Care First BCBS just dropped me with 10 days' warning due to "ACA"

[wordpix]

I have had Care First health insurance for many years and my insurance policy is from Feb 1-Feb. 1. I contacted them this week to ask what the renewal premium will be and was told by email, "Your policy ends on Jan. 1 due to the Affordable Care Act."

I wrote them back and asked what aspect of the ACA caused them to make this decision---basically to end my contract without telling me---- b/c I want let my Congressmen and POTUS know the reason.

Any other ideas?

This comes on the heels of my getting a not-so-good diagnosis and needing some pretty significant care.

This company is a POS.

[silvershadow]

1. Total guess here, but my first guess is it was a junk policy that the news talks about-

not saying it didn't mean something to you. If it didn't meet the ACA's minimum requirements and they chose not to upgrade it to satisfy ACA, then I'm not sure but sounds like you need to get to shopping ?? Maybe someone else can come along with more.

[wordpix]

5. it is not a junk policy

It has paid for the annual maintenance visit to primary care doc, blood work, etc.

I also recently needed some tests and visits to a specialist. It paid for those, too (along with my copays).

[CreekDog]

15. does it have a coverage cap?

[pnwmom]

22. See what your annual or lifetime limit is. I bet you're much better off. n/t

[pnwmom]

27. What percent of hospital bills would it have paid?

Someone I knew was offered a policy that was supposed to be good -- and it only paid 50% of hospital bills. Also, it topped out at $100K.

[JaneyVee]

59. Have you tried searching for new policies? This may turn into good news.

[JDPriestly]

72. Have you checked to see whether you can get a better deal from the ACA choices?

They may have dropped the policy because you can do better. Sounds like it did not measure up to the ACA standards in some way. Either that or it is too pricey. The insurance companies have to refund to you any profit they make over 20% or something along that line.

[wordpix]

120. I am checking ACA all day and

it's literally taking all day b/c you have to check the different companies and what they cover, what docs and hospitals are in the network---it's a real research project.

[JDPriestly]

132. Single payer is much better.

We had it for our family when we lived in Europe. I remember in one country I was looking for a doctor and could change and try a different doctor every few months. It was great. All the doctors were on the same system. You had a limited choice of insurers. We took the least expensive which was what most people had. I had very complicated health conditions at the time related to the births of my children and my care was excellent especially in France.

We could make our health care insurance cheaper and more efficient if we had single payer. You would not have to compare plans to the extent you do here.

I wish you luck. Of course, it is much easier here if your employer just picks a couple of plans. I used to pick the plans for one of my employers. Big employers probably have and advantage and can bargain for the business but I worked for a very small non-profit. We looked for the lowest offer we could get that would provide some decent care. I think that a lot of people who have insurance paid for by their employer may get good coverage but many don't and just don't realize how bad the coverage is until they really need it.

[wordpix]

137. had it when I lived in Canada - it was great

That was in the '80's and the only bills I saw were for the quarterly premium, which was based on our household income and was reasonable.

[mn9driver]

2. If you get a reply from them I hope you can post it.

I think a lot of companies are using the ACA as an excuse when the real reasons are purely profit driven.

[wordpix]

6. I think this is true - I asked them on what aspect of the ACA I'm being dropped

we shall see what they say on Mon.

[Blanket Statements]

3. Be glad! You're going to get a better plan and save money

[wordpix]

8. would this were true

[Blanket Statements]

11. Shhhhh

The true believers will smite you for your lack of faith.

I've found I will not be one of the fortunate ones should my current insurance not continue

[pnwmom]

23. My son will be paying half as much for a gold policy as what he's paying now --

and his income is too high to qualify for a subsidy.

[Blanket Statements]

25. Good for him

Ours will go up about $700/mo

[pnwmom]

26. How good was your previous policy?

Did it have annual and lifetime limits on coverage?

How many people are on your policy?

Have you compared multiple policies, or are you just comparing your old policy's price to whatever new policy that company suggested you take? (If that is the case, you should shop around.)

[Blanket Statements]

28. I'm employer based in a company with 53 people

They could drop coverage.
The increase for a comparable plan is $700/month

[pnwmom]

30. Then what does this have to do with Obamacare?

The ACA was designed so that individuals who had been locked out of the market could get insurance.

