- 3,384
You can change from Select HMO to four plans with no underwriting, just by written request.
Core 5000 PPO
Basic 2500 PPO
Basic 1000 PPO
HMO Saver (better than Select HMO bigger network)
Anthem (continued) The Real Fight Begins
- Thread starter Winter_123
- Start date
You can change from Select HMO to four plans with no underwriting, just by written request.
Core 5000 PPO
Basic 2500 PPO
Basic 1000 PPO
HMO Saver (better than Select HMO bigger network)
- Thread starter
- #12
- 2,908
The larger issue at hand though is that there are no cost containment reforms in place and premiums are only going up, way up. If you live in a state that has alternatives to Anthem then you can change chairs on the deck of the Titanic for a year or two to avoid the issue but the original theme of this thread was that for some states the real fight has begun.
I live in one of them and the state dealt with it by simply denying an increase even though the payout ratio was there. And, Anthem is all we have unless you want to switch to mega or over to Aetna which is higher.
The fact that a consumer, at this point in time, may be able to switch to another more affordable carrier in California does not change the fact that the Anthem rate increase or request for a rate increase (however it works there) has the attention of Washingon /Obama and consumers in many/most states. All of that has implications. Some good, some not so good.
If one's goal is to have single payer over time then it all works to advance that process. Although the comparisons between Maine and California are limited. we are all along for some rides. We also have had bills looping around the legislature for single payer. They have not taken off due to affordability etc. Watch and see how much traction it gets when Anthem leaves unless all you other states are going to keep on subsidizing us. and then mix in with that the inevitable which is that Obama will eventually reach an agreement with the republicans to make massive amounts of block grant funds available to states for health reform as long as they demonstrate that the insured level is going up. We are just a hop an skip away from that here. If you are a hop, skip, and a jump in CA then maybe so, but you are on that track too. Might even be faster because the total collapse of your state budget will make you more receptive to hand outs from the feds and the strings that go with it.
Anyway, as discussed ad nauseum, we can bat Obamacare down but not health reform. Rising costs and rising premiums have not got away. Anthem's rabid rate increases around the country are going to fuel this issue exponentially. And, oh by the way, we can only wonder what those rates will look like when GI is superimposed up on them (I mean in CA, we already have it). Big issues ahead.
The Anthem increases are nasty in a nasty environment but in my view it advances the fight that must be had. I dont have the answer, but I am sure that we wasted our time with the whole year long Obamacare venture which was not even asking the right questions. As stated, the mentality from both Obama and Hillary has always been " we will be telling the insurance carriers what the premiums will be" (direct quote from Hillary).
I live in one of them and the state dealt with it by simply denying an increase even though the payout ratio was there. And, Anthem is all we have unless you want to switch to mega or over to Aetna which is higher.
The fact that a consumer, at this point in time, may be able to switch to another more affordable carrier in California does not change the fact that the Anthem rate increase or request for a rate increase (however it works there) has the attention of Washingon /Obama and consumers in many/most states. All of that has implications. Some good, some not so good.
If one's goal is to have single payer over time then it all works to advance that process. Although the comparisons between Maine and California are limited. we are all along for some rides. We also have had bills looping around the legislature for single payer. They have not taken off due to affordability etc. Watch and see how much traction it gets when Anthem leaves unless all you other states are going to keep on subsidizing us. and then mix in with that the inevitable which is that Obama will eventually reach an agreement with the republicans to make massive amounts of block grant funds available to states for health reform as long as they demonstrate that the insured level is going up. We are just a hop an skip away from that here. If you are a hop, skip, and a jump in CA then maybe so, but you are on that track too. Might even be faster because the total collapse of your state budget will make you more receptive to hand outs from the feds and the strings that go with it.
Anyway, as discussed ad nauseum, we can bat Obamacare down but not health reform. Rising costs and rising premiums have not got away. Anthem's rabid rate increases around the country are going to fuel this issue exponentially. And, oh by the way, we can only wonder what those rates will look like when GI is superimposed up on them (I mean in CA, we already have it). Big issues ahead.
