Athem BC and BS, rates up 47% !!

[Christine]

Our BC/BS will increas 7% next year as will the other people I know who have BC/BS through their employers. Not sure why this Anthem plan has such a huge increase.

 

[DawnCt1]

Our BC/BS will increas 7% next year as will the other people I know who have BC/BS through their employers. Not sure why this Anthem plan has such a huge increase.

These are individual plans and are required to cover more services, even services that aren't wanted or needed by many 20 somethings. My DS has had the plan for nearly 2 years. His plan also includes dental. He gets two cleanings per year and that is the only thing on the plan that he has used.

 

[Christine]

These are individual plans and are required to cover more services, even services that aren't wanted or needed by many 20 somethings. My DS has had the plan for nearly 2 years. His plan also includes dental. He gets two cleanings per year and that is the only thing on the plan that he has used.

I read something about this awhile ago and they cited one of the reasons for the increase has been due to high unemployment rate causing younger, healthier people to have to drop their insurance which is leaving them insuring more higher risk people who continue their insurance due to those health reasons. So, it seems that one of the causes is losing some of their "healthy pool."

Edited to add: Found this:

Company executives said Anthem needs to increase premiums in part because younger, healthier people have been dropping health insurance coverage during the recession, leaving it with a pool of policyholders that is older and more dependent on health care services.

Anthem vice president and general manager James Oatman said Anthem had lost about 25,000 customers from its individual coverage pool in 2009.

Margolin said premium hikes are an unfortunate byproduct of the current economic climate and flawed national health care system.

 

[sbell111]

There goes Dawn's theory that the increase was due to recent legislation.

 

[marcyinPA]

Hope and change.

 

[marcyinPA]

We also have BC/BS, small-ish company. DH's contribution went up $100 a month. Deductions are taken out of each check, every other week. Our share is $493 a month...just for the two of us. To make matters worse, he had a HUGE salary decrease in April...he's only making $18 an hour. He's working two jobs, and I'm working one. We have no debt...we are making it work, but barely.

I don't see how the new healthcare initiative is working for people like us.

 

[Christine]

We also have BC/BS, small-ish company. DH's contribution went up $100 a month. Deductions are taken out of each check, every other week. Our share is $493 a month...just for the two of us. To make matters worse, he had a HUGE salary decrease in April...he's only making $18 an hour. He's working two jobs, and I'm working one. We have no debt...we are making it work, but barely.

I don't see how the new healthcare initiative is working for people like us.

Not to get anything started but the initiative has *started* really.

People in your situation (declining wages, skyrocketing costs) are what is fueling this. Based on the statement by Anthem's management, the reason their costs are rising is because people like you eventually have to make a choice and many of the healthier folks get to the point that they have to stop paying for health insurance and opt out. The unemployment or declining employment is causing this. You can't blame this on the initiative yet. I personally have no clue how the new rules/mandates are going to play out but they aren't yet responsible for what is happening right now with premiums. That is do to the horrible economy, greed, and no controls in place. Whether the inititative will make it worse or improve things remains to be seen. Whatever direction it goes, it won't be overnight.

 

[DawnCt1]

There goes Dawn's theory that the increase was due to recent legislation.

If you read the article in the Hartford Courant, it is abundantly clear that the increase is indeed due to recent legislation, according to our very own insurance commission that overseas those increases.

 

[DawnCt1]

I read something about this awhile ago and they cited one of the reasons for the increase has been due to high unemployment rate causing younger, healthier people to have to drop their insurance which is leaving them insuring more higher risk people who continue their insurance due to those health reasons. So, it seems that one of the causes is losing some of their "healthy pool."

Edited to add: Found this:

While that may account for some of the increase, many of those healthy, young people often opted out, because they didn't want the deductions. The new mandates have increased the cost of health care for everyone.

 

[disney1990]

While that may account for some of the increase, many of those healthy, young people often opted out, because they didn't want the deductions. The new mandates have increased the cost of health care for everyone.

At least you can now have your son on your health insurance policy.

 

[Acklander]

While that may account for some of the increase, many of those healthy, young people often opted out, because they didn't want the deductions. The new mandates have increased the cost of health care for everyone.

yes, it's a shame they didn't leave the less expensive option in with the changes. On the bright side, isn't it great that your son is allowed to purchase health insurance? And he gets to be one of the healthy ones chipping in towards the sick ones? I hope he's counting his blessings.

 

[C.Ann]

Oh, I see. You wanted to start a political thread, but are no longer allowed to.

I read something about this awhile ago and they cited one of the reasons for the increase has been due to high unemployment rate causing younger, healthier people to have to drop their insurance which is leaving them insuring more higher risk people who continue their insurance due to those health reasons. So, it seems that one of the causes is losing some of their "healthy pool."

Edited to add: Found this:

There goes Dawn's theory that the increase was due to recent legislation.

I have dealth with BC/BS for a number of years now - individual plan - and long before there was any talk of health care reform they were raising my rates significantly not one, but twice a year - although technically they're not allowed to do that.. And the insurance is horrible - as far as what's covered - but the only one that started out (drew people in) by starting with a rate that was lower than others.. Once you were insured, that's when they stuck it to you..

This is not a "political agenda created scenario" - it's called "real life" and people no longer having jobs, health insurance, or a way to pay for it..