Oxford Health Plans Explained

Oxford Health Plans^{[1] [2]} is an American health care company that sells various benefit plans, primarily in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.^{[3] [4]}

As of 2004, it is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, the largest healthcare company in the world,^[5] claiming to be "among the first" to allow patients to see specialists without a referral and to offer alternative medicine treatments.^{[1] [6]}

Overview

The dark blue membership cards carried by members belonging to its family of Oxford Health Plans included various subtitles, such as Freedom Plan and Liberty Plan; the card's color changed to white. The Wall Street Journal described their HMO as "trend-setting" and noted that Oxford "even let patients visit specialists outside its own network."^[7]

History

The company was founded in 1984^[3] by Stephen Wiggins targeting "upscale" doctors and consumers. It claimed major growth in the 1990s increasing from 217,000 members to nearly two million.^[1] However, by mid 1998, the company had replaced its founder/CEO,^[2] and his successor, William Sullivan.^{[8] [9] [10]}

The Wall Street Journal described the company's services as "Ill-Managed Care",^[11] and Newsweek's Deliver, Then Depart had criticized is practice of limiting payments for new mothers to drive-by deliveries.^[12] The firm was fined $3 million for a variety of legal violations^[13] amidst false claims of alleged profits^[14] that included double counting of premiums.^[11] In 2004^[15] it merged with the 1985-founded^[16] UnitedHealth Group.^{[17] [18]}

Notes and References

1. News: The Los Angeles Times. Oxford Health's Founder May Resign. February 24, 1998.
2. News: The New York Times. Oxford Health Plan's Turnaround Strategy Emerging. Norman C. Payson, the doctor named to take the reins of Oxford Health Plans. Reed Abelson . April 25, 1998.
3. Web site: OXFORD HEALTH PLANS, INC. (Form 10-K, 2003).
4. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) . Caremark and Oxford Health Enter Into Five-Year Contract . Oxford Health Plans, Norwalk, Conn., provides health plans to companies and individuals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut . September 1, 1999.
5. Web site: Top 10 health insurance companies in the US.
6. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) . Oxford Health Plans Network For Alternative Treatments . October 7, 1996.
7. . 108–110. for an additional charge ... doctors outside its network. Oxford's Education . Keith H. Hammonds . April 8, 1996.
8. News: The New York Times. Oxford Founder Resigns Job; Company Posts Large Profits. Milt Freudenheim . August 6, 1997.
9. Newsweek. A Little Icing On Top . Norman C. Payson, who took over last year at Oxford Health Plans. April 11, 1999.
10. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Oxford Health's Payson Plans To Retire at the End of 2002. Charles G. Berg, who is currently the president and chief operating officer, was named chief executive-elect. ... Dr. Payson became CEO in May 1998. Ellen Sheng . September 19, 2002.
11. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Ill-Managed Care: At Oxford Health Plans, Financial 'Controls' were Out of Control. Ron Winslow . Scot J. Paltrow. April 29, 1998.
12. Newsweek. Deliver, Then Depart. Sharon Begley . July 9, 1995.
13. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). New York State Regulators Fine Oxford Health Plans $3 Million. December 24, 1997.
14. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Oxford Health Plans, Aetna Post Strong Rises in Profit. May 7, 1997.
15. News: Chicago Tribune. UnitedHealth to buy Oxford Health. April 27, 2004.
16. Web site: Health Annual Statement .. 2017.
17. News: The New York Times. UnitedHealth Agrees to Deal For Oxford. Riva D. Atlas . April 27, 2004.
18. News: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Two Health Plans Agree on a Deal For $8.1 Billion UnitedHealth Adds Heft. Vanessa Fuhrmans. Dennis K. Berman. Rhonda Rundle . July 7, 2005.