"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win." -- Mahatma Gandhi
Fact Check: President Obama On Health Insurance Premiums | Missouri Political News Service

Fact Check: President Obama On Health Insurance Premiums

September 23rd, 2010 by mopns · No Comments

Democrats were apparently telling each other “Happy 6 month #hcr anniversary!” yesterday, but there’s not a lot to be happy about as seemingly every day there are new stories about how the mandates in the health care law will increase premiums, even though Democrats promised they would go down.

CONNECTICUT: “Health Insurers Are Asking For Immediate Rate Hikes Of More Than 20 Percent In Connecticut For Some Plans, Citing Rising Medical Costs And Federal Health Reform Laws As Reasons. Both issues — the new federal health care reform and rising medical costs — are significant drivers of the increases, according to filings by insurers with state regulators that were reviewed by The Courant.” (“Health Insurers Seeking Rate Hikes Of More Than 20 Percent In Connecticut,” The Hartford Courant, 9/15/10)

“In Justifying Rate Increases Sought In Connecticut, Anthem Said That One Provision Of The New Law, Forbidding Insurers To Impose Lifetime Limits On Coverage Of ‘Essential Health Benefits,’ Could Cause Premiums For Some Policies To Rise As Much As 22.9 Percent.” (“Medicare Advantage Premiums To Fall In 2011,” The New York Times, 9/22/10)

CALIFORNIA: “Premiums In The Commercial Insurance Market Continue Rising At A Brisk Pace, As Illustrated By The Largest Plans In California. Ioannis A. Kazanis, A Spokesman For The California Insurance Department, Said That Starting Oct. 1, Commercial Premiums Would Rise An Average Of 19 Percent For Individual Policies Sold By Aetna And By Blue Shield Of California, 16 Percent For Health Net Policies And 14 Percent For Those Sold By Anthem Blue Cross, A Unit Of Wellpoint.” (“Medicare Advantage Premiums To Fall In 2011,” The New York Times, 9/22/10)

WASHINGTON STATE: “Whopping Rate Increases Are Coming Soon For Many People With Individual Health-Insurance Policies. Most insurers offering individual policies in the state have asked for and been granted rate increases, effective Oct. 1, according to the state’s insurance commissioner. Regence BlueShield’s rate increase an average 16.5 percent was one of the highest. It was topped by Asuris Northwest Health, a Regence subsidiary, with an increase of 23.7 percent. Group Health Cooperative, the fifth-largest insurer of individuals, was considerably lower, asking for an 8.2 percent increase. But its newer program, Group Health Options, asked for a 22 percent increase. By reducing benefits and making other changes, the plans trimmed increases to 7.8 and 13.8 percent, respectively. A lot of angry customers are asking why.” (“Steep Rate Hikes On Way For Individual Health Insurance,” The Seattle Times, 9/7/10)

NATIONWIDE: “Health Insurers … Have Asked For Premium Increases Of Between 1% And 9% To Pay For Extra Benefits Required Under The [Democrat Health Care] Law.” “Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats’ efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections. Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators.” (“Health Insurers Plan Hikes,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

“Aetna, One Of The Nation’s Largest Health Insurers, Said The Extra Benefits Forced It To Seek Rate Increases For New Individual Plans Of 5.4% To 7.4% In California And 5.5% To 6.8% In Nevada After Sept. 23. Similar steps are planned across the country, according to Aetna.” (“Health Insurers Plan Hikes,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

“Regence BlueCross BlueShield Of Oregon Said The Cost Of Providing Additional Benefits Under The Health Law Will Account On Average For 3.4 Percentage Points…” (“Health Insurers Plan Hikes,” The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

Related:

Rasmussen Reports: 61% Favor Repeal of Health Care Law

Comments

comments

Tags: Healthcare

0 responses so far ↓

  • There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment