Watchdog sent letter to CA AG to investigate health insurers that have employees lobby health reform

A California consumers’ rights group says two health insurance companies urged their employees to join political efforts to scuttle health reform efforts, in “likely” contravention of laws forbidding employers from putting political pressure on employees.

Consumer Watchdog, based in Santa Monica, California, sent a letter (PDF) to California Attorney General Jerry Brown asking him to “investigate major health insurers that have asked their workers to lobby Congress—during business hours—to weaken health reform.”

“We write to request that you investigate actions by health insurance companies Anthem/Wellpoint and United Healthcare that may violate the right of employees in California to be free of political pressure by employers,” the letter states.

“Both companies are urging their employees to lobby members of Congress with corporate assistance, including talking points and even the placing of phone calls for the employees. We believe that such individual political persuasion by an employer amounts to illegal coercion under the California Labor Code.”
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