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In The Courtroom

Patients, Taxpayers Criticize Anthem/WellPoint Merger Over Higher Premiums, Unpaid Taxes, Executive Compensation

Patients, Taxpayers Criticize Anthem/WellPoint Merger Over Higher Premiums, Unpaid Taxes, Executive Compensation

At public hearings today on the buy-out of Blue Cross of California's parent-company, WellPoint Health Networks, by Anthem Inc., patients and taxpayers called on legislators and regulators to derail the deal and investigate Blue Cross' special tax status that has allowed the company to avoid paying about $500 million dollars in gross premium taxes since 1994.