Posted on 02/18/2010 4:41:37 AM PST by rbg81
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Eye-popping health insurance premium increases of up to 39 percent are not an exception but a worrisome sign of the times, the Obama administration said in a report Thursday.
Proposed premium increases by Anthem Blue Cross for Californians purchasing their own coverage set off a wave of criticism and forced the company last week to announce a postponement. Now, the Health and Human Services Department says similar pressure on premiums is being felt in at least six other states.
"This shocking increase isn't unique," said the report, being presented by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at a news conference Thursday. "Across the country, families have seen their premiums skyrocket in recent years, and experts predict these increases will continue."
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Of course no mention about why these increases are necessary. Nothing about Government mandates. It’s just something that is and more Government appears to be the only cure that anyone can think of, especially the “experts” who work in health care, of course.
Blue Cross BLue Shield of Michigan increased their premiums last summer by 30 percent.
They said that health care reform was driving them to increase their reserves.
Specifically the clause stating that they could not deny coverage even to a termanally ill patient.
We must hurry to stop the double digit premium increases... so we can have double digit tax increases.
Would seem like if Anthem is the only choice for Californians, some competition from other providers (including those from out of State) may help?!
Well that’s been the plan all along hasn’t it? Pass new laws designed to increase costs and when the companies try to cover the costs attack them for it. Drive them out of business all the while vilifying them.
This is protection and fear pricing and we have Obama to thank for it. But, the gov. will continue to sling mud at the insurance company’s and people paying the higher premiums will believe it. The insurance company’s need to come out swinging. AND we need to be able to buy across state lines. They have got to change that law, it’s ridicules.
I never understodd how out-of-state insurance helps anything. They have no relationships with local doctors and hospitals. How will they get better rates than the local plans?
This seems to bow to the lie that the insurer is the problem and the one needing competion. Its actually the PROVIDERS who are grouping together in monopolistic packs and charging ridiculous prices. Out of state insurers won’t solve that unless you are willing to travel for care.
Why should a radiologyst make 5 times what a Primary Care doc makes? is there really that much more knowledge and education required? Pleeeease. Its lack of local competition.
The marxist socialist push for universal government controlled health care will never be over. Now you will see more government intervention in many ways intended to create the “crisis” that we will need government to save us from.
Folks, if a plan costs $12,000 a year, how many would spend that much on basic care if they didn’t have insurance covering every doctor visit?
Allow people to buy lower cost catastrophic illness policieswith nationwide competition.
Health insurance is expensive because it has to cover everything, and because we want the cutting edge technologies that can save our lives when neeeded.
Competition and innovation will lower costs, every government program will reduce health services.
I was told by my Insurance Agent that the reason for the 30% increase of our company’s health insurance premium, was due to the fact that insurance companies saw it as a last chance to make a profit, before Obummercare went into effect.
Blame the fool in the White House and Congress for this mess and don’t be fooled by their insane spin!
I got a news flash for you sparky, those big increases in premium are NOT getting to the providers. We are being squeezed harder and harder. Our reimbursement is going down.
There is a HUGE difference between reality and what the main stream media reports. I think even some conservatives dont fully realize this. If you ever deal with main stream reporters it is maddening.
Take a look at how the whole World was only allowing pro global warming propoganda, contrary scientists were being called Holocaust deniers, very few poliicians were courageous enough to buck the party line.
Higher costs is NOT the only issue. People want medical innovation not nationalized VA type hospitals.
“COMMERCE BETWEEN MASTER AND SLAVE IS DESPOTISM”
—Thomas Jefferson
PORTLAND, Maine - February 7, 2010 -- The federal government advises throwing most unused or expired medications into the trash instead of down the drain, but they can end up in the water anyway, a study from Maine suggests. Tiny amounts of discarded drugs have been found in water at three landfills in the state, confirming suspicions that pharmaceuticals thrown into household trash are ending up in water that drains through waste, according to a survey by the state's environmental agency that's one of only a handful to have looked at the presence of drugs in landfills. That landfill water -- known as leachate -- eventually ends up in rivers. Most of Maine doesn't draw its drinking water from rivers where the leachate ends up, but in other states that do, water supplies that come from rivers could potentially be contaminated. The results of the survey are being made known as lawmakers in Maine consider a bill, among the first of its kind in the nation, that would require drug manufacturers to develop and pay for a program to collect unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs from residents and dispose of the. http://www.drugs.com
This is a state that does not allow competition on determining health insurance purchased. Anthem Blue Cross is regulated. Maine Health care under the state: Maine subsidized Dirigo is to this date, of course, a dismal financial failure under Baldacci. Maine has 11% of Mainers without health care. [Vote Les Otten for governor in November!] 34 of Maine's 39 hospitals have had employment reductions in the past year. Maine has not paid 100% of their bill in 5 years.
Anthem in Maine was denied an 18.5 percent increase last year and is now requesting that state regulators approve a 23 percent rise. Maine is home to Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins whose support Obama would like to have for his health care legislation and which they have denied Obama their presence.
Michigan's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan requested approval for premium increases of 56 percent in 2009. And in the state of Washington, rates for some individual health plans increased by up to 40 percent until regulators cracked down.
Other states cited in the report were Connecticut, Oregon and Rhode Island.
[ was due to the fact that insurance companies saw it as a last chance to make a profit, before Obummercare went into effect.]
That’s bullshyte. The insurance syndicate poured millions into SUPPORT of Obummercare.
Why? Maybe because Comrade Chairman Obama & Company would make it illegal NOT to buy their product...
“COMMERCE BETWEEN MASTER AND SLAVE IS DESPOTISM”
—Thomas Jefferson
“Higher costs is NOT the only issue. People want medical innovation not nationalized VA type hospitals.”
BINGO! Well said!
What would Jefferson do?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.