Health Insurance Blog

Anthem Blue Cross is delaying their proposed rate increase to their California individual health insurance customers after much criticism, and a request by the California Department of Insurance.

The proposed health insurance rate increase would have raised monthly premiums for some members by as much as 39%.  According to Anthem the rate increase represents anticipated medical costs.

Regulators do not believe the sizable rate increase is justified given how profitable parent company Wellpoint was in 2009.

Situations like these, where health insurance companies have been coming off record profits, and then request significant rate increases based on actuarial data are not endearing themselves to the American public, and to politicians looking to solve the country’s health care issues.

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin has introduced a new low-cost health insurance plan for individuals called CoreShare.  In addition they have enhanced their SmartSense and Premier health plans.

CoreShare has a simple plan design and can be as cheap as $45 per month for a 25 year old Male in Milwaukee.

Among other benefits, CoreShare health plans offer:  A choice of nine deductible options (ranging from 750 to 25000), $2,000,000 in lifetime protection per member, access to both PPO and Point-of-Service networks, and access to the Blue Cross Blue Shield BlueCard Program.

Members choosing Anthem’s CoreShare, SmartSense, Premier or Lumenos (HSA) plans have access to more than 13,820 Wisconsin POS network doctors and specialists, and nearly 140 hospitals.

More information about Wisconsin health insurance.

Nine out of ten seniors are satisfied with their medicare supplement insurance according to Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (BCBS) website.  Most Medigap policyholders feel they are getting good value for their money based upon a survey recently released by BCBS and America’s Health Insurance Plans.

The survey, which was conducted by American ViewPoint, INC, shows that approximately 88% of seniors carrying medicare supplement insurance were satisfied and 62% consider themselves very satisfied.  Even more impressive is that 87% said they would recommend their Medigap coverage to friends and family.  According to the survey, the main thing they liked about their coverage was the flexibility choosing any physician they wish and the peace of mind they find with their protection.  Medical bills and processing paperwork is simple as well for these consumers.

Shopping around for a Medigap policy can be overwhelming since there are so many companies offering these types of policies, including BCBS medicare supplements.  To ensure you are part of the majority who have positive experiences with their Medicare, it’s important to shop around to get the best rates as well as the most comprehensive benefits that suit your needs.

A recent report released by eHealthinsurance.com illustrates the relative affordability of individual health insurance plans across numerous dimensions, as well as a breakdown of what types of individual health insurance policies have been purchased most frequently.

Some of the findings in the report include:

• The average monthly premium for an individual health insurance policy was $161 ($383 when insuring a family)
• Half of individual health insurance policyholders paid $132 per month or less, when purchasing coverage just for themselves.
• Iowa laid claim to the most affordable health insurance in the country with avg. monthly premiums of $103 for insuring an individual,  New York was the most expensive at $339 per month.
• 16% of individual health plans purchased were HSA eligible plans with high deductibles.
• nearly 90% of individual health plans purchased included prescription drug coverage.
• about a quarter of policies had maternity benefits.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has asked the Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner to approve a 10.2% rate increase for its direct-pay plans (available to individuals and families who are not eligible for group health insurance plans or government sponsored programs).

Direct Pay is the only health insurance plan in Rhode Island that is guaranteed issue for those not eligible for group plans or Medicare or Medicaid.

BSBCRI offers several programs that make individual health insurance more affordable including AccessBlue Subsidy plan, The Wellness Reward Plan and the Preferred Rate System.

More information about Rhode Island health insurance

A prediction has been made by the president of the American Hospital Association in San Antonio last Wednesday according to the article “Hospital Leader Sees Health Care Bill Passing” by Don Finley on mysanantonio.com.  The president, Richard Umbdenstock, believes some sort of health reform bill will pass before Congress leaves for the December holiday. 

This could mean big changes for San Antonio health insurance.  The bill that passes will not be perfect but it will bring some value.  Umbdenstock noted that half of US hospitals are losing money and 25% are breaking even.  These groups are concerned about a government run plan taking over as they may lose even more money.  Back in June, hospitals agreed to give up about $155 billion in federal payments over the next ten years.  In return for this loss, a plan would be put in place to ensure 94% of US residents would have health insurance.  This would reduce their losses from the uninsured by about $171 billion.

A few weeks ago the health insurance industry released a report stating that the Senate bill would increase premiums for people with private insurance.  They did agree to change the ways in which they conduct business such as covering people with pre-existing conditions in return for the requirement that everyone must purchase health insurance. 

Given the increased attention to rising health insurance rates and the growing number of uninsured in this country, we periodically scour the web for low-cost health insurance plans from quality health insurance companies across the country and blog about one here.

Blue Options HSA is a low cost health plan for North Carolina residents offered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  BlueOptions HSA is a high deductible health plan that is eligible to combine with an HSA.

According to BCBSNC, monthly premiums are as much as 50% lower than a traditional health plan.  Rates can be less than $60 per month for a 25 year old male.  Other affordable health insurance plans offered by BCBSNC include Blue Advantage.

More information about North Carolina health insurance.

Many Americans between the ages of 50-64 are losing their health insurance according to the article “Health Insurance Hard to Find for the Newly Unemployed” by Richard Martin TampaBay.com.  The reason these people are losing their insurance so rapidly is because of rising unemployment and an increasing number of businesses unable to afford health insurance for their employees.

The AARP estimates that approximately 7 million people between 50-64 are uninsured.  This number is growing rapidly and causing much stir in the health care debate in Washington DC.  Until recently, most of the focus has been placed on the young uninsured or Medicare for over 65. 

The main problem with this generation losing their health insurance is this is when they need it most.  Finding health insurance for this group can be challenging as well.  Individual health insurance plans for those over 50 cost much more than employer sponsored plans.  Many plans exclude pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or depression, conditions that often come with age.  Studies show that uninsured people are more likely to put off treatment which can lead to declining health.  It’s a vicious cycle that hopefully Congress can end.

A recent study conducted by the Texas Public Interest Research Group examines how the current health insurance system affects small businesses across the nation.  This is according to the article “Study finds that small businesses are disadvantaged by higher health care costs” by Priscilla Pelli on dailytexanonline.com. 

Austin’s small businesses are at risk under the current health insurance system according to this study.  There are negative effects on these Texas small businesses as increases in the cost of health care plans for employees are in place.  Businesses also have the inability to provide health insurance coverage to the employees because of very high costs.

Individual health insurance in Texas can be easy to find, but when you own a small business you may not always have the cash flow to cover monthly premiums, especially for employees.  Smaller businesses are finding it harder and harder to attract quality employees since the benefits they can afford to offer are not competitive.  This is putting small business at an extreme disadvantage.  Hopefully the health care reform plan that Congress votes for will assist these affected businesses.

Effective January 1, Blue Shield of California will be removed from the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) because their premiums were substantially higher than the rates offered by the other two insurers that make up the Program.

The MRMIP currently covers almost 7,000 California residents who are unable to purchase private health insurance due to pre-existing conditions.

Health insurance companies that participate in the MRMIP Program are allowed to charge 25% higher premium than the market rate for a given health insurance policy, and if the insurer loses money they will be reimbursed by the state.  Despite the state subsidization, Blue Shield’s health insurance rates were much higher than both Kaiser Permananete’s or Anthem Blue Cross of California.

Current enrollees in the MRMIP Program via Blue Shield will be able to keep their existing coverage until January 1, and then must enroll with one of the other health plans that participate in the Program.

More information about California health insurance.