All Is Well (Point)
By Business Journal Staff
Published: May 28, 2002
Health insurers are beginning to believe “reform” of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is intended to mean outright plans to replace the health insurer with a for-profit takeover conglomerate doing business as WellPoint. West Michigan health care professionals say the public company, listed on the NYSE, now operates former Blues groups in California and Georgia. “Everyone” in the industry is anticipating market reform and prevention of cherry- picking well patients while leaving the more expensive, older or ill clients to the nonprofit companies like the Blues, which must make insurance available as the insurer of last resort in Michigan. Michigan is one of only three states that have not passed the National Association of Insurance Carriers market reform package. Reform is good; privatizing the Blues is not.

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