want healthcare reform. But Wellpoint, a major critic of a government-run health insurance plan, will have none of it. The company spent $1.22 million on lobbying in the first quarter of 2009.
A spokes person for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, a subsidiary of WellPoint said:
“The current market for health insurance is competitive, and a government-run insurance plan would create problems in the marketplace, including…reducing consumer choice by driving insurers out of the market and hurting the ability of private plan initiatives to improve the quality and control costs in the delivery system.”
Launce Rake, spokesmen for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, which helped organize the rally, responded:
“I understand that they’re concerned about competition. If I was WellPoint, I would be concerned about competition as well,” he said. “The CEO of WellPoint has publicly said his concern is for the shareholders. My concern is for the health of Americans.”
In July 2008, WellPoint subsidiary Anthem Blue Cross agreed to a settlement with the California Department of Managed Health Care. In order to resolve allegations of improper rescission (cancellation of policies due to claims), WellPoint paid $10 million and reinstated 1,770 policy-holders whose plans they had cancelled. They also agreed to provide compensation for any medical debts incurred by these policy-holders in the meantime. However, WellPoint did not officially admit liability.[3]
The President and CEO of Wellpoint is 46 year old born in Texas, Angela Brayly. In April 2009 she was earning $4.07 million. She also owns $4.6 million of Wellpoint stock. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Wellpoint’s revenue was$56.593 billion in 2006.
Photo: of Angela Brayly by Yoni Brook
Earlier this year the company settled lawsuits with ten patients who claimed that their policies were canceled after an injury or diagnosis. (WellPoint had argued that they had concealed preexisting conditions.) Doctors in several states have filed class actions claiming WellPoint plans withhold payments. It’s the only health insurer in California actively opposing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to provide everyone with health insurance. [Forbes]
Read a lot more on Desert Beacon’s excellent analysis of Wellpoint and the healthcare crisis.
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2 comments
Thank you for putting this info up on the web. I really want there to be a similar type of demonstration here in Northern Nevada.
I live in Reno, and I think that we need to have a lot of these demonstrations to raise awareness with the public about this MAJOR threat to our nation’s well-being, as well as the moral sin of our current system of rationed health care-We ration health care based on one’s ability to pay. This is so wrong. How can I organize?Where do I start?
Thanks!
christine
You are welcome Christine. Thank you for your comment. How can you organize or start? I’d suggest a good starting place would be on the Organizing for America Action Center. Good luck.
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