My husband's insurance is through work, too, and every year the premiums have been going up. Also, employers have ALWAYS been able to drop insurance, unless they had union contracts to deal with.

Now, thanks to the ACA, you won't be out of luck if they do.

[Blanket Statements]

31. Fantastic!! How will that help me come up

With the $700 a month, extra, that I would have to pay if I am forced into the individual market?

[pnwmom]

32. You could have been forced into the individual market pre-Obamacare.

And then you would have been worse off. Obamacare didn't do this to you. It it happens, it will be because of your employer's choice.

And the ACA will charge your employer a penalty if it drops insurance, so it's less likely to do that than before.

[Blanket Statements]

33. Cutting 4 people puts them below the threshold

For penalties and if the penalties are cheaper than insurance, they could just pay the penalty.
The fact is, prior to the ACA I didn't have to worry about it

[pnwmom]

34. If you weren't worried about it prior to the ACA, you should have been.

Every employer has always been free to reduce or drop insurance -- unless it's a union shop. And every year there are many that do so.

[Blanket Statements]

36. Mine didn't. In 8 years it hasn't been a concern

[Kingofalldems]

37. So if your company drops your insurance it's Obama's fault?

[Blanket Statements]

38. If my company drops me, I'll pay $700 more a month

Regardless of who is blamed

[pnwmom]

39. You weren't concerned before but you should have been.

If your employer had dropped coverage or you lost your job there, you could have had a great deal of difficulty finding an individual policy that would take you, much less a good one.

It's ironic. Now you're finally concerned -- even though now you will actually have some options if the worst occurs.

[Blanket Statements]

40. I've never had a problem with coverage

And I've never had to worry about a company dropping coverage

[pnwmom]

41. You just didn't acknowledge it but you SHOULD have been worried before

because you were just one job away from not being able to get health insurance. Everybody was at risk under the old laws. My husband has worked at a solid company for decades and they offer excellent coverage -- but we were never naive enough to imagine that we never had to worry about losing coverage. EVERYBODY should have been worried, whether they realized it or not.

Insurers used to decline individual customers on the slimmest of pretexts. And they could take your money for years, and then drop you as a customer as soon as you developed an illness.

[Blanket Statements]

42. I've always had coverage through my job

I've never been concerned with losing it

[pnwmom]

93. So has my husband. But he wasn't dumb enough to not be concerned about losing it.

Anyone in any job was at risk, whether you worked at a major corporation or were self-employed.

[Blanket Statements]

96. Well, judging from some of the posts to me

He's a republican troll for thinking about the possibility.

Like I said. I never worried about it before

[pnwmom]

101. No one would say that he was a Republican troll because

he knew that there was nothing protecting him if he lost his job and had to get new insurance. That's the whole reason Democrats have been pushing for health care reform for decades.

The fact that you never worried about it before proves nothing except you weren't realistic about your situation.

Unless, of course, you ARE the boss and are considering getting rid of your own insurance (as well as everyone else's.)

[Blanket Statements]

103. Yeah, I guess. I just never priced insurance

On the private market, so maybe that's why I'm shocked right now.
Hopefully the prices will drop in case I am forced into the exchanges

[pnwmom]

109. How much shopping around have you done? And have you checked

to see if you'd qualify for a subsidy? Some people have been pleasantly surprised to see that they'd do better on the Exchange than with their employer insurance.

One thing you might think about is what your current limit is now, in case you got into a terrible accident, like Christopher Reeve (Superman, who was paralyzed), who hit his limit within a year or two. Or what if you developed a serious cancer? Most existing policies had limits of about a million or less. After that, you were on your own. Now there are no limits. That's a huge difference, to me, anyway.

[Blanket Statements]

110. I make too much for a subsidy according to

The Kaiser website.

[pnwmom]

113. I've heard people say that site isn't always accurate

so, if the worst happens, check the Exchange and also check the insurance companies directly ( if the Exchange agrees that you don't qualify for a subsidy.)

But hopefully your employers won't decide to do the worst.

[Blanket Statements]

116. I hope they do the right thing

[cleanhippie]

117. As you've stated several times, your employer is a good person.

Why the concern all of a sudden?

