Obamacare update: Regence Blue Shield customers notified of skyrocketing rates

[tinfoil]

http://www.nwcn.com/news/States-largest-insurer-warns-of-rising-rates-104821569.html

Healthbill does it again!

LOL you stupid liberals. This was obvious. Name any business that wouldn't raise its rates when the government forces people to buy their product.

Every day I'm amazed that you idiots think you're the smartest people in the room.

 

[zappasguitar]

http://www.nwcn.com/news/States-largest-insurer-warns-of-rising-rates-104821569.html

Healthbill does it again!

LOL you stupid liberals. This was obvious. Name any business that wouldn't raise its rates when the government forces people to buy their product.

Every day I'm amazed that you idiots think you're the smartest people in the room.

From the very link YOU posted...

"Kreidler says the letter makes it appear that healthcare reform is to blame, when in truth Regence has made a huge policy change that makes premiums for children much more expensive.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with health care reform. It has a great deal to do with how Regence is rescheduling its business and it would have happened with or without heath care reform," said Kreidler."

Once again ol tinfoil proves he's just another lying partisan hack.

 

[tinfoil]

and why did they make the policy change? Because they have captive customers

 

[Bonestorm]

and why did they make the policy change? Because they have captive customers

How so?

 

[Cancel 2018. 3]

From the very link YOU posted...

"Kreidler says the letter makes it appear that healthcare reform is to blame, when in truth Regence has made a huge policy change that makes premiums for children much more expensive.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with health care reform. It has a great deal to do with how Regence is rescheduling its business and it would have happened with or without heath care reform," said Kreidler."

Once again ol tinfoil proves he's just another lying partisan hack.

you do realize you only posted the opinion of the insurance commissioner...he even stated he is waiting for them to file proof which they have not done yet....

so...not sure how someone's opinion who is not connected to the company makes someone esle a liar...

 

[tinfoil]

How so?

Mandated coverage. When your customers are forced to buy your product, they are your captives. When all companies enter into this atmosphere collectively, they have an opportunity to increase the cost of their products knowing that their competitors will also be taking advantage this unique opportunity.

It's time for the insurance companies to raise the rates as much as they dare. They risk losing customers, but they know that most smart people know the rates will skyrocket at every company.


Only a total business noob like you would need to have this explained

 

[Bonestorm]

Mandated coverage. When your customers are forced to buy your product, they are your captives. When all companies enter into this atmosphere collectively, they have an opportunity to increase the cost of their products knowing that their competitors will also be taking advantage this unique opportunity.

It's time for the insurance companies to raise the rates as much as they dare. They risk losing customers, but they know that most smart people know the rates will skyrocket at every company.


Only a total business noob like you would need to have this explained

But coverage isn't mandated until 2014. And Massachusetts, which requires it residents to have coverage, hasn't experienced this.

I take it you were a supported of the public option, right?

 

[Canceled1]

and why did they make the policy change? Because they have captive customers

My Blue Cross health coverage went up 60+% and it was predicted this would definitely happen.

Anyone that has coverage will see an increase. All the health plans offered by my employer went up. Blue Cross the highest.

 

[tinfoil]

But coverage isn't mandated until 2014. And Massachusetts, which requires it residents to have coverage, hasn't experienced this.

I take it you were a supported of the public option, right?

Why would you assume that? I'm not in favor of mandated insurance and I wasn't in favor of the public option. Take care of your own damn life.

I was in favor of all the parts of the law that prohibit insurers from not covering existing conditions, setting caps, etc. That is an excellent use of government for the people. But I don't like the idea being forced to purchase medical insurance. I will buy insurance when I feel I need it. I don't need or want government to be involved in anything other than setting the rules and making sure the insurers are complying with said rules

 

[Bonestorm]

Why would you assume that? I'm not in favor of mandated insurance and I wasn't in favor of the public option. Take care of your own damn life.

I was in favor of all the parts of the law that prohibit insurers from not covering existing conditions, setting caps, etc. That is an excellent use of government for the people. But I don't like the idea being forced to purchase medical insurance. I will buy insurance when I feel I need it. I don't need or want government to be involved in anything other than setting the rules and making sure the insurers are complying with said rules

Well, assuming we have the mandate, isn't it important to have a government option to protect against the price increases you are concerned about?

And, while I appreciate that you at least supported the portions of the bill that end abusive insurance company practices, the result of those prohibitions will be increased costs for insurers. Increased costs mean increased rates. The way to reduce or eliminate the increased costs from expanding the risk pool on the sick end (by prohibiting recissions, prohibiting denials of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, eliminating caps on coverage) is to expand the risk pool on the healthy end by requiring everyone to purchase insurance.

If you eliminate all the things you want to eliminate without expanding the risk pool on the healthy end by requiring everyone to buy in, prices will indeed skyrocket.

 

[Damocles]

and why did they make the policy change? Because they have captive customers

And because they can no longer expect any amount of time before they have to cover pre-existing conditions for kids. Pretending that such coverage wouldn't make it more expensive for the lot of us is kinda surreal.

 

[Canceled1]

And because they can no longer expect any amount of time before they have to cover pre-existing conditions for kids. Pretending that such coverage wouldn't make it more expensive for the lot of us is kinda surreal.

You are soooo kind. It ain't surreal, it's just a god damn lie.

 

[SmarterthanYou]

From the very link YOU posted...

"Kreidler says the letter makes it appear that healthcare reform is to blame, when in truth Regence has made a huge policy change that makes premiums for children much more expensive.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with health care reform. It has a great deal to do with how Regence is rescheduling its business and it would have happened with or without heath care reform," said Kreidler."

