Anthem Fined $5M For ‘Longstanding’ Problem Of Ignoring Customers’ Grievances
Insurers are required to respond to consumer grievances within 30 days in most cases, and that time frame shrinks to 72 hours in cases when a customer’s health is in danger. State officials found repeated violations of both.
KPCC:
California Fines Anthem Blue Cross $5 Million For Ignoring Customer Complaints
California's Department of Managed Health Care fined Anthem Blue Cross $5 million Wednesday for "systemic" violations of its grievance policies. ... By state law, insurers are required to respond to consumer grievances within 30 days in most cases. (Faust, 11/15)
California Healthline:
California Fines Anthem $5 Million For Failing to Address Consumer Grievances
“Anthem Blue Cross’ failures to comply with the law surrounding grievance and appeals rights are long-standing, ongoing and unacceptable,” said Shelley Rouillard, director of the Department of Managed Health Care. “The plan must correct the deficiencies in their grievance and appeals system and comply with the law.” Before this latest action, California had already fined Anthem more than $6 million collectively for grievance-system violations since 2002. (Terhune, 11/15)