“WellPoint” on The Daily Caller

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) — Enough with the fun and games. Watson is going to work. (more)

As Obama administration officials put into place the first major wave of changes under the health care legislation, they have tried to defuse stiffening resistance — from companies like McDonald’s and some insurers — by granting dozens of waivers to maintain even minimal coverage far below the new law’s standards. (more)

The number of promises made by candidate Barack Obama and then broken by President Barack Obama is only surpassed by the promises made and broken by President Barack Obama and Congressional Democrats, so cataloging all of them would require a book, not a column. But cataloging them is important, so I’ll take a look at the ones that will most greatly impact our lives and wallets. Well, our money is long since gone, so our grandchildren’s wallets. (more)

One of Obama’s hand-picked fiscal commissioners calls him a liar — Lad mag offers Democrats an econ lesson — Former health care execs cannot stop patting one another’s butts — If you smoke, shoot, or booze, the government robbed you good this year — Obama flunky is crushed that businessmen do not want to listen to her monotone nonsense all day — Why are Democrats punishing the poors who have no jobs?  (more)

In a shot across the bow to the insurance industry Tuesday, President Obama warned companies facing higher costs in part because of his health care law not to hike their prices, saying “we’ll be watching closely.” (more)

One after another, shortly after a diagnosis of breast cancer, each of the women learned that her health insurance had been canceled. First there was Yenny Hsu, who lived and worked in Los Angeles. Later, Robin Beaton, a registered nurse from Texas. And then, most recently, there was Patricia Relling, a successful art gallery owner and interior designer from Louisville, Kentucky. (more)

On a recent Fox News debate about health insurance, Democratic political strategist Bob Beckel explained that, “The president needed an enemy, and the insurance companies are it.” (more)

Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington – Congressional Democrats on Wednesday accused the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of putting profits ahead of policyholders, saying the giant insurer padded its proposed rates while lavishing generous salaries and benefits on top executives. (more)

WASHINGTON — Under fire from Congress for huge rate increases in California, a top health insurance executive said Wednesday that the higher premiums were justified by soaring medical costs, and she warned that pending legislation could make the problem worse, further driving up costs for young, healthy people. (more)

Two weeks ago, Anthem Blue Cross raised its rates in California rather sharply. To my mind, the move gave a fresh boost to Democratic health care reform, certainly not a positive occurrence—even despite Anthem’s market-based, and quite logical, defense. Furthermore, the federal investigation into the rate hikes gave Obama a bit of a public relations boost, as his administration could now point to “evidence” that their reform was necessary. To paraphrase Nina Easton on Monday’s “Special Report,” Obama’s new health care proposal hopes that the American people dislike insurance companies more than they distrust government officials. (more)

NEW YORK (AP) — A Stifel Nicolaus analyst upgraded shares of WellPoint Inc. Tuesday, saying the stock will rise about 20 percent this year as the health insurer beats expectations and investors take a more optimistic view of the industry. (more)