HMO rates for thousands who buy own insurance continue to soar

[brooklynite]

Source: NY Daily News

ALBANY - It's enough to make you sick.

HMO rates in the city for thousands of people who buy their own insurance continue to soar, with six of the eight companies that serve the Big Apple hiking premiums by double digits in the past year.

That means thousands of extra dollars a year out of the pockets of people who have to buy their own coverage because they are self-employed, uninsured at work or not eligible for government plans.

GHI HMO Select Inc. is now charging a family buying point-of-service coverage - which allows the family to pick any doctor - an incredible $6,770 a month.

That's up 30% from last August, according to state Insurance Department statistics.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/09/01/2009-09-01_buyin_yer_own_insurance_gets_heartstopping.html

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bunch of whiners...Where's Phil Gramm to whip everyone into shape?

[Captain Hilts]

1. It's already prohibitively expensive to buy your own ins. and you are more likely to get screwed. nt

[Hugin]

2. That adds up to $81,240/year.

Almost twice the median American's YEARLY income.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. At those prices, it's cheaper to risk bankruptcy

because I bet that policy has lots of exclusions.

My own premiums went up 13%. If they do that again next year, it will definitely be cheaper for me to risk bankruptcy, especially since I don't own any property that could be seized.

[Vinca]

4. $6,770 a month??? And there are people protesting health care reform???

[Soylent Brice]

5. K&R - #5

earth to america, hello mcfly, anyone home

hello???????

[No Elephants]

6. I'm surprised the Daily News printed this story.