Regence BC raises individual premiums by 16 percent, drops kids plans, paid CEO 1 million

[n2doc]

Regence raises individual premiums by 16 percent
Increase happens on same day insurer drops child-only coverage

By VANESSA HO
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Premiums for individual health plans for Regence BlueShield will jump an average of 16.4 percent Friday, affecting thousands of people, the same day the insurance giant will stop selling child-only plans.

This will be the fourth year in a row the company has raised individual premiums by double digits.

Earlier this week, Regence triggerered anger from the state Insurance Commissioner, after it said it was dropping its child-only insurance in Washington. The move came days after federal health-care reforms took effect to ban insurers from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

Regence also pulled out of the kid-only policy market in Utah and Oregon, where a company official explained it as a way to keep costs down and avoid fee hikes.

more

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/427628_regence29.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. My doctor was talking to me about insurance-

I had said I was glad my insurance was not that high etc. He said well you are lucky because those insurance companies are going to keep raising rates for people. They wiil, because they can get away with it.

Well that was one doctor who was not afraid to say what he thought.

[metapunditedgy]

2. They *will* because they *can.* That's the plain truth.

Government can either stop them or enable them. And doing nothing is enablement, FWIW.