#4. WellPoint
Sick of their act
The nation's biggest health insurer is taking a bruising. It recently tried to jack up premiums by as much as 39% through its Anthem Blue Cross unit in California at a time when many consumers aren't exactly rolling in dough.Then there were reports that the company was in the habit of automatically investigating breast cancer patients for fraud, in what some said was a ploy to deny claims.
The company denies this, insisting that it was merely trying to prevent losses, but skeptics have their doubts. President Obama complained in May that "we have been held hostage to an insurance industry that jacks up premiums and drops coverage as they please," prompting WellPoint CEO Angela Braly to whine that "attacks" on the industry must end. Good luck with that.
Last updated July 02 2010: 11:38 AM ET
