Blue Cross raises rate hike sought on Affordable Care plans

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Blue Cross raises rate hike sought on Affordable Care plans

Emery P. Dalesio and Emily Masters, Associated Press
Published 5:13 pm, Thursday, August 6, 2015

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's largest health insurer says higher-than-anticipated costs after two years of selling federally subsidized coverage has forced it to seek premium increases even greater than it thought would be necessary two months ago.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina said Thursday that it now seeks an average 34.6 percent higher premium for insurance sold under President Barack Obama's health insurance overhaul law. The company said in June that it wanted to raise rates by an average of almost 26 percent starting in January, compared with this year's allowed 13.5 percent increase.

The move comes as dozens of health insurers across the country have proposed increasing premiums for individual policies well beyond 10 percent for 2016. However, many of those insurers face pushback from state and federal regulators, and experts say it's still too soon to say how things will turn out.

Blue Cross vice president Patrick Getzen says the program has not met expectations that healthier customers would enroll in the second year and that costs would level out after people who avoided doctors for years got treatment.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Blue-Cross-raises-rate-hike-sought-on-Affordable-6429788.php

[AllFieldsRequired]

1. TIme for them to be history. Single payer and now

Plus, they cant be trusted to tell the truth about their profits and costs.


Even though they can be audited, there are ways to manipulate everything.

The mandate isnt working yet probably plus it may never work.

UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE NOW OR GENERAL STRIKE

[dsc]

2. We have a good insurance commissioner here so they are likely not to get this increase

I am sure they will get some of it but not all of it by any means.

[Quackers]

3. Single payer now!

[TexasBushwhacker]

4. The more they pull this shit, the more they are just

asking for a single payer plan, or a public option at the very least. Furthermore, if they did a better job of controlling costs, like not allowing hospitals to charge $20 for a Tylenol, their profits would be better. We need more transparency and regulation of healthcare cists. It makes no sense that a knee replacement can cost $10K in one city and $100K in another.

[Stainless]

5. Obvious Solution: Single Payer

Medicare for all. Those who think otherwise are merely greedy buffoons.

[jeff47]

6. Keep in mind whenever you see a story like this

that the rates are the insurance company's opening bid. It will always be high.

[msongs]

10. exaclty, only democrats open negotiations with the worst position they could have lol nt

[Skittles]

12. yes, they will ask for 35% but only get, say, HALF of that

[OneCrazyDiamond]

7. That is simply appalling.

[Lint Head]

8. Perfect timing for conservative supporting fascist corporations to use the minds of the populace

for a power grab. Raise rates. Blame it on the ACA and everybody believes it enough to have Fox Boobs creaming in their jeans for the opportunity to promote another lie. Goebbels would be proud.

[glinda]

9. They are also doing that in MN. My rates will go through the roof. (even more)

[appalachiablue]

11. K & R. Predators. Single Payer USA!

[candelista]

13. There will be no end to this.

Not as long as the insurance companies run the show.

Only Medicare/single payer can keep costs under control.

[jtuck004]

14. "after people who avoided doctors for years" < Avoided? Because the thieving insurance companies

have driven the costs to the point where people die begging in the streets for care?

Fuck you you over priveleged asshole > Blue Cross vice president Patrick Getz

[Hydra]

15. "Healthy people"

Doesn't he mean, free profits?