Golden Rule Insurance Company is a UnitedHealthcare company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., and has offered insurance to individuals and families for more than 60 years. It offers a type of health insurance known as a health savings account (HSA), and was closely involved in the political discussions that led to the enactment of legislation that offered tax incentives to consumers who set up health savings accounts, in addition to funding conservative politicians such as Newt Gingrich to fight broader reform. In April 2007, Golden Rule launched HSAcenter.com (http://www.hsacenter.com/), a website that offers general, comprehensive information about HSAs so that consumers can better educate themselves about health savings accounts and how they work. Its political action committee has raised substantial funds for Republican politicians who support health savings accounts.
Golden Rule became a UnitedHealthcare company in 2003. UnitedHealthcare’s individual line of business, which includes Golden Rule, PacifiCare, American Medical Security (AMS), MAMSI, Oxford Health Plans and UnitedHealthcare administered by Golden Rule, currently offers PPO health insurance and HMO products to individuals and families in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
In 1981, the company sued the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Illinois Department of Insurance, claiming that the ETS examination for Illinois insurance agents discriminated against members of minority groups. The parties reached a settlement.
During the 1980s Golden Rule employed the motto of the Biblical Golden Rule regarding advocacy in the United States Congress for insurance provisions for those persons diagnosed with and submitting to tests for HIV/AIDS. The lobbyist employed by Golden Rule for this purpose was Marla Stevens née Devendorf, a prominent Indiana LGBT Activist.
Affiliations
Golden Rule is closely affiliated with the Federation of American Consumers and Travelers, a not-for-profit consumer group.
References
- Soltis, Cheryl (August 7, 2007). "Uninsured Grads Risk Finances, Future Coverage". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 1, 2014.Â
- Small Business Opportunitites: Small Biz Owners are Tapping into Health Savings Plans (Fall 2007)
- Dallas Morning News, Many young adults go without health coverage (June 21, 2007)
- Tucson Citizen: Young Grads Worst Off Among the Uninsured (June 18, 2007)
- San Antonio Express-News, A lifesaver for the self-employed (April 9, 2007)
- Tallahassee Democrat, Health savings accounts save you money, taxes (March 28, 2007)
- Mother Jones magazine, January/February 1996 - MediKill, By Robert Dreyfuss and Peter H. Stone. News: Golden Rule Insurance has lavished campaign funds on Gingrich and the GOP in order to promote its medical savings account scheme--and destroy Medicare.
- People's Weekly World Newspaper, 06/17/04 12:14 Bush: ‘Pioneering’ and privatizing Medicare Mentions that UnitedHealth Group's CEO raised funds for the George W. Bush reelection campaign and that UnitedHealth acquired Golden Rule shortly before health savings account legislation was passed in the U.S. Congress.]
- The New York Times, April 14, 1996 G.O.P. Plan Would Profit Insurer With Ties to Party, by Robert Pear
- The New York Times, November 18, 1995 - Battle over the Budget - Medical Care; In G.O.P. Plan, Some See a Widening Gap Between Sick and Healthy
- Washington Post, Sunday, December 24, 1995, Page A01 - Favored Few Stand to Gain From Republican Tax Cuts, By Clay Chandler, Washington Post Staff Writer Discusses health savings accounts and Golden Rule's political contributions
- Golden Rule Insurance Company
- United Healthcare Health Insurance Company
External links
- Golden Rule Insurance Company
- Texas Health Insurance
- Florida Health Insurance
- Golden Rule Dental Insurance
