HSC in Lockdown Mode?

[AllenChicago]

Unless/Until BCBS-IL gets rid of their 12 month rate guarantee, I shouldn't be too concerned about bait-and-switch???

 

[somarco]

They can quote any rate they want, but until the policy is issued, quoted rates mean nothing.

 

[stuy119]

BCBSIL (in my experience) either gives you the quoted rate, attaches a rider, or declines the policy - no other option.
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Allen, I did notice that when I ordered a quote yesterday that there were no 1200/1750 individual HSA options.

Do you show the same?

 

[AllenChicago]

Since things are in an unprecedented state of flux right now, I could see a $140 child price being jacked up to $600 between quoting and approval time. Don't know how any company could do this with plans already in underwriting without generating mass complaints to the state ins depts, but it could happen.
-AC
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BCBSIL (in my experience) either gives you the quoted rate, attaches a rider, or declines the policy - no other option.
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Allen, I did notice that when I ordered a quote yesterday that there were no 1200/1750 individual HSA options.

Do you show the same?

Stuy, I just looked at BlueEdgeSM Individual HSA Plans ? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and those choices are still there.

Do you write much Blue Cross? When they reduced their commission in 2006 I quit writing, unless a prospect insists on Blue Cross.
-Allen

 

[AllenChicago]

I was told today that Blue Cross of Illinois has not approved a policy in 6 weeks and is planning on not approving any indiviual health policies until Sebellius/HHS approves the rate hike request of their parent company. Can anyone else verify this? Sounds far-fetched to me, but if true it's good to see health insurers fighting back to an even greater degree than merely pulling child-only policies from the market