Anthem Raises California Health Rate by 39%

[longfisher]

Well, many said there was not going to be any way to hold back the insurance companies raising rates once they killed healthcare reform in Congress.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of California (a Wellpoint company which also owns UniCare) just raised rates for individual medical policy member by a whopping THIRTY NINE PERCENT overnight.

It's got the Ca. government and the White House up in arms. But there's not a darned thing they can do about it. Only healthcare reform's threat of competition kept the lid on this for the last year. Now, it's Katie bar the door.

I expect all of the companies to quickly raise rates and to become even more selective about who the insure.

Here's a hint on how to survive this, or almost survive it, get an independent agent who works for all the big names and have him shop, shop, shop till he drops to find you a good plan if you don't already have one. Then join and DON'T EVER LEAVE, DON'T EVER PAY A BILL LATE, DON'T EVER LET YOUR POLICY LAPSE.

If you leave the plan for any reason and have virtually anything at all in your medical record you're unlikely to get new insurance. Let the high-priced cherry pickin' begin.

Oh, healthcare reform would have solved these problems.

LongFisher

[ahicapt]

I live in California and have Anthem. Just got my bill yesterday and it jumped up 39% They just lost a customer!!!! Maybe it's time to use the ER as my primary like all the illegals do in this F***ked up state...

[obxfish]

Well, many said there was not going to be any way to hold back the insurance companies raising rates once they killed healthcare reform in Congress.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of California (a Wellpoint company which also owns UniCare) just raised rates for individual medical policy member by a whopping THIRTY NINE PERCENT overnight.

It's got the Ca. government and the White House up in arms. But there's not a darned thing they can do about it. Only healthcare reform's threat of competition kept the lid on this for the last year. Now, it's Katie bar the door.

I expect all of the companies to quickly raise rates and to become even more selective about who the insure.

Here's a hint on how to survive this, or almost survive it, get an independent agent who works for all the big names and have him shop, shop, shop till he drops to find you a good plan if you don't already have one. Then join and DON'T EVER LEAVE, DON'T EVER PAY A BILL LATE, DON'T EVER LET YOUR POLICY LAPSE.

If you leave the plan for any reason and have virtually anything at all in your medical record you're unlikely to get new insurance. Let the high-priced cherry pickin' begin.

Oh, healthcare reform would have solved these problems.

LongFisher

Why wouldn't changing the laws to allow people to buy health insurance across state lines solve this problem as well?

[eppefour]

That would have to be done by the states. Every state requires registration with a state insurance commissioner.