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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Soul Crusher on January 05, 2011, 08:42:56 PM
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latimes.com/health/healthcare/la-fi-insure-rates-20110106,0,6975599.story
latimes.com
Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% for individuals Insurer says the increases result from fast-rising healthcare costs and other expenses resulting from new healthcare laws. The move comes less than a year after Anthem Blue Cross tried and failed to raise rates as much as 39%.
By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times
7:14 PM PST, January 5, 2011
Advertisement
Another big California health insurer has stunned individual policyholders with huge rate increases — this time it's Blue Shield of California seeking cumulative hikes of as much as 59% for tens of thousands of customers March 1.
Blue Shield's action comes less than a year after Anthem Blue Cross tried and failed to raise rates as much as 39% for about 700,000 California customers.
San Francisco-based Blue Shield said the increases were the result of fast-rising healthcare costs and other expenses resulting from new healthcare laws.
"We raise rates only when absolutely necessary to pay the accelerating cost of medical care for our members," the nonprofit insurer told customers last month.
In all, Blue Shield said, 193,000 policyholders would see increases averaging 30% to 35%, the result of three separate rate hikes since October.
Nearly 1 in 4 of the affected customers will see cumulative increases of more than 50% over five months.
While most policyholders received separate notices for the successive rate hikes, others were given the news all at once because they had contracts guaranteeing their rate for a year, Blue Shield spokesman Tom Epstein said.
Michael Fraser, a Blue Shield policyholder from San Diego, learned recently that his monthly bill would climb 59%, to $431 from $271.
"When I tell people, their jaws drop and their eyes bug out," said Fraser, 53, a freelance advertising writer. "The amount is stunning."
Like many people who hold individual policies, Fraser is self-employed. Others who carry such insurance include people who aren't covered by employer plans or who have been laid off.
The Blue Shield increases triggered complaints to new Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, and they could prove to be an early test of how the former Democratic state assemblyman deals with rate hikes and the insurance industry.
Anthem's attempt to raise rates by up to 39% led to national outrage and helped President Obama marshal support for his healthcare overhaul. The insurer was ultimately forced to back down, accepting maximum rate hikes of 20%.
Jones said the Blue Shield move underscored the need for the Legislature to give the insurance commissioner legal authority to regulate insurance rates the same way he does automobile coverage.
At present, the commissioner can block increases only if insurers spend less than 70% of premium income on claims. Jones' office said Blue Shield's March 1 increase was under review.
"Blue Shield's increases pose the same problem posed by Anthem Blue Cross last year and other health insurers as well," Jones said in an interview. "My hope would be that Blue Shield would reexamine these rate hikes, particularly in the face of the impact they are having on individual policyholders."
Blue Shield said the cost of health coverage was being driven up by large hospital expenses, doctors' bills and prescription drug prices. Blue Shield's Epstein said other factors also contributed to the three increases in five months.
On Oct. 1, he said, Blue Shield imposed increases averaging 18% and as high as 29%. Those hikes had been delayed for three months while state regulators examined Blue Shield's filing, costing the company tens of millions of dollars.
Epstein said Blue Shield raised rates again Jan. 1 to pay for changes under the national healthcare overhaul and a new state law that bars insurers from charging women more than men. (Some policyholders will pay less under the state gender law, while others will pay more.)
A third round of hikes scheduled for March 1 comes in response to rising healthcare costs, Epstein said. Those increases will average 6.5% and be as high as 18%.
Some policyholders have seen their bills rise gradually over the last five months, while others will see the charges lumped together March 1.
"It's unfortunate that they all came in a five-month period," Epstein said. "Rates are going to continue to rise unless the cost of medical care is brought under control. We need to reduce what we pay to hospitals, medical groups and pharmaceutical companies."
Despite the large increases, Epstein said Blue Shield would again lose "tens of millions of dollars" on its individual business in 2011.