The Anthem increases are nasty in a nasty environment but in my view it advances the fight that must be had. I dont have the answer, but I am sure that we wasted our time with the whole year long Obamacare venture which was not even asking the right questions. As stated, the mentality from both Obama and Hillary has always been " we will be telling the insurance carriers what the premiums will be" (direct quote from Hillary).
Last edited:
I believe the White House is harping on this just because of the percentages. It appears they are still the cheapest even after these rate increases. If you have something that is 30% less than your closest competitor (no matter what product you are selling) and you raise your price 30%, you are still competitive with the marketplace. If I were Anthem I'd be out explaining this to people. I'd get on every news program that would have me.
For anyone to think that GI will lower cost, they are out of their mind. Let them go ahead and pass that part of the bill and we'll see just how quickly people get up in arms about the cost of insurance at that point.
For anyone to think that GI will lower cost, they are out of their mind. Let them go ahead and pass that part of the bill and we'll see just how quickly people get up in arms about the cost of insurance at that point.
- 323
Was the rate increase on existing policies or new business? Or both? Our local Blue did not increase rates anywhere near these levels this year, or any year for that matter, but their practice is to generally increase existing policies by 17%, while new business rates go up by 4%.
The only reason I ask this is that everyone is running rates on a comparative quote, but that may only tell a part of the story. It's those folks who have had coverage for 3 years, developed an illness, and can't move that are in real trouble. That is where the bad PR will come from. Michael Moore is ready with Sicko 2, I'm sure.
The only reason I ask this is that everyone is running rates on a comparative quote, but that may only tell a part of the story. It's those folks who have had coverage for 3 years, developed an illness, and can't move that are in real trouble. That is where the bad PR will come from. Michael Moore is ready with Sicko 2, I'm sure.
- 15,319
I am wearing my foil hat to protect myself from rate increases.
But perhaps Anthem (and other companies) are trying to force the GI with mandate issue. Would certainly be a windfall for the carriers, at least for a couple of years.
Rick
But perhaps Anthem (and other companies) are trying to force the GI with mandate issue. Would certainly be a windfall for the carriers, at least for a couple of years.
Rick
- 3,384
Both. Rates are equal March 1 for existing and new subscribers.
- 323
I actually think GI with a real mandate would still cost the carriers a bit in the long run. If you think about it, the claims experience is sure to go up, as more sick people are on the books, and healthy people who figure "what the hell, I'm paying for this" go to the doctor when they normally wouldn't have. This means more support personel as well, but I suppose those carriers that still have live UW can train them in customer service and claims.
I don't think it should be viewed as the carriers salivating at the though of GI, but it could be decent to good for the agents.
GI with the mandate is really a question of survive or die, not survive or thrive, IMO.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I don't think it should be viewed as the carriers salivating at the though of GI, but it could be decent to good for the agents.
GI with the mandate is really a question of survive or die, not survive or thrive, IMO.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wow. On the bright side, commissions just went up 30% too?
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #18
- 2,908
Yup, except that Obama's base elected him with a mandate to bring premiums down to a more competitive, affordable level - not just to ensure that no one was necessarily more expensive than the other.
He would like to think that examples of premiums going up are reasons why people should have supported Obamacare. Good luck with that. Contrary to how some people here and elsewhere spin the poll data, they still want reform, they just became rightfully convinced that Obama had no plan or had one that would increase their premiums.
He is still on the receiving end of the wrath from premiums going up and he knows it, as he should be. He didn't create the mess but he did waste the country's time for an entire year on a plan that neither he nor anyone else understood or could articulate and was not workable even if they could.
What a frigging mess.
- 688
In Indianapolis, she's at $184. Why is it more expensive in Indy, where costs are relatively low? Could it be that we are subsidizing the too low rates in California?