Once again ol tinfoil proves he's just another lying partisan hack.

objectively, it should be a given that the insurance commissioner, a government bureaucrat, is going to deny that premium increases are due to HCR, even if it is a straight faced lie.

 

[evince]

My Blue Cross health coverage went up 60+% and it was predicted this would definitely happen.

Anyone that has coverage will see an increase. All the health plans offered by my employer went up. Blue Cross the highest.

Guess what, insurance premiums have already been going up for years before this bill.


When will you figure out the cos use ANY excuse to fuck you.

This is why the public option was so important.

People would have a place to go when the corps tried to ream them some more.

 

[Bonestorm]

And because they can no longer expect any amount of time before they have to cover pre-existing conditions for kids. Pretending that such coverage wouldn't make it more expensive for the lot of us is kinda surreal.

It seems to me that the people pretending that such coverage wouldn't make insurance more expensive are those that support the elimination of barring coverage for pre-existing conditions and the prohibition on policy rescissions but don't support the individual mandate, i.e. many Republicans.

If you could get rid of that stuff without increasing prices and without an individual mandate, I'd be all for it. But you can't. There really are only two choices (at least while keeping private insurance around): either you get rid of rescissions and pre-existing condition exclusions and have an individual mandate, or you have no individual mandate and keep rescissions and pre-existing condition exclusions.

 

[Damocles]

It seems to me that the people pretending that such coverage wouldn't make insurance more expensive are those that support the elimination of barring coverage for pre-existing conditions and the prohibition on policy rescissions but don't support the individual mandate, i.e. many Republicans.

If you could get rid of that stuff without increasing prices and without an individual mandate, I'd be all for it. But you can't. There really are only two choices (at least while keeping private insurance around): either you get rid of rescissions and pre-existing condition exclusions and have an individual mandate, or you have no individual mandate and keep rescissions and pre-existing condition exclusions.

Yet another poster previously said that it couldn't be because of the new restrictions. We can't have it both ways. With these new requirements, it will be and already is more expensive. It isn't rocket science.

IMO, insurance should actually be insurance rather than this pre-paid coverage for everything. Regular visits to a doctor don't cost all that much and shouldn't be regularly covered unless the person WANTS to purchase such coverage, the idea that pre-paid health care is "insurance" is just ridiculous and for many of us it is unnecessary.

People do not realize that the vast majority of us do not need such coverage, health care coverage consisting only of emergency scenarios that would overwhelm on bills would be far less than this cover everything mentality. At this time I don't need that kind of coverage, I can pay for my few doctor visits out of pocket and pay for catastrophic coverage at an affordable rate, however this mandate takes away that option and increases my personal costs with no real benefit to me or my family. Being forced to cover myself and family to an unnecessary level is an intrusion into our lives that places a fiscal burden on us that is both unnecessary and IMO unconstitutional.

It isn't regulating interstate commerce to force you to purchase unnecessary services from another.

 

[Canceled1]

Guess what, insurance premiums have already been going up for years before this bill.


When will you figure out the cos use ANY excuse to fuck you.

This is why the public option was so important.

People would have a place to go when the corps tried to ream them some more.

Open wide the doctor cried.

 

[evince]

Hey idiot, healthcare profits and premiums have been growing well before this bill was ever introduced.

The assholes have been raising the cost of healthcare and reaping HUGE ass profits for years.


Now you know why the public option was needed.

They would have raised rates even if hand had followed the republican plan which was to stand by like so many rubes and just WATCH them raise our rates and their profits with our fingers up our noses.

 

[Bonestorm]

Yet another poster previously said that it couldn't be because of the new restrictions. We can't have it both ways. With these new requirements, it will be and already is more expensive. It isn't rocket science.

I believe the other poster merely said that this particular rate increase has nothing to do with HCR and cited the commissioner of insurance in support of that.

IMO, insurance should actually be insurance rather than this pre-paid coverage for everything. Regular visits to a doctor don't cost all that much and shouldn't be regularly covered unless the person WANTS to purchase such coverage, the idea that pre-paid health care is "insurance" is just ridiculous and for many of us it is unnecessary.

Calling health insurance pre-paid health care is ridiculous. Health insurance is insurance. If you need care, it covers the costs of your care. If you don't need care, you don't get coverage. Just like other types of insurance. The difference is that pretty much everyone needs care at some point or another (and really ought to get preventative care on a regular basis) whereas not everyone will get into an auto accident or have a house fire.

People do not realize that the vast majority of us do not need such coverage, health care coverage consisting only of emergency scenarios that would overwhelm on bills would be far less than this cover everything mentality. At this time I don't need that kind of coverage, I can pay for my few doctor visits out of pocket and pay for catastrophic coverage at an affordable rate, however this mandate takes away that option and increases my personal costs with no real benefit to me or my family. Being forced to cover myself and family to an unnecessary level is an intrusion into our lives that places a fiscal burden on us that is both unnecessary and IMO unconstitutional.

It's a trade off, like I said. You thing that trade off isn't worth it. I disagree.

It isn't regulating interstate commerce to force you to purchase unnecessary services from another.

Fargle Bargle.

 

[christiefan915]

Guess what, insurance premiums have already been going up for years before this bill.


When will you figure out the cos use ANY excuse to fuck you.

This is why the public option was so important.

People would have a place to go when the corps tried to ream them some more.

And that is the God's honest truth.

My family has had BCBS for years, long before the health care law, and not a year goes by that we don't see either a premium increase or a drop in procedures covered.

The latest cut was a children's eye exam during the annual physical. Nobody let us know in advance; we found out when an additional bill arrived a month after the visits.

It's ludicrous to say premiums will increase because of Obamacare when a quick examination of the record shows that companies like BCBS have been gouging us for years.