Californians brace for 59% premium hike

[Andy823]

http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/news/com.../index.htm

Quote:NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- One of California's largest health insurers - Blue Shield - announced plans to hike its premiums by as much as 59%.

The jacked up premium rates are set to take effect on March 1, pending review from state insurance regulators. The move impacts 193,000 individual Blue Shield policy holders.

The company, a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with 3.3 million members, which announced the move late Thursday, stressed that its decision has "almost nothing to do with the federal health reform law" and that ultimately the law will help slow down health care costs.

But responding to this most recent increase the company said, "our individual market medical costs are rising rapidly due to higher provider prices, increased utilization, and the fact that healthier people are dropping coverage during a bad economy," the company said.

Despite the steep double-digit hike, the insurer maintained it still expects to lose tens of millions of dollars on its individual healthcare business in both 2010 and 2011.

So while republicans have their little "circus" in the house to "kill" the health care reform bill, insurance companies are raising prices so even more people can not afford coverage! Why in the hall isn't congress trying to do something about the rising cost, which even this insurance company says "will" ultimately reduce costs and is not a factor in their raising premiums!

This is just insane, and Boehner is a moron to be playing games with people lives while the insurance companies keep on raising prices! If he is serious about doing the will of the "people" then end this farce and start find ways to help people, not make it worse for them by taking away the things would help them in the reform bill!

[JuniperLea]

They are getting their digs in before they are forced to spend the lion's share of the medical insurance premiums on actual medical care. Blood money!

[Andy823]

(01-07-2011 06:02 PM)JuniperLea Wrote:  They are getting their digs in before they are forced to spend the lion's share of the medical insurance premiums on actual medical care. Blood money!

Yes, and I wonder how many other states will be getting the same increases in coming months?

[sandnsea]

I have Blue Cross in Oregon. They manage the state pre-existing insurance pool. My premium went up the routine 5% or so that it goes up every year. I've had all prescriptions paid, preventive care paid, 80% coverage, $500 deductible, for YEARS. This is just a load of garbage.

[Andy823]

(01-07-2011 11:02 PM)sandnsea Wrote:  I have Blue Cross in Oregon. They manage the state pre-existing insurance pool. My premium went up the routine 5% or so that it goes up every year. I've had all prescriptions paid, preventive care paid, 80% coverage, $500 deductible, for YEARS. This is just a load of garbage.

I agree, but if they can get away with it they will just keep on doing it until they get stopped. Republicans can't repeal the health are reform bill, and they now it, but they plan on taking it apart piece by piece by not funding certain parts the insurance companies don't like! They will do their best to help the insurance companies at the expense of the policy holders! The public is "NOT" demanding that the health care reform be repealed, the majority want MORE government regulations on the insurance companies, and more pressure on them to lower their rates. If republicans continue to chop up the reform bill I think the vast majority of americans are going to be really pissed off!

What the republicans are doing is showing just how it is they "REALLY" work for, and it's clear they are not working for the people of this country, but the corporations!