[Blanket Statements]

119. Just conversations with some people who brought

Up employers dropping insurance, caused me to take a look at private plans.

I know the employer mandate excludes companies under 50 people, with mine at 53 it just got me thinking about what could happen

[cleanhippie]

123. If you have no reason to suspect your employer would do that...

Then you're overreacting to a nonexistent problem.

Good luck, and good night.

[wordpix]

121. welcome to my world

[cleanhippie]

43. Sounds like your employer is a greedy douchebag. That's not the ACA's fault.

So please, stop trying to place the blame on it.

[Blanket Statements]

44. I have a good employer but it is a business decision

And, until the ACA, I didn't have the concern.
It doesn't matter if I blame my company, the law or God...I would still have to pay more money than I have for insurance.

While it hasn't happened and it might not, I never had to worry about it before

[cleanhippie]

45. "...until the ACA, I didn't have a concern."

And neither did your employer, until he realized he could screw over his employees and keep the money for himself.


You need to place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the one responsible for your dilemma: your employer.

[Blanket Statements]

46. If you say so....but blaming him won't solve the problem

Will it

[cleanhippie]

48. Neither will blaming the ACA.

Will it?

You said that he was cutting several employees so that he could force the rest into the individual exchanges.

Why are you unable to see where the problem really lays?

[Blanket Statements]

50. I've already made that clear

Won't change the fact that I didn't have to worry about it before it passed

[cleanhippie]

51. You stated your employer is cutting several employees so he can force the rest into the exchanges.

For his own gain. Why is it so difficult for you to accept that it is your employer that is the problem?

[Blanket Statements]

53. Actually I didn't say that

[cleanhippie]

54. Sure you did.

33. Cutting 4 people puts them below the threshold
For penalties and if the penalties are cheaper than insurance, they could just pay the penalty.
The fact is, prior to the ACA I didn't have to worry about it

Maybe the better question is: what the fuck are you talking about if you still have your insurance?

[Blanket Statements]

55. That doesn't say they are cutting anyone, it says

What they could do

Reading is key to understanding the conversation you've inserted yourself into.

Not everyone will do better under the ACA. If my employer cuts insurance, my family is going to be hurt

[cleanhippie]

56. So you still have your insurance and its not likely that you are going to lose it?

While it hasn't happened and it might not, I never had to worry about it before

So again, I ask: what the fuck are you talking about?

[Blanket Statements]

58. Once again, reading is key to understanding the conversation

You've inserted yourself into.

I work for a small employer, they may or may not continue insurance when the employer mandate goes into effect.
This is something I've never had to worry about, previously.

Separating employment from insurance would cause a problem for my family.
It's not like jumping to a new job is a guarantee of insurance benefits in the future

[cleanhippie]

63. So your employer currently provides you with insurance?

And my drop you when they are required to provide you insurance because it would be required to do something they already do?

Again: what the fuck are you even talking about?

[Blanket Statements]

65. My employer is small enough to drop coverage

With just a few staffing changes.
It is a concern, not an imminent event

[cleanhippie]

67. For what reason would your employer do that?

Do you think your employer would do that? Why?

And how would your employer cutting employees in order to drop everyone else's insurance be the fault of the ACA and not just a greedy employer exploiting the system in order to save himself money?

[Blanket Statements]

71. My employer is good. They didn't lay people off

Following the financial crisis, like so many others did.
But, if it's in their interest to cut the expense to be more competitive they might just do it. I'm not saying they will but, with the size of the company it is a concern.

[cleanhippie]

74. And that is the fault of the ACA how?

We're back to the start. You blaming the ACA for the potential greed of your employer.

It's clear that you are trolling with this nonsensical bullshit "concern".

[Blanket Statements]

76. I didn't blame the ACA. I've said I never had to worry about it before

If you're having problems reading ask me a question. Don't just make something up so you can attack me

[cleanhippie]

81. So you're worried that your employer is a greedy fuck who may drop you to save money.

And that's the fault of the ACA?




You've proven yourself to be full of it. Thanks for playing. And enjoy your stay. Say hi to rimjob for us, wont you?