Not included in the rate increases are 78,000 Blue Shield individual policyholders whose insurance is regulated by a second state agency, the Department of Managed Health Care. Those customers have seen two rate increases since October that together average 37%, Epstein said.
While Blue Shield's cumulative rate increases are high, Anthem Blue Cross' increases last year affected more people.
Anthem said Wednesday that it too expected to raise rates — an average of 9.8% for individual policyholders, effective April 1. That would come on top of increases in October averaging 14% that had been delayed for six months amid heightened scrutiny by state regulators.
Anthem is taking a cautious approach to its rate hikes given the controversy generated by last year's plan for 39% hikes.
Spokeswoman Kristin Binns said the company priced its 2011 rates competitively, saying: "We understand that these are difficult economic times, and we are committed to working to moderate the impact of rate increases on our members."
duke.helfand@latimes.com
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
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Great job you libs who cheered on bamcare. morons.
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Another bama promise shot to shit.
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This is nothing compared to what will happen once all the mandates are in place. Anyone that believed Obamacare was going to lower premiums, is beyond help. This Bill is a POS, and needs to be thrown in the garbage.
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Typical liberal assholes and morons thought bamacare would bend the cost curve down. Fools.
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Finally admitting the truth.
Democrat = Communist
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/unconstitutional-who-cares-dnc-chair-dean-confirms-obamacare-will-eventually-eliminate-employer-based-private-insurance/
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latimes.com/health/healthcare/la-fi-insure-rates-20110106,0,6975599.story
latimes.com
Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% for individuals Insurer says the increases result from fast-rising healthcare costs and other expenses resulting from new healthcare laws. The move comes less than a year after Anthem Blue Cross tried and failed to raise rates as much as 39%.
By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times
7:14 PM PST, January 5, 2011
Advertisement
Another big California health insurer has stunned individual policyholders with huge rate increases — this time it's Blue Shield of California seeking cumulative hikes of as much as 59% for tens of thousands of customers March 1.
Blue Shield's action comes less than a year after Anthem Blue Cross tried and failed to raise rates as much as 39% for about 700,000 California customers.
San Francisco-based Blue Shield said the increases were the result of fast-rising healthcare costs and other expenses resulting from new healthcare laws.
"We raise rates only when absolutely necessary to pay the accelerating cost of medical care for our members," the nonprofit insurer told customers last month.
In all, Blue Shield said, 193,000 policyholders would see increases averaging 30% to 35%, the result of three separate rate hikes since October.
Nearly 1 in 4 of the affected customers will see cumulative increases of more than 50% over five months.
While most policyholders received separate notices for the successive rate hikes, others were given the news all at once because they had contracts guaranteeing their rate for a year, Blue Shield spokesman Tom Epstein said.
Michael Fraser, a Blue Shield policyholder from San Diego, learned recently that his monthly bill would climb 59%, to $431 from $271.
"When I tell people, their jaws drop and their eyes bug out," said Fraser, 53, a freelance advertising writer. "The amount is stunning."
Like many people who hold individual policies, Fraser is self-employed. Others who carry such insurance include people who aren't covered by employer plans or who have been laid off.
The Blue Shield increases triggered complaints to new Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, and they could prove to be an early test of how the former Democratic state assemblyman deals with rate hikes and the insurance industry.
Anthem's attempt to raise rates by up to 39% led to national outrage and helped President Obama marshal support for his healthcare overhaul. The insurer was ultimately forced to back down, accepting maximum rate hikes of 20%.
Jones said the Blue Shield move underscored the need for the Legislature to give the insurance commissioner legal authority to regulate insurance rates the same way he does automobile coverage.
At present, the commissioner can block increases only if insurers spend less than 70% of premium income on claims. Jones' office said Blue Shield's March 1 increase was under review.
"Blue Shield's increases pose the same problem posed by Anthem Blue Cross last year and other health insurers as well," Jones said in an interview. "My hope would be that Blue Shield would reexamine these rate hikes, particularly in the face of the impact they are having on individual policyholders."
