60%! Anthem/Blue Cross just raised our premiums 60%!

[Auggie]

"While we strive to keep costs down, it is necessary from time to time to adjust our rates..."

60 fucking percent!


:rant:

[endless october]

1. unreal.

and completely ridiculous.

[mike_c]

2. PLEASE write a letter to your congress persons and senators...

...and inform them.

[OregonBlue]

3. Don't write a letter. CALLTHEM RIGHT NOW!! RAISE HOLY HELL!!

[Auggie]

5. I've written my Blue Dog Dem a few times, but in support of single-payer

But you're right -- a phone call is in order.

[MrsCorleone]

21. Definitely call & raise hell, but you must also write them!

A typed letter is taken most seriously, but you may also use a postcard to get your message through more quickly (less hold up in security).

I cannot emphasize how important it is to actually send a physical letter via snail mail. Nothing moves them more than a physical pile of protest, written by people who are serious enough put their thoughts on paper and actually mail them in. These are the motivated voters, not some political blog blitz, and D.C. knows this.

[Auggie]

23. Great advice. I agree.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. Our premiums were just raised with less coverage. It's a major problem.

This will suck all the life out of our country.Everyone will feel it soon. Public option is the least that can be done. It's time that everyone in Congress to step up and make the heroic stand for the change to universal health care.

[sixmile]

6. what you are seeing is the beginning of the end for for-profit insurance

Insurers may take twenty years to fully give up the ghost, but rest assured they are moving toward extinction.

[Festivito]

12. 20 years? They'll have all our money BEFORE then.

The prices are going up so whatever half-vast compromise is made, will look somewhat good. Hiding the single payer option look of outstandingly good.

[jwirr]

7. And moved my severely disabled daughter to another insurance

company. I hereby warn both Amy and Al (MN senators) that if this program gives us any trouble with her meds I am coming to you to settle it. She used to have straight Medicare/Medicaid but now she is stuck with some damn insurance company. I want to be able to go back to pure government run programs - her life depends on it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Forget the politicians. Put your money where your mouth is. Cancel your policy. n/t

[jberryhill]

9. Well... how else are they going to "drive down costs"

Driving down costs is an expensive undertaking, for which you should be grateful.

[Froward69]

10. even without HCR, this comes unexpected?

no edit, spell check.

[orwell]

11. They just did the same to me...

...I am now looking at alternatives.

[tabbycat31]

13. forward the letter to your congressman and senators

[mackdaddy]

14. Wow, My Anthem "only" went up 40%.

Bastards.

I am sure Joe Lieberman and Olympia Snow will help us with this, NOT!

[NightWatcher]

15. TRIGGER TRIGGER TRIGGER!!!!! they want a trigger,

things like this show the sole motivation is profit.

Let THIS trigger reform NOW

[Vinca]

16. 60% isn't a rate increase, it's a shake down.

[cark]

17. Coworker and I were just reviewing our paystubs - HSA???

We are both healthy, married with a couple of kids insured on our company health plan. Premiums for the year for our family plan will come to just under $15k for the year (I pay about a 1/3 and company pays 2/3). Adding deductible and copays on top of the $15k = alot of money for the year. I'm sure it will be more next year.

15000/12 = $1250 per month

So I just got a quick internet quote from a local company for what a family major medical ($5500) plan would be and it came to around $450 month.

450 + 5500/12 = $908 per month

I have not investigated it much more than about 5 minutes but it seems like it may be a decent cost savings option. In general I like the whole concept of HSA as I think they would keep hospital costs in check. I would more seriously consider this option for our family if my employer would give me the cash he is now spending on my group premium. I would def. go this route if I was footing the entire bill. The other nice thing with HSAs it that if we didn't spend all the money in our HSA for the year, it rolls over and is that much less we have to contribute for next year.

[MercutioATC]

18. Aetna raised mine 80%.

Next year I'll have Blue Cross/Blue Shield and an HCFSA.

[krispos42]

19. Hello Auggie, I'm Bill from Antham Blue Cross

I see that you're writing a post on a public discussion board critisizing us. Since this will doubtless cost us business and force us to spend precious money lobbying Congress to counter-act this post, we're going to have to raise your premium by an additional 5%.

Federal Election Commission records also indicate you give frequently to political campaigns that are less than supportive of companies such as ours. To counter-act that unwarranted and dangerous influence, we're going to have to increase your premium by an additional 15% on top of the 5% mentioned previously.

Obviously, if you have money to give to a political candidate, you're not being charged enough for protection against current and future medical mishaps. After all, what is more important than your life and health?

I trust you understand our positions on this manner and that you will take it into account in your future on-line and political life.


Sincerly,

Bill Moneybags, Customer Relations Specialist












How much longer before this is true?

[Auggie]

25. +1000

[KamaAina]

20. Is this like the credit card co's jacking their rates through the roof

before the law forcing them to behave like civilized adults kicks in in February? :grr:

edit: spelling

[JoeyT]

29. I'm not sure.

I think it's more along the lines of screwing people just because they can.
It's become obvious at this point there isn't going to be any real competition for them.
So they're going to jack rates through the roof just in time for a mandate that makes us buy from them.

[Neecy]

22. My god. Unbelieveable.

Are you going to have to pay it? Are there other options out there?

[Auggie]

26. We're going to look into it, obviously.

Our options are a little limited being self-employed.

Your concern -- all of your concern -- is greatly appreciated. D.U. is an incredible place.

[Nikki Stone1]

24. They're raising the rates so they can lower them when the HCR passes

That's all.

[Auggie]

27. That thought did cross my mind

[Nikki Stone1]

28. Wellpoint (BC parent company) is vile.

And I'm not thrilled about this health care bill either.

[Nikki Stone1]

30. Rachel mentioned tonight that Aetna was doing the same thing, planning to lose 600,000 people

by hiking its rates.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#34283347

[Lugnut]

31. It's beyond outrageous.

My husband and I have a Medicare Advantage plan through Blue Cross. Our premiums are going up 32% for 2010 - from $106 a month to $138. I'm disgusted.

[eridani]

32. There is nothing in current health care reform to prevent them from doing it again

--and again and again. Publishing a list of Very Naughty Boys and Girls once a year is NOT regulation.