Golden Rule Insurance Company Explained

Golden Rule Insurance Company
Location:Indianapolis
Hq Location Country:United States of America
Fate:Acquired by UnitedHealth Group
Industry:Health insurance

Golden Rule Insurance Company was a provider of health insurance based in Indianapolis with operations in 40 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. It was acquired by UnitedHealth Group in November 2003.[1] [2] [3]

It was closely involved in the establishment of health savings accounts (HSA) and the related tax incentives.[4] The company funded millions of dollars to prominent members of the Republican Party such as Newt Gingrich to support HSAs and to fight broader reform.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

Membership in Federation of American Consumers and Travelers (FACT) was required to buy certain insurance products.[11]

The company was named after the Golden Rule.

History

The company was founded in 1940.

In 1976, J. Patrick Rooney became CEO. In the 1980s, he moved the company from Lawrenceville, Illinois to Indianapolis. He retired from the company in 1996.[12]

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.[13]

In August 1991, the company announced that it would pay half of the tuition for 500 low-income children in Indianapolis.[14]

The company was acquired by UnitedHealth Group in 2003.

The current CEO is Patrick F. Carr who started in 2012.

Notes and References

  1. News: UnitedHealth to buy Golden Rule Financial . . September 19, 2003.
  2. News: UnitedHealthcare cutting some individual health coverage . . January 13, 2004.
  3. News: Uninsured Grads Risk Finances, Future Coverage . . Cheryl . Soltis . August 7, 2007 . subscription.
  4. News: The Long March of Newt Gingrich . . January 16, 1996.
  5. News: MediKill . ROBERT . DREYFUSS . PETER H. . STONE . . January 1996.
  6. News: A Particularly Poisonous Front Group . Dave . Johnson . . October 19, 2006.
  7. News: G.O.P. Plan Would Profit Insurer With Ties to Party . . Robert . Pear . April 14, 1996 . subscription.
  8. News: HOUSE OKS HEALTH-INSURANCE GUARANTEE . https://web.archive.org/web/20190624140639/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/480366/HOUSE-OKS-HEALTH-INSURANCE-GUARANTEE.html . dead . June 24, 2019 . . . March 29, 1996.
  9. News: FAVORED FEW STAND TO GAIN FROM REPUBLICAN TAX CUTS . Clay . Chandler . . December 24, 1995.
  10. News: Battle over the Budget - Medical Care; In G.O.P. Plan, Some See a Widening Gap Between Sick and Healthy . . Martin . Gottlieb . November 18, 1995 . subscription.
  11. News: Golden Rule successful in avoiding paying for breast cancer treatments . Michelle . Andrews . . December 15, 2002.
  12. News: Patrick Rooney; helped start accounts for medical savings . . . September 17, 2008.
  13. News: Test Organization, Insurance Firm Settle Bias Suit . Thomas . Toch . . December 5, 1984.
  14. News: Patrick Rooney . Legacy.com.