[Blanket Statements]

83. You keep insisting that I blamed the ACA when I've not done so

I haven't had to worry about it before

[cleanhippie]

84. So why are you worried about it all of a sudden?

[Blanket Statements]

88. Because it is a possibility.

N

[cleanhippie]

90. So is getting struck by lightening.

Do you think your employer would do that?

If not, why are you worried all of a sudden?

[cleanhippie]

106. And if it does happen, you have guaranteed access to health insurance.

That you didn't have before.

Imagine how expensive your policy would be if your employer dropped your insurance and the was no ACA.

THAT would be something to worry about.

Currently, you are overreacting to a pretend problem that you created in your head. Relax, take a deep breath, and get a grip.

[tkmorris]

112. Before...WHAT?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

79. Because when a private company does something greedy....

....it's excused and blamed on the mean government.

That's how this is supposed to work.

[Blanket Statements]

86. My company HASNT done anything. It's a possibility

Why is reading so hard?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

87. Because you're already going out of your way to preemptively defend them nt

[Blanket Statements]

89. I like my employer.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

91. Yeah, sounds like you think they always have your best interest in mind

Heh....

[Blanket Statements]

94. I'm not naive about businesses work

But they didn't do layoffs after the financial meltdown. We've gotten raises, we've gotten some bonuses over the years.
It's a good company

[Yo_Mama]

141. Employer policies have to meet ACA standards too

And that, for many small employers, is proving to force a big premium hike. However a small company can stick the employees with it.

For his employer, which apparently is above the employer limit, they must either provide ACA-compliant insurance at no more than 9.5% of the employee's wage, or pay a fine. And for many of them, it is far, far cheaper to pay the fine.

So his concern is not irrational. There are a bunch of companies that will do just this.

[JDPriestly]

85. Why would your employer drop your insurance if he has been providing it up to now?

Just to show Obama?

Don't worry. Obamacare is intended to help people who really can't afford their own insurance. So if you really don't have the money you need to buy your insurance, you will probably be eligible for a subsidy.

Your employer will probably continue to insure you.

It is unhealthy to worry about things that might happen unless you can do something to prevent them. Think of all the people who work hard and don't have insurance and have not been able to afford it until Obamacare. Up to now, you have enjoyed a free ride. Be thankful and hope that you continue to get a free ride.

If your boss drops your insurance, ask for a raise to help you cover new insurance. The insurance is part of your compensation package. If your employer stops paying for your insurance, you have had a pay cut. You should either ask for an increase in pay to make up for the cut or look for a new job. Doing both is the best bet because the fact that your boss cuts your insurance in other words pay may mean the company is not doing well.

[Blanket Statements]

92. I've already looked into it. We don't qualify for subsidies

It may not happen but I took the time to look into it just in case.

[JDPriestly]

107. If you don't qualify for a subsidy, you are probably earning enough that 1) your employer won't

want to risk losing you by dropping your insurance, and 2) if you must, you can find the money in your budget to cover the cost of a good insurance policy. The subsidies are pretty generous.

I paid for my own insurance for several years before I retired. My employer did not provide it. You have to change your life a bit but you will find the money if you don't qualify.

But if you are earning a higher than average income and that is the most likely reason you don't qualify for a subsidy, your employer probably values your work enough that he won't drop your insurance. And as I said, if you think your employer is going to drop your insurance, you should look for another job. If you are earning too much to qualify for a subsidy, your skills are probably in demand.

I'm guessing, but I'm pretty good at guessing. I don't think you have a serious problem. You will be OK.

[Blanket Statements]

108. I sure hope so. It's just a shock when you

First look at it compared to what I pay with my employer

[JDPriestly]

131. Does your employer pay part of your insurance costs?

Your insurance costs may already be subsidized by your employer.

I thought you hadn't lost your employer-paid insurance yet. Your story is getting confusing.

[Blanket Statements]

135. Yes my employer pays part of it

No I have not lost insurance

[redstatebluegirl]

57. Clearly a troll

[Blanket Statements]

60. I've looked at my options...what you think won't

Change them

[Kingofalldems]

61. Are you a republican by any chance?

[Blanket Statements]

68. No, I'm a guy who works for a small employer

Who could decide to drop coverage when the employer mandate goes into effect

[cleanhippie]

70. And that would be the fault of the ACA because....

[Blanket Statements]

73. The increase in the cost of insurance

Could make it too much to keep.

