Health plans: California fines insurers
Health plans did not meet requirement to pay 95 percent of claims correctly, regulator says.
In this 2009 file photo, a pedestrian walks past the headquarters of the health insurer Cigna Corp. in Philadelphia. California is fining Cigna and six other health plans in the state nearly $5 million for not paying fairly and on time.
Matt Rourke/AP/File
LOS ANGELES
California's seven largest health insurers face nearly $5 million in fines for allegedly failing to pay hospitals and physicians fairly and on time.
California Department of Managed Health Care Director Cindy Ehnes says improper claim payments are burdening health providers as they struggle to stay afloat in a bad economy.
The regulator says audits found seven health plans weren't meeting a legal threshold of paying 95 percent of claims correctly.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are being fined $900,000 each, and United/Pacificare is being fined $800,000. HealthNet and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan are being fined $750,000 each; Cigna is being fined $450,000; and Aetna is being fined $300,000.