Taylor Blatchford writes about finding stories at insurance companies based on a panel at the recent Association of Health Care Journalists conference.
Blatchford writes, “Health insurance plans are regulated by state insurance departments, and insurance companies have to make routine filings that are public. These filings require insurers to put in writing why they have to raise rates, and sometimes state regulators will push back, said panelist Chad Terhune, a health enterprise reporter for Reuters.
“Earnings reports are also a helpful source of information. Baackes advised reporters to pay attention to the medical loss ratio: the portion of insurance premiums an insurer spends on medical care. Looking at how a company’s ratio has changed over time can offer insight into how a company is doing compared to its competitors.
Talk to insurance brokers
“These professionals are used to explaining complex insurance concepts to an everyday audience and know the industry inside and out. They’re an ‘underappreciated source,’ Terhune said.
“Beyond brokers, hospitals and doctors are good sources: they deal with insurance companies all the time, said panelist Anna Wilde Mathews. State regulators can also help you understand the insurance companies operating in your state.”
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