All I've done is look at my options should it actually happen. I never had to worry about it before

[cleanhippie]

78. Your costs would go up because your employer exploited the system and fucked you.

Keep trying to blame the ACA. Your "concern" is noted. Maybe it would be better appreciated over at FR.

[Blanket Statements]

82. One more time! I didn't blame the ACA

I said I was never worried about losing insurance before

[tkmorris]

114. Before...WHAT?

[MineralMan]

136. He could also just fire you or close the business.

Right now, you don't feel the cost of the health insurance you have, since your employer pays a good portion of it. If your employer suddenly decided to stop paying for your health insurance, fired you, or closed the business down, you'd be in the position of having to pay for your own health insurance, just like all of those independent contractors and the self-employed already do now.

But, you have no reason to believe that your employer will do any of those things. If, however your employer did do one of those things, ACA means that you'd be able to purchase individual health insurance, regardless of any pre-existing conditions. That wasn't true before ACA. My wife, who is self-employed, was paying $1000/month for her individual health insurance policy. Before I went on Medicare, I was paying $700/month for mine. Under ACA, an equivalent policy that's even a little better than what she had costs half that much, under $500. We save 50% over what we were paying.

We don't have employers who pay most of our health insurance. You're now seeing what the actual costs are and are panicky. Get familiar with those costs, because you're always a day away from not having an employer pay for most of your health insurance. That's reality. But with ACA, you will at least be able to buy your own if that happen. Yes, you'll have to pay the part your employer is now paying. That's reality knocking on your door.

Go ask your employer about his plans. Find out what he's thinking. That's my recommendation.

[redstatebluegirl]

64. I suggest you go to a place where you will be more comfortable say Fox News...

[Blanket Statements]

66. Will it change my situation if my employer

Drops coverage when the employer mandate goes into effect?

[cleanhippie]

69. Clearly. He's not even making sense.

His story is falling apart with basic questioning.

[Blanket Statements]

80. That's funny. You've made up things I didn't say

And now claim my story is falling apart

[pnwmom]

97. The problem is all in your mind.

You had a false sense of security before, and NOW you're worrying about something that hasn't happened.

[Blanket Statements]

105. It's like you said, above, I was in a bubble

It's just an initial shock from never having thought about it

[ShazzieB]

128. No, blaming your employer won't solve the problem

But blaming the ACA won't solve it, either.

[Blanket Statements]

129. I've said that

[pnwmom]

95. No, you just weren't realistic before. You were living in a bubble.

Now change is happening and your bubble isn't protecting you, so you're worried. But you're actually better off now than when you were kidding yourself that you had nothing to worry about.

[Blanket Statements]

99. Maybe. It's just a little scary to think about

When you've never thought about it before

[pnwmom]

102. Okay, that I can understand.

I remember when I first had a serious illness. Up till then I had been young and healthy and just imagined it would always stay that way. It was other people who got sick. What a shock to find myself in that category.

But sooner or later everyone has to join the real world. Where bad stuff happens.

[Blanket Statements]

104. I guess you're right. Thanks for the kind words

[pnwmom]

111. I really do hope that you never have to learn the hard way

and that you get to spend several decades griping about paying for health insurance that you'll always believe you didn't really need.

There could be worse things than that, right?

[wordpix]

118. it's not the ACA's fault - it's the damn insurance corp's that run our health care system

take a look at the execs' salaries, they'll blow your socks off.

But little old me - they're going to dump my contract for the last month without telling me ahead of time.

[Lifelong Dem]

47. +1

[gulliver]

75. Man, what an incredible stroke of bad luck.

Incredible. Just not to be believed.

[Blanket Statements]

77. Yeah, all companies are huge

[grantcart]

52. You are responding to a person who is a very recent poster who is

going out of his way to spread news about how terrible the ACA is with personal experiences that don't really match anyone else.

