Health insurance convention in Calif. picketed

More than 1,000 demonstrators rallied Thursday outside the three-day event organized by America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group that represents 1,300 companies. Members include Amerigroup Corp., Humana Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Picketers called for government-guaranteed universal health care and the elimination of for-profit health insurance.

The protest was organized by the California Nurses Association, a union which represents more than 80,000 nurses in several states.

A spokesman for insurers said consumers have repeatedly expressed their preference for a public-private approach to health care reform.

Simultaneous pickets have been planned at health insurance company headquarters in cities across the country.