Home
About
News
Blog

Healthcare Watch

Home
About
News
Blog
IMG_5385.JPG

 

 

Michael Johnson
May 6, 2015

Planned hearing on Blue Shield acquisition is good news because the deal is suspect

Michael Johnson
May 6, 2015

California regulators announced that they'll hold a public hearing on Blue Shield’s proposed acquisition of Care 1st Health Plan. A coalition of consumer groups and I had requested the hearing. 

Tagged: Care 1st acquisition, shirking nonprofit duty

Comment
Michael Johnson
April 26, 2015

Blue Shield should give the public what it’s due

Michael Johnson
April 26, 2015

The revocation of Blue Shield's tax exemption made big news. But even more important is what happens with the $10 billion in nonprofit assets that the insurer will continue to hold.

Tagged: shirking nonprofit duty

1 Comment
Michael Johnson
April 13, 2015

Lawsuit claims Blue Shield is "bilking" consumers

Michael Johnson
April 13, 2015

Blue Shield is overpaying favored information technology vendors by millions of dollars, according to a lawsuit by a former Blue Shield vice president.

Tagged: shortchanging policyholders

Comment
Michael Johnson
March 29, 2015

Blue Shield refuses to use stockpile of profits to lower rates

Michael Johnson
March 29, 2015

Blue Shield has built a stockpile of $4.2 billion in retained profits--far more than it needs in reserves to guarantee payment of claims. But it refuses to use the excess to lower rates. 

Tagged: shortchanging policyholders

1 Comment
Michael Johnson
March 20, 2015

Planned acquisition by Blue Shield needs scrutiny

Michael Johnson
March 20, 2015

Since Blue Shield is a nonprofit, which means it is effectively owned by the public, regulators should hold a public hearing before approving management's use of nonprofit assets to acquire another health plan. 

Tagged: Care 1st acquisition, shirking nonprofit duty

Comment
Michael Johnson
March 19, 2015

State finds Blue Shield is not serving its nonprofit mission

Michael Johnson
March 19, 2015

State tax authorities revoked Blue Shield’s tax exemption last August, but it's been kept secret until now. 

Tagged: shirking nonprofit duty

Comment
Michael Johnson
March 18, 2015

Why I resigned from Blue Shield and started this campaign

Michael Johnson
March 18, 2015

After 12 years with Blue Shield of California, I resigned last week as Director of Public Policy. I’d raised concerns internally that Blue Shield wasn’t doing nearly enough to meet its duties to the public as a tax-exempt nonprofit, but senior management dismissed them.

Tagged: shirking nonprofit duty

3 Comments
Newer Posts
Get blog posts by email
  • November 2021
    • Nov 23, 2021 Politico Opinion: Frances Haugen Exposed a Gaping Hole in Whistleblower Protection Nov 23, 2021
  • August 2019
    • Aug 27, 2019 Kaiser Permanente gets regulator to bar public access to info that could “discredit” it Aug 27, 2019
  • December 2018
    • Dec 14, 2018 The nonprofit whose top exec earns more than Apple’s CEO Dec 14, 2018
  • June 2018
    • Jun 28, 2018 California Attorney General weighs in against Blue Shield's lawsuit targeting my whistleblowing Jun 28, 2018
  • September 2016
    • Sep 21, 2016 Blue Shield forced to rebate $25 million in excess profits, administrative expenses Sep 21, 2016
  • July 2016
    • Jul 18, 2016 Class action accuses Blue Shield of shortchanging customers Jul 18, 2016
  • June 2016
    • Jun 28, 2016 Did Blue Shield of California cheat customers of $34 million? Jun 28, 2016
  • January 2016
    • Jan 14, 2016 Why won’t CA regulator explain Blue Shield charitable trust ruling? Jan 14, 2016
  • December 2015
    • Dec 9, 2015 Blue Shield makes huge Obamacare profit hindering access to care Dec 9, 2015
  • November 2015
    • Nov 23, 2015 Nonprofit Blue Shield of CA reaps biggest Obamacare profit of any US insurer Nov 23, 2015
    • Nov 12, 2015 Regulator approval of Blue Shield bid to privatize nonprofit assets could cost public $11 billion Nov 12, 2015
  • September 2015
    • Sep 24, 2015 Profit in Blue Shield's proposed 2016 rates is highest among major CA health plans Sep 24, 2015
    • Sep 14, 2015 What's Leon Panetta going to do about Blue Shield? Sep 14, 2015
    • Sep 2, 2015 Blue Shield, under fire over executive pay, is accused in lawsuit of cheating lowest-paid workers Sep 2, 2015
  • August 2015
    • Aug 6, 2015 Blue Shield devoted just 72% of premiums to medical costs Aug 6, 2015
    • Aug 2, 2015 Blue Shield overcharged for 2014 coverage, will pay rebates Aug 2, 2015
  • July 2015
    • Jul 23, 2015 CEO laughs off questions about Blue Shield's conduct as a nonprofit Jul 23, 2015
    • Jul 2, 2015 Act like a real nonprofit or give the public back its money Jul 2, 2015
  • June 2015
    • Jun 9, 2015 California regulator to determine Blue Shield's public benefit duty Jun 9, 2015
  • May 2015
    • May 11, 2015 Sex clubs, prostitutes offered in attempted bribery at Blue Shield, lawsuit says May 11, 2015
    • May 6, 2015 Planned hearing on Blue Shield acquisition is good news because the deal is suspect May 6, 2015
  • April 2015
    • Apr 26, 2015 Blue Shield should give the public what it’s due Apr 26, 2015
    • Apr 13, 2015 Lawsuit claims Blue Shield is "bilking" consumers Apr 13, 2015
  • March 2015
    • Mar 29, 2015 Blue Shield refuses to use stockpile of profits to lower rates Mar 29, 2015
    • Mar 20, 2015 Planned acquisition by Blue Shield needs scrutiny Mar 20, 2015
    • Mar 19, 2015 State finds Blue Shield is not serving its nonprofit mission Mar 19, 2015
    • Mar 18, 2015 Why I resigned from Blue Shield and started this campaign Mar 18, 2015
Back to Top
Contact me

© Michael Johnson 2018. All rights reserved.