Blue Shield said the cost of health coverage was being driven up by large hospital expenses, doctors' bills and prescription drug prices. Blue Shield's Epstein said other factors also contributed to the three increases in five months.
On Oct. 1, he said, Blue Shield imposed increases averaging 18% and as high as 29%. Those hikes had been delayed for three months while state regulators examined Blue Shield's filing, costing the company tens of millions of dollars.
Epstein said Blue Shield raised rates again Jan. 1 to pay for changes under the national healthcare overhaul and a new state law that bars insurers from charging women more than men. (Some policyholders will pay less under the state gender law, while others will pay more.)
A third round of hikes scheduled for March 1 comes in response to rising healthcare costs, Epstein said. Those increases will average 6.5% and be as high as 18%.
Some policyholders have seen their bills rise gradually over the last five months, while others will see the charges lumped together March 1.
"It's unfortunate that they all came in a five-month period," Epstein said. "Rates are going to continue to rise unless the cost of medical care is brought under control. We need to reduce what we pay to hospitals, medical groups and pharmaceutical companies."
Despite the large increases, Epstein said Blue Shield would again lose "tens of millions of dollars" on its individual business in 2011.
Not included in the rate increases are 78,000 Blue Shield individual policyholders whose insurance is regulated by a second state agency, the Department of Managed Health Care. Those customers have seen two rate increases since October that together average 37%, Epstein said.
While Blue Shield's cumulative rate increases are high, Anthem Blue Cross' increases last year affected more people.
Anthem said Wednesday that it too expected to raise rates — an average of 9.8% for individual policyholders, effective April 1. That would come on top of increases in October averaging 14% that had been delayed for six months amid heightened scrutiny by state regulators.
Anthem is taking a cautious approach to its rate hikes given the controversy generated by last year's plan for 39% hikes.
Spokeswoman Kristin Binns said the company priced its 2011 rates competitively, saying: "We understand that these are difficult economic times, and we are committed to working to moderate the impact of rate increases on our members."
duke.helfand@latimes.com
Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
Imagine that. San Francisco is fiscal sodomy to its plate as well.
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you don't actually believe everything that comes the insurance companies, do you :o :o. as long as i can remember they are always trying to get more money from the people. just another excuse :o
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Blacken - just give it up. Face it - bama lied his ass offand we told you so from day 1. you believed him over us, and look how that turned out -
You = duped again by the Messiah.
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face it, the insurance companies are playing you like a fool. they know what buttons to push and their doing it.
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face it, the insurance companies are playing you like a fool. they know what buttons to push and their doing it.
::) ::)
AND GUESS WHO IS FORCING ME TO BUY THEIR SHITTY PRODUCTS BY FORCE OF LAW AND MANDATE YOU MORON?
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why do you name call :( :( :(
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why do you name call :( :( :(
Because someties its more than warranted to wake you the heck up.
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This is why Krauthammer states that Republicans should not try to repeal kenyacare. I don't agree with him. But, I can see the full implementation of the law causing such havoc and doing completely the opposite of what it intended, that Americans will force politicians to repeal it and it might result in the first time in history that 100% of politicians would vote in favor of killing this travesty. That would show how utterly stupid Barack is and it would justify everything that Republicans have stated.
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Dems up for reelection under pressure to nix healthcare mandate (RAT McCaskill caves!)
The Hill ^ | 1/05/11 | Jason Millman and Alexander Bolton
Dems up for reelection under pressure to nix healthcare mandate
By Jason Millman and Alexander Bolton
01/05/11 07:53 PM ET
Democrats who are nervous about reelection are increasingly ready to consider scrapping the new healthcare law’s provision that forces people to buy health insurance or pay a fine.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), one of President Obama’s closest allies in the Senate, on Wednesday said she would consider scrapping the controversial mandate in favor of a “viable” alternative.
“There’s other ways we can get people into the pool — I hope — other than a mandate, and we need to look at that,” McCaskill said on MSNBC.
