My health insurance premiums are going up over 75%

[MNBrewer]

I work for a company in Minnesota that's owned by a company in Texas. We have our insurance through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas. We were notified this week that our rates would be increasing by $850/year UNLESS

1) we consent to having a third party obtain blood work results regarding our cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, blood pressure and other health indicators.

AND

2) "voluntarily" provide that information to.... you guessed it.... BLUE CROSS/BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, so that they can provide us a "health risk assessment".

I don't mind having the blood work done, nor do I mind having the health risk assessment done. What I DO mind is having Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas with that information. It's none of their business, and they're not normally entitled to that private information.

The $850 increase in my premiums means a 77.6% increase, to just over $1900/year. That's almost 6% of my gross pay, almost 8% of my take home.

Does a 77% increase in health insurance premiums seem outrageous to anyone else?
Any Minnesota people who know someone in the Insurance Commissioner's Office, or the Attorney General's office?

I don't know whether this is "kosher", but I'd like to find out before I either fork over my private information to my health insurer, fork over $850, or cancel my health insurance altogether.

[Hissyspit]

1. Sure sounds like blackmail to me.

But then I have ethics.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Holy crapoli. I wonder if the townhall meeting disruptors would be so vocal if they faced this.

I doubt it.

Then again, they keep voting against their best interest, so who knows?

[enlightenment]

3. It sounds like the insurance companies are going to start

doing the same thing the credit card companies are doing - faced with the possibility that they may be reined in a little bit, they are taking the opportunity to screw every last bit they can out of their 'customers'. If you don't do what they want, they'll cancel your coverage for non-compliance or something, just like the cc companies are raising interest rates and cutting limits on people because they shop at a store where someone they've never met, who happens to have bad debt, also shops.

You have my sympathy, because it sounds like they have you between a rock and a hard place.

And it seems like they want the money even if they don't give you the coverage at all - this past January, I took a semester long position that offered me health coverage. The HR people screwed up the paperwork and as a result the coverage didn't start until June 1st - 2 weeks after my contract and eligibility for it had expired - and canceled it at the end of June. They took one premium payment for the 5 months I should have been covered. I asked them about that premium payment last week (why did I pay for something I didn't get?) and they sent me an email today informing me that yes, they had screwed up - but I OWE them the premium for the months I should have had - but DID NOT HAVE coverage.

In other words, they admit that I was never covered - but they still want the money. Considering that they could have taken the money automatically from my paycheck, but didn't, I'm not feeling particularly inclined to give it to them now.

I am considering sending the story and all the paperwork proving it to my local newspaper . . .

[elehhhhna]

7. send it to the skate insurance board, the media, and the top exec at te School...

nicely, concisely, and briefly, lie your post.

[MineralMan]

4. To put that in a bit of perspective,

My wife and I are both self-employed (well, I'm retired), and our total health insurance premiums are just over $15,000 per year. If you're insured through your employment, your employer is paying the bulk of your premiums. The true cost is closer to what my wife and I are paying.

This is the untold fact that everyone should know. My entire Social Security check, along with more, goes to pay our health insurance premiums.

[MNBrewer]

9. To put THAT in perspective

I've been pretty much pure profit for BC/BS of Texas, hardly using any of my coverage. I'm only 44, and am in good health. I'm nowhere near retirement age. Plus, I'm single.

[Laelth]

5. Only 6% of your gross pay? You should be happy.

:sarcasm:

If HB 3200 passes as written, the uninsured will get a whopping, new bill of between 1.5% and 12% of their gross income to buy the worst possible insurance (and that's after the subsidies). Trust me. Those of us who can not afford health insurance now are not thrilled with the plans now circulating in Congress. We need health care. We do not need a law that forces us to buy insurance or else become criminals.

I feel your pain, and I would be mad if I were you. In fact, I am mad because Democrats (members of my own party, allegedly the liberal one) plan to pay for "health insurance reform" on the backs of the uninsured.

:dem:

-Laelth

[MercutioATC]

6. That's about $160/month for health insurance on a little over $31k/year.

I understand you being irked with a 77% increase, but my girlfriend pays $270/month out of a gross income of about $29k/year.

Even with the hike, you're not doing bad.

[MNBrewer]

10. Or, like some HR shill in the "town hall meeting" said

There were some people in Tennessee that were FIRED if they didn't take the health screening! I should feel LUCKY! hehe

[MercutioATC]

11. I'm torn about requiring screenings.

I have a gut negative reaction, but it makes good business sense for the insurer...and, with our current system, there are few limits on what information an insurer can require. I also disagree with one's auto insurance rates being based, in part, on one's credit score, but that's perfectly legal too.

My point was that, even with the increase, you're still paying a lot less than many people.

Just a question, is this a self-only plan or does it cover spouse/children?

[MNBrewer]

12. just me.

no partner, no kids

[MercutioATC]

13. OK, just so I'm sure I'm making an apples to apples comparison.

A "family" plan (spouse and children) on my girlfriend's plan is over $800/month.

[MNBrewer]

14. People with partner and children already pay more than I do in our plan.

They get an increase of the same amount as a single person, regardless of how many people are covered. This penalizes singles disproportionately, at least in terms of percentage increase.

[MercutioATC]

15. It generally works that way.

I pay $360/month for my "family" plan that covers me and any number of family members. (the actual cost is about $1100/month, but my employer pays 2/3 of the premium).

The "self-only" premium is about $155/mo (actual premium of about $465/month without employer subsidy).

That's a little over the "self-only" premium for any number of additional people covered.

[MichiganVote]

8. And just think...one option out there will add a tax on top of your increase.More increase, more tax