Catherwood LibraryILR School

Faced with significant negative publicity, Unicare Health Plans and its parent company Wellpoint Health Networks Inc. have given up their attempt to cancel the health insurance coverage of 1,200 members of the National Writers Union (see yesterday's WIT). The health insurance giant had sought to terminate the benefits of the self-employed writers, editors and publicists on March 1 because of low participation rates in the union purchased plan, but met with fierce opposition from the union in the courtroom and the media. Following an agreement by Unicare and Wellpoint last night to continue the writers' medical coverage until their one-year insurance contract expires on July 1, the National Writers Union announced that it would today move to dismiss an injunction suit against the company instead of submitting supporting evidence as scheduled.