Anthem (Blue Cross) seeks 22.9 percent rate increase in Maine

[Nikki Stone1]

This is what we have to look forward to, folks. No price controls. An individual mandate and increases prices.

http://updates.pressherald.mainetoday.com/updates/anthem-seeks-229-percent-rate-increase-in-maine


Anthem seeks 22.9 percent rate increase in Maine
Submitted by The Associated Press on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 09:49
in Central Maine Newspapers Portland Press Herald


PORTLAND — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine has proposed a 22.9 percent rate increase for two health insurance plans targeting individuals.

The filing comes as Anthem awaits a judge's ruling on an earlier rate case. Maine Insurance Superintendent Mila Koffman last spring denied Anthem's proposed 18 percent rate hike for its individual insurance plans. Instead, she approved a revised request for a 10.9 percent increase, which provided for a zero percent profit margin.

The new filing focuses on the same two products that provide coverage for 11,066 Mainers.

Greg Howard from Maine Changes That Works, which advocates health care reform, says it "boggles the mind" that Anthem would file for another increase before the last one was settled.

BTW some great comments at the end of this article:

Submitted by carrier Wood on Thu, 01/07/2010 - 17:16.
No doubt that Anthem already knows the outcome of the upcoming health care Bill in Washington.There is nothing like betting on a sure thing--there will be no cap on premiums increase.

The people are stuck between a rock and hard place . If the National Bill is enacted, the forcing -the -uninsured -to- buy, new business will go to companies like Anthem.

If ther Bill fails, it's business as usual. All that will be gained are a few crumbs,and certainly not a cap on rates. That was not included by the lobbyists who wrote the whole Bill.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. And now Snowe and Collins can explain why they were against Medicare being opened up

and a real public option with cost controls. Their state has the second highest use of food stamps per household in the country - they are doing a piss-poor job of representing their constituents.

Maine! Elect some Socialists or at least some Dems who aren't afraid to call themselves "liberal" and/or "progressive". Other wise, you will be even more f!@#ed than you are now.


Good job, Olympia and Susan! How do you sleep at night?

[Captain Hilts]

2. I wonder what President Ollie Snowe thinks...or how she'll explain it. nt

[pscot]

3. So, President Snowe

how's that corporate health care system working out for your voters?

[Nikki Stone1]

4. They've been emboldened by the new Health insurance bill (Senate version) that will be signed soon

That is the problem.

[Captain Hilts]

6. Hey, their stock values have been going up, why not?!?!

[Nikki Stone1]

7. No shit.

This bill is good for them.

[Nikki Stone1]

5. K

k

[slipslidingaway]

8. knr nt

[Nikki Stone1]

9. Thanks

;)

[slipslidingaway]

11. :) kick nt

[valerief]

10. Who do they think they are, a credit card company? nt

[wilt the stilt]

12. Anthem is wellpoint and a bunch of dirtbags

This is typical. I just got in a battle with Anthem and it took me 8 days to resolve. My daughter had a devastating diagnosis. She was given a prescription for 6 months of medication. She will have to take this medication for many years. The medication did not last a month even though she has to take it every day. We were down to our last pill.

Anthem would not allow her to get prescriptions because we are only allowed one prescription per month. This happened because it may have cost them an extra $10.00 because god forbidding I might not be employed by my company.
They got right between the Doctor and the patient. I called my senator and congressman and talked to them. I let it be known that the insurance company got right between the Doctor and patient.

Both are butthole repukes.