Former BCBS head Mike Unhjem found dead at home

The former head of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, who resigned amid controversy from a 2009 trip to the Grand Cayman Islands, is dead.

• Mike Unhjem

Regulator: Blue Cross reserves OK

BISMARCK – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has maintained reasonable financial reserves since the state Insurance Department ordered the company to pay $26.5 million in refunds four years ago, Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm said Friday.

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'10 to Watch': ‘Development year’ ahead for ND Blues chief von Ebers

In his third-floor office overlooking south Fargo’s bustling retail district, Paul von Ebers picked up a book from a black table near the window.

MeritCare employees to leave Blue Cross plan

FARGO - MeritCare’s self-funded employee health insurance plan will be administered by the Sanford Health Plan beginning Jan. 1, a MeritCare spokesman said today.

ND lawmaker: Blue Cross letter may spur bill

BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota state senator says recent Blue Cross Blue Shield opposition to some aspects of health care reform may prompt a response in the Legislature.

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Hamm: Blues taking ‘positive step’

CEO von Ebers says insurer’s spending is being better scrutinized
BISMARCK – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota’s promise to cut questionable expenses will help rebuild policyholders’ trust in the company, the state insurance commissioner said Thursday.

• Adam Hamm
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UPDATED: Blue Cross Blue Shield fined $30,000 for violations; company issues statement in response

UPDATED 11:35 a.m.
BISMARCK – Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm announced today that he has fined Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota $30,000 for violations including using misleading information for marketing purposes.

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Blues execs profited from bogus bonuses

FARGO - Nearly $15 million in employee bonuses that were almost assured regardless of performance. Sales reward trips to posh resorts totaling $1.2 million. A $3.5 million investment in a murky hotel partnership lacking audited financial statements. All this and much more during just the past five years are among almost half a billion dollars in expenses detailed in a report by state insurance examiners who probed spending practices by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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DETAILS ONLY IN TODAY'S FORUM: Blue Cross Blue Shield execs profited from bogus bonuses

Lavish expenses found in exam of largest North Dakota insurer
Nearly $15 million in employee bonuses that were almost assured regardless of performance.

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• CHART: Executive bonuses and compensation
• Blue Cross Blue Shield officials say policies changed after Insurance Department exam of finances
• Hamm to release report detailing Blue Cross Blue Shield spending; Blues officials, Hamm to comment this afternoon
• ND insurance commissioner wants Blues changes

New N.D. Blues CEO to be named today

FARGO – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota today will name a new top executive to head the state’s largest private health insurer.

Blues bill becomes a study

BISMARCK – A proposal to slap a surtax on the former Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota executive’s $2.2 million severance package is now a study of health insurance costs.

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It’s standard fare in health industry

When will we get the message? The message is, if we want to pay for private insurance for health care, we will pay the bill for CEO salaries, golden parachutes ($2.2 million) and sales incentive trips. This is standard fare in the industry.

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Blues need dose of common sense

After reading the good news for CEO Mike Unhjem it becomes obvious that what the Blues need is to hire a CCSO. You ask what a CCSO is? Chief Common Sense Officer! Pay the CCSO whatever the average wage is for the state in which he lives and let that individual OK any decisions that the CEO or board makes.

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