Here he is the only poster who recs a post predicting the self destruction of the ACA

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024206545

[Blanket Statements]

62. I've spread no terrible news about anything

And not everyone will have the same experience.
The article made a good point

[grantcart]

98. In as much as the OP hasn't bothered to compare what plans he/she

will be eligible for the OP is without a factual context and without any point what so ever, good or bad, its just a person complaining that they will have to change their policy for something that they know nothing about.

The facts are that people who are losing their insurance are losing it because they are getting replaced by much better policies at lower costs:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2013/November/26/california-insurance-cancellations-upside.aspx

[Blanket Statements]

100. I've actually looked into it, just in case

Perhaps the prices will come down but it's just a shock to me because I've always been on an employer plan

[wordpix]

122. I am most upset at how CareFirst dumped me with no notice

I do qualify for the exchange but it takes hours to go through all the plans and now I'm doing it at the last minute with a Mon. deadline to decide. I thought I had some weeks to decide but thanks to Care First, I have 3 days.

AND they never would have told me I'm getting dumped unless I had asked about the new rate for the new policy year. They did not give 30 days' notice or anything close. It seems to me they could get sued for breaking a contract with no notice.

[CreekDog]

16. how do you know the new coverage won't be as good?

you don't even know the way in which it differs from ACA requirements.

so clearly you don't know and though you can know how it was deficient, but you're making pronouncements without knowing.

[FarCenter]

4. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Company Overview

In its 76th year of service, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is a not-for-profit, non-stock health services company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and administrative services to individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia and portions of northern Virginia.

https://member.carefirst.com/individuals/about-us/company-overview.page?

At least is not one of those for-profit health insurance companies.

2003 - The Maryland Insurance Commissioner rejects the CareFirst-WellPoint plan for conversion to for-profit and subsequent merger. The Maryland General Assembly subsequently enacts "reform" to reaffirm CareFirst's non-profit status and bar for five years any attempt to become a for-profit company.

https://member.carefirst.com/individuals/about-us/our-history.page?

[wordpix]

7. frankly, I think they dropped me b/c

for the first time ever, I'm costing them money. Before the past month or two, I was just paying every month, year after year, and getting nothing. Now I need services and they're getting some bills.

[geek tragedy]

9. Yep, they provide cheap coverage so long as people don't use it, nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

19. well in that case you should probably delete or edit The thread

[pnwmom]

24. If you like them so much, then reapply to them. They can't reject you

because of your health condition.

If they're on the exchange you might be eligible for a subsidy. If your income is too high for that, you can still go through the exchange -- or you can just go to their website, see what policies they're offering for individuals now, and apply.

But you really might be better off considering all your insurance options now -- not just this one company.

[The Wielding Truth]

115. Then that is your problem and there in lies your complaint. You will be using your insurance and

you feel that your company has the option now to abandon you or cause you to pay open market premiums.

You must now see how that has been a major concern of all Americans and why a big change had to be made and why the restraints to protect our citizens and promote our general welfare had to be enacted. If because now you feel the threat, it did not appear because of the ACA, it was coming for us all and you are just now seeing it.

[wordpix]

124. what? "I'm now just seeing it?" What, you think I'm not aware?

Of course I know our health care system is a huge disaster. However, when you have a contract with someone, you expect they'll honor that contract or at least give some reasonable time period, the usual is 30 days, to let you know they no longer want to do business.

This company gave me 3 days to find another company on the exchange or not. It's not a lot of time, considering two of the days are the weekend.

[The Wielding Truth]

133. Dear wordpix, I reread all the posts and discovered that I responded to another reply

You are completely aware and working through your problem in a smart and comprehensive way. I apologize and hope all works out for you. I hope your employer gets wise and starts treating his or her employees better.

[wordpix]

138. oh, ok, thanks for that

[global1]

10. Be Glad Your Done With BCBS And Get On The ACA Website ASAP.....

and sign up for a new plan.

BCBS was a good company back in the 50's/60's - but they are highway robbers these days. Count your blessings that you don't have to deal with them anymore.

I had them up til August of this year - and every year - like clock work - they increased my premium to where just before I turned 65 and signed up for Medicare - the premium would have been $3700 + every 2 months. I am self-employed and that premium was with a $3000 deductible and only insured me.