McCaskill is facing a tough reelection race in 2012. Three-quarters of Missouri voters opposed the individual mandate in a referendum during the August primary, so her support for the healthcare legislation could become a sticking point for her campaign.
Vulnerable Democratic incumbents are bracing for a bruising debate on healthcare after the House votes on a total repeal of the law next week.
The House repeal bill is expected to pass easily and might pick up some Democratic votes, shifting the political spotlight to centrists in the upper chamber.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said over the weekend that if House Republicans pass repeal legislation by a large vote, “it will put enormous pressure on the Senate” to follow suit.
Even if a full repeal stalls in the upper chamber, House Republicans will send over piecemeal repeals of controversial provisions, including the mandate.
Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), a vulnerable Democrat facing reelection in a state where Obama remains deeply unpopular, has also criticized the mandate.
Manchin told The Hill on Wednesday that the rule puts too many people in an “onerous position.”
Manchin said during his 2010 campaign that he wanted to repeal the mandate, or the entire healthcare law if the mandate could not be eliminated. Manchin also opposes the law’s so-called 1099 provision, which requires businesses to report all supply purchases worth $600 or more from a single vendor.
Manchin faces voters again in two years because he was elected to serve out the remaining term of the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.).
McCaskill and Manchin represent conservative-leaning states, but liberals have also raised criticisms of the mandate.
Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean predicted Wednesday morning that Congress or the courts would eventually strike down the rule.
“I think that will be gone,” Dean said on MSNBC. “People don’t like it, and I don’t think it’s essential to the program at all. It’s great for the insurance companies.”
Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla.), another Democrat who could have a neck-and-neck race in 2012, declined to defend the individual mandate.
“I’m going to study it,” he said.
Nelson, however, said he would not support a broad repeal of the healthcare bill because it would strip seniors of benefits, such as discounts on prescription drugs.
“Now seniors get 50 percent of their drugs discounted that otherwise would fall in the doughnut hole,” Nelson said in reference to the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Many Senate Democrats agree the 1099 provision, which has sparked a revolt among small businesses, will have to go. White House officials also agree that it needs to be changed.
Proposals to scrap the 1099 provision from Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) both failed to garner enough support in the lame-duck session.
The Baucus proposal would have repealed the 1099 requirement without paying for it, adding $19 billion to the deficit. The Johanns plan would have paid for a repeal with unspent and unobligated federal dollars to be identified by the Office of Management and Budget.
Freshman Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who took the oath of office Wednesday, said he plans to review the healthcare reform law and consider fixes.
“I think there are a number of ways to improve the bill and I’ll be working with senators, both Republicans and Democrats, on specific measures to do that. But I’m not willing to comment right now,” Blumenthal said.
He declined to comment specifically on the individual mandate or the 1099 requirement.
Blumenthal said he was open to empowering the federal government to negotiate the price of prescription drugs on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries and others covered by federally subsidized insurance.
Obama promised drug companies in 2009 that his administration would not insist on collective bargaining for Medicare patients in return for their support of reform legislation.
Sen. Kent Conrad (N.D.), another Democrat who could have an uphill run for reelection in 2012, said he would not comment on changing the healthcare law until he saw specific proposals.
He defended the individual mandate and the broader law for keeping healthcare premiums affordable and reducing the deficit.
“Taking the mandate out increases premiums 27 percent; that’s not a good idea, that’s a bad idea,” Conrad said. “Repealing the bill completely is a bad idea. That would dramatically increase the deficit and the debt.”
Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said repealing healthcare reform would increase the deficit “by more than $1 trillion over the next 20 years.”
Senate Democratic leaders have unleashed a barrage of attacks against Republicans in recent days in anticipation of renewed debate over healthcare reform.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has called on Republican lawmakers who oppose the healthcare reform law to give up federal health benefits for themselves and their families.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has charged that Republicans would force seniors to pay higher prices for prescription drugs.
