- Social:
California Association of Health Plans
President and CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, a trade group representing health insurance companies
PROFILE
Patrick Johnston
Guest
FROM Patrick Johnston
Which Way, L.A.?
More Insured, But Less Options Under Covered California, Obamacare has gone relatively smoothly. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any problems. The non-profit Consumer Watchdog has filed suit against Anthem Blue-Cross, which insures more Californians than any company except Kaiser. While Anthem Blue-Cross offered policies at low cost, plaintiffs say they were never told about an expensive trade-off.
Which Way, L.A.?
A Progress Report on Obamacare in California California's version of the Affordable Care Act is going better than many others, but that doesn't mean there aren't problems. Covered California's own Facebook page received comments including "still on hold going on 40 minutes," and "such a gift horse to the insurance companies." We hear about website glitches and delays in providing guides for insurance exchanges as well as success in expanding coverage for the poor.
Which Way, L.A.?
California Health Insurers Request Big Rate Increases Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California want to raise health insurance rates by 20 to 26%--despite the promises of the President’s Affordable Care Act. Should the insurance commissioner Dave Jones have the power to deny the increases—as regulators in other states can?
Which Way, L.A.?
Anthem Blue Cross Rate Hikes Galvanize Healthcare Reform Anthem Blue Cross of Woodland Hills provides health insurance for 800,000 Californians who aren’t covered by their employers. In early November, the company notified regulators in Sacramento that it was raising rates. The average increase was 25%--with some policy holders hit for 39%, but Anthem didn’t expect a big reaction. Then, the Obama White House got the news.
Recommended
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
To the Point
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.