I'm now paying in the neighborhood of $400+ per month and have better coverage than I ever had. This includes Medicare Part A&B, a Plan F Humana Supplement - that includes some dental and eye coverage and my Medicare Part D (drugs).

I don't know your specific details - but you should be able to get a lot better coverage with ACA and don't have to worry about pre-existing conditions.

[wordpix]

125. you're on Medicare, I don't qualify

but thanks for the info. I agree BCBS is a highway robber

[SheilaT]

12. It has long seemed to me that the worst horror stories

about health insurance companies are mostly about BCBS. I know that's purely an impression from anecdotes, but still.

There was a time, about 50 years ago, when BCBS was the best health insurance out there. Don't know why it changed, but it did.

Oh, and the up side of your needing a new policy is that now, thanks to the ACA you can't be turned down for the pre-existing condition you now have. My guess is that if this not-so-good diagnosis had occurred three or more years ago, you'd have been dropped then, and would not have been able to get new coverage precisely because of the new pre-existing condition.

[SharonAnn]

14. Changed from not-for-profit to for-profit explains most of it, if not all of it.

[SheilaT]

18. I don't think there are any not-for-profit health insurance companies out there anymore, are there?

Hospitals used to be pretty much all non-profit, and I can recall quite clearly when that started changing, in the 1960's. There were some warnings that this wasn't a very good idea, but it all seemed to have happened very much under the radar.

Some hospitals still are non-profit, such as the one I work for, but they still pay the executives pretty hefty salaries while taking away as much as they can from the peons.

[WillowTree]

20. Actually, quite a few of the BC-BS companies are member-owned and not-for-profit.

[SheilaT]

21. I did not know that. Thank you.

[llmart]

49. Sheila T

BCBS Michigan is not-for-profit and is still the best in our state.

[SheilaT]

134. I am very happy to hear that.

Sometimes it is very nice to be wrong.

[MineralMan]

140. In Minnesota all health insurers are required to be not-for-profit.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield is among those here, and it's the company my wife chose in the MNCare exchange. She'll be saving 50% over her previous policy with another company, and keeps her doctors all around. Good deal for her.

[frazzled]

13. They certainly should have contacted you earlier than this

Are you sure you didn't get a letter earlier?

Something in your policy must have been out of compliance with the ACA. But they would have known this for 3 whole years. It's irresponsible that they wouldn't have told you sooner.

[NYC_SKP]

17. Excellent! Expires January 1 and your brand new ACA policy will begin the same day!

And it will be better.

You do know that non-ACA policies can drop you ro raise your premiums or change coverage and terms any time they like, right?

You did know that.. I hope you knew that.

Of course they're going to blame Obama...

[RBInMaine]

29. Tell BCBS, which USED to be a good company, to go get SCREWED, and get a new ACA Exchange policy.

[factsarenotfair]

35. Here's an article from Nov. that says those policies can be renewed.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/health/health-care-reform/carefirst-subscribers-who-received-cancellation-notices-can-renew/-/21961900/23071958/-/13bx5fxz/-/index.html

Are you in Maryland?

[wordpix]

126. yes

[wordpix]

127. thanks for this but says 12/16 is deadline

since I wasn't told I'm being dropped for my last month on this policy until 12/19, I don't know...

Also, I don't necessarily want to renew, I just wanted to look at the option of renewal and compare to the exchange.

[Live and Learn]

130. I don't see how it is legal to drop you before your contract ends

in February. Kind of suspicious that they cancelled you after a not-so-good diagnosis which is now illegal.

[wordpix]

139. agree it's suspicious all right but it will be hard to fight this POS cooporation

and win so I am looking at the exchange.

[Yo_Mama]

142. Can this be legal?

Insurance is regulated by states, but I suspect in every state they have to give you more notice than this. It's possible that they sent you notice and you didn't receive it, but I'd call up on Monday, give 'em hell, and tell them that you will be reporting them to the state insurance regulator for cancelling your policy without notice.

Ten days notice doesn't cut it.

[Lint Head]

143. BCBS was investigated by the DOJ for price fixing but because they have a big lobbying firm

I think they got off with a fine or settlement. BCBS does NOT care about sick people. They care about profit, They claim to be nonprofit but it is a big obfuscated lie.