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Brother of George H.W. Bush collapses at meeting
Staff and agenciesBy TOM MURPHY, AP Business Writer Tom Murphy, Ap Business Writer – Tue May 18, 1:35 pm ET
William H.T. Bush, 71, was taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and admitted as a precaution, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon. She added that he was alert and that doctors were evaluating his health.
Dr. Rob Stone, an emergency room doctor and frequent WellPoint critic who attended the meeting, rushed with some other people to Bush. Stone said he stayed with the director until help arrived. He said Bush was alert and talking.
The director was sitting up on a stretcher as emergency workers pulled him out about 25 minutes after he collapsed.
The insurer has received strong criticism from the Obama administration and others for planning rate hikes of 25 percent or more for some of its customers. Several company critics attended the meeting.
Zarembka asked Braly if WellPoint would end its opposition to federal oversight of premium increases.
Braly outlined several factors that affect premiums, including the rising cost of care and the health of people in an insurer‘s risk pool.
Some shareholders were not happy WellPoint adjourned its meeting so soon after Bush became ill. Julia Vaughn, who represented the consumer group Citizens Action Coalition at the meeting, implored Braly to continue as several people attended to Bush, who was laying on the floor.
After the meeting, Vaughn led a protest outside WellPoint‘s headquarters. About 70 people gathered to listen to a singer and some speakers. Many held signs asking for a single-payer health system and warning passers-by that for-profit health insurers are "Hazardous to your Health."
Bush has served on the boards of several companies and investment funds. He also is founder and chairman of Bush-O‘Donnell & Co. Inc., a St. Louis investment management and financial advisory firm.
WellPoint shares rose 8 cents to $53.60 in Tuesday afternoon trading. Follow Yahoo! News on , become a f
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