“On top of that, Republicans think insurance companies should be allowed to once again drop your coverage when you get sick, and go back to classifying breast cancer and domestic violence as pre-existing conditions,” Reid said in a statement Monday.
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you don't actually believe everything that comes the insurance companies, do you :o :o. as long as i can remember they are always trying to get more money from the people. just another excuse :o
Report: Insurers enjoy record-breaking profits as they cut 2.7 million people from their rolls
Posted on February 11th, 2010 by Jason Rosenbaum in Profits Before People 1diggdigg
Health Care for America Now has a new report out today on the insurance industry's profits and customer base [pdf] and the statistics are shocking:
The five largest U.S. health insurance companies sailed through the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression to set new industry profit records in 2009, a feat accomplished by leaving behind 2.7 million americans who had been inprivate health plans. For customers who kept their benefits, the insurers raised rates and cost-sharing,and cut the share of premiums spent on medical care. Executives and shareholders of the five biggest for-profit health insurers, UnitedHealthGroup inc., WellPoint inc., Aetna Inc., Humana Inc., and Cigna Corp., enjoyed combined profit of $12.2 billion in 2009, up 56 percent from the previous year. It was the best year ever for Big Insurance.
poor insurance companies :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( what are they to do
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And your point is?
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do you really think they need rate hikes of as much as 59% for individuals? i realise their a business and have to turn a profit
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do you really think they need rate hikes of as much as 59% for individuals? i realise their a business and have to turn a profit
I thought bamacare was supposed to drive down the costs of people ?
Did he lie again or washe just wrong as usual?
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At what point is it worth it to drop your healthcare insurance? I would like to see a mass strike against insurance companies with everyone dropping out of their plans. Smart people will figure it out, that's why Obamacare mandates that you buy coverage in the future. The whole system crumbles if everyone does not participate in this redistribution of wealth.
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In the past health insurance companies like blue cross would just raise your rates without having to ask persmission or without having to prove that the increases were going to be used to pay for actual health care.
In 2006 and 2007 my company raised my rates over 30% each year
Who should I blame for that?
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In the past health insurance companies like blue cross would just raise your rates without having to ask persmission or without having to prove that the increases were going to be used to pay for actual health care.
In 2006 and 2007 my company raised my rates over 30% each year
Who should I blame for that?
Don't know - but remember Straw - Bama spent 1.5 years on this ObamaCare farce and its doing the exact opposite of what he promised.
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the only thing driving up the cost now are the insurance companies themselves :o
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the only thing driving up the cost now are the insurance companies themselves :o
and WHO is forcing me by law to buy thir shitty products with ZERO competition and cost control, or lower priced options?
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the only thing driving up the cost now are the insurance companies themselves :o
But, Kenyacare is supposed to fix that. That is what Obama claimed. He even said that it would bring down the premium the companies had to pay for insurance that employees would get a raise or it would result in salary increases for workers. Lets see if it does when it is in full effect.
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The thread is more about individual policies. But, if those policy premiums increase, why wouldn't employer provided policy premiums increase?
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But, Kenyacare is supposed to fix that. That is what Obama claimed. He even said that it would bring down the premium the companies had to pay for insurance that employees would get a raise or it would result in salary increases for workers. Lets see if it does when it is in full effect.
just what the insurance companies want you to be talking about.playing you like a violin ;D
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just what the insurance companies want you to be talking about.playing you like a violin ;D
If you agree that the insurance companies are the ones to blame, why do you support a mandate to buy from them?
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Common sense.
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Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% due to BamaCare is what this topic is about,i'm saying the reason their givng is bull sh#t. i agree alot of the shit in the healthcare system has to be changed
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and WHO is forcing me by law to buy thir shitty products with ZERO competition and cost control, or lower priced options?
no one
you can still go out and buy whatever you want can't you?
competition is exactly the same as before this legislation went into effect
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just what the insurance companies want you to be talking about.playing you like a violin ;D
Why do you keep mentioning insurance companies? I am repeating what Obama stated. If kenyacare is the solution, as Obama and Dems stated, then insurance companies should not be able to increase premiums for individual or employer provided health insurance policies. Supposedly, kenyacare is going to decrease premiums. If that were true, if the mechanisms of kenyacare were sound, insurance companies would not be able to increase premiums.
