No wonder they cannot pay nurses a decent salary

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 9, 2004

they don't care. no one is gonna fight for our right to better wages and working conditions but us. trust me. all they care is the bottom line and how it affects them.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

Sorry - it cut off the part that had me so mad. It said that if more then 265 million was taken by executives as profit from the merger then they would have to put more in again. 265 MILLION for the executives is obscene. Dang that ticks me off.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Nov 9, 2004

sorry - it cut off the part that had me so mad. it said that if more then 265 million was taken by executives as profit from the merger then they would have to put more in again. 265 million for the executives is obscene. dang that ticks me off.

anthem would have to invest more money if executive compensation from the merger exceeds $265 million. -- by laura b. benko

pickledpepperRN · Nov 9, 2004

This is just part of the article. Very interesting that hospitals blame nursing salaries for the high cost of care.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-golden8nov08,1,2481158.column

November 8, 2004

Takeover Prognosis Doubtful

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the two big health insurance companies that have been telling us they can scarcely face the future without undertaking an $18-billion acquisition deal recently turned in pretty good quarterly reports.

Thousand Oaks-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc. reported a rise in profit of 28% for the quarter ended Sept. 30. At its betrothed, Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc., the increase topped 23%....

...The problems started when California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi rejected the deal last July on grounds that WellPoint's California customers could be harmed by the huge severance and bonus handouts to company executives, as well as by the burden of billions of dollars in other transaction costs. (Anthem is suing to overturn Garamendi's decision, but the first court hearing isn't scheduled until Feb. 25.)

The Georgia insurance commissioner subsequently suspended his previously granted approval, concerned that the deal he reviewed might be significantly altered by WellPoint's pledge to invest $100 million in care for rural and underserved California communities-the price of approval from the California Department of Managed Health Care, another regulator....

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Nov 10, 2004

Insurance companys are there for profit...their profit. It has little to do with "care" of "health".

lifeisbeautiful · Nov 10, 2004

. Very interesting that hospitals blame nursing salaries for the high cost of care.

...and don't forget we are also being blamed for hospital closures here in CA :angryfire

pickledpepperRN · Nov 10, 2004

...and don't forget we are also being blamed for hospital closures here in CA :angryfire

Right. They think it would be so much easier if they didn't need nurses. Why are people hospitalized? Not to make the insurers and managers busy!

Todays articles on the merger:

Deal OKd to Create Biggest Health Insurer

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-wellpoint10nov10,1,1531855.story

A Dubious Healthcare Merger

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-anthem10nov10,1,1585840.story

November 10, 2004

Anthem Money a Band-Aid to Clinics

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-clinics10nov10,1,2017834.story

snugglebum · Nov 10, 2004

i know this is going to sound very forward but can i ask what newly qualified nurses get paid in the us? the reason i am enquiring is that in the uk a newly qualified nurse starts at approx 17,500 pounds which with current exchange rates is roughly around 27,000 dollars i must admit to being curious

breaking news
anthem, calif. reach accord over wellpoint deal
california insurance commissioner john garamendi dropped his objections to anthem's $16.4 billion acquisition of wellpoint health networks after anthem agreed to more than double its previous $100 million offer to improve the state's healthcare system. the proposed merger, which would create the nation's largest health insurer, has been in limbo since july when garamendi blocked a portion of the transaction on the grounds that it would raise costs for californians while enriching wellpoint executives. a hearing in anthem's lawsuit to overturn garamendi's ruling was set for feb. 25, 2005. in a news release, garamendi said, "after long negotiations, anthem has made additional concessions and contributions that will assure that california healthcare consumers will realize benefits from this transaction." anthem pledged $265 million to the state, including $200 million for general healthcare improvements; $35 million for clinics in underserved communities; $15 million to boost enrollment in public programs such as medicaid; and $15 million for nurse training. garamendi said the nurse training program would yield 1,500 new nurses. :angryfire -- by laura b. benko
i wish the public could see where the money goes!

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geekgolightly, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2004

i know this is going to sound very forward but can i ask what newly qualified nurses get paid in the US? the reason i am enquiring is that in the UK a newly qualified nurse starts at approx 17,500 pounds which with current exchange rates is roughly around 27,000 dollars i must admit to being curious

depends on the location. some areas of america have a higher cost of living than others. in Kansas City you can start a new RN at 19/hr (a bit less than 40k a year if full-time, but most hospitals hire at 36 hour weeks which totals to less than 36k a year) In San Francisco, you can start at 30/hr (60k yr with 40/hr weeks). Rent in San Francisco, CA can easily be 1200/month for a one bedroom. Rent in Kansas City can be 400/month.

In any case, nurses are paid quite a bit more in US than in Canada or UK.