Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois losing 650 jobs

Chicago Tribune ^ | 8/12/09 | Bruce Japsen

[Nachum]

Preparing for the future under health care reform, the parent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will shed 650 jobs amid the economic downturn that has caused its employer customers to reduce employees and a demand from Congress and President Obama to reduce administrative costs.

Chicago-based Health Care Service Corp, which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas today confirmed plans to reduce its workforce by about 4 percent across the country. Jobs will be eliminated by the first quarter of 2010.

[massgopguy]

That’s right. The FEHBP has Blue Cross Blue Shield and Obama wants to take my HMO Blue away!

[Badabing Badablonde]

This is only the beginning.......

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Tulsa’s BC/BS cut 250 employees.

[Rutles4Ever]

I find it strange and completely offensive that they’re cutting staff under the assumption that health care reform will go through - which it probably won’t. That is, unless their lobbyists are informing them that these townhall protests won’t mean squat at vote-time (like the financial bailout).

[NY Attitude]

In the San Francisco area, it is reported the Kaiser Permanate is laying off 1,200 people.

[twistedwrench]

Kaiser Permanente to cut more than 1,800 jobs in California

The healthcare giant agrees not to cut union members and plans to keep all its physician positions.
By Tiffany Hsu
August 12, 2009
One of the state’s largest employers, healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente, said it would eliminate more than 1,800 positions as it struggles with drooping membership, uncertain healthcare reform and shriveling Medicare reimbursement rates.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-kaiser12-2009aug12,0,3278978.story?track=rss

[T-Bird45]

Tulsa’s BC/BS cut 250 employees.

The Tulsa World is reporting it as 200 employees and I just found out my daughter-in-law is one of them. My son also lost his job in June but is actively interviewing so there is some hope. They just bought their home in April so it is a source of much concern here.

[al_c]

They’re not cutting because of the threat of the overhaul going through. They’re cutting due to the loss of customers from all the layoffs at companies that bought BCBS plans. It was bound to happen and I’m sure other insurance providers are feeling the pinch as well.