Either obamacare lives up to its claims or it doesn't. Can't have it both ways. "Well, ah, ah, obamacare does decrease premiums but those evil insurance companies keep raising them for no reason." That's pure bs.
Seems like Obama played you for your vote.
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The thread is more about individual policies. But, if those policy premiums increase, why wouldn't employer provided policy premiums increase?
Employer Provided Policy premiums will be the last to increase because of thier financial clout and higher bargaining power due to thier larger pools. But they also will eventually increase.
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again the topic is Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% due to BamaCare. lets go slooooow the rate hike is for profit and bamacare is the excuess ;D
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again the topic is Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% due to BamaCare. lets go slooooow the rate hike is for profit and bamacare is the excuess ;D
lets go slooooooow for you. Various parts of Obamacare have already been implemented (I.E. elimination of preconditions for children) which has caused companies to either eliminate such coverage altogether or hike up the rates. Don't minimize its early effect.
Once, the entire garbage legislation is implemented, premiums are going to increase even more. There is no way that an additional 20 to 30 million people can be brought under insurance coverage without there being premium increases. But, then again, by that time you will tell us that we should be happy because without kenyacare, premiums would have been higher. Pretty much the same false argument that is made for the failed obama stimulus legislation.
Is that sloooooooooow enough for you. Again, Obama played you for your vote.
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Bamcare is another madoff scam.
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Too bad Obama can't become Madoff's cellmate.
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I trust madoff more than bama.
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ok lets go slooooooooower ;D read my post
Blue Shield of California seeks rate hikes of as much as 59% due to BamaCare is what this topic is about,i'm saying the reason their givng is bull sh#t. i agree alot of the shit in the healthcare system has to be changed
lets change the parts of the bill that don't work, in stead of voting in morons that just think up the retarded names like kenyacare. oh you can call palin and tell her i used retard
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I trust madoff more than bama.
you should tell that to your clients
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Most of clients hate obama.
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Most of clients hate obama.
bird of a feather I guess
but I'm sure it would instill even more confidence if you told them you trust Madoff more than Obama. I'm sure some of your clients hate this country enough to admire such a statement
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Why? Most people I know think they are thw same.
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Why? Most people I know think they are thw same.
then most of the people you know are profoundly stupid
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Why? What's the difference between the two?
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insurance commissioner to Blue Shield: Delay rate hike
Source: LA Times
California’s new insurance commissioner called Thursday for health insurer Blue Shield of California to delay controversial new rate hikes for 60 days, saying recent increases by the industry were alarming.
On the job since Monday, Commissioner Dave Jones said he wants to take a closer look at the Blue Shield increases planned for nearly 200,000 individual policyholders, whose rates would rise for the third time since October -- some as much as 59% total.
“I believe the premium increases are unsustainable,” Jones said in a meeting with The Times, referring to successive rate hikes in recent years by Blue Shield and its competitors in California. “I think we need to scrutinize everybody.”
(snip)
“The people of California have a right to be concerned when they see this kind of rate increase month after month,” Sebelius said in a statement. “We have reached out to Commissioner Jones and know he is doing everything in his power to help consumers. We stand ready to assist him and the people of California in any way that we can.”
Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/01/califo...
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then most of the people you know are profoundly stupid
Can't be any dumber than you, or do we need to dig up your ever-increasing history of ridiculously embarrassing posts?
Paging George Washington, paging George Washington.
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I love how Sebelius now says "she is concerned" over these rate hikes that are insane when the majority of the public WARNED Obama and these assholes pushing obamacare that this would happen.
Either Obama/Sebelius et al are the dumbest people on the planet, or they just are content to lie as a condition of their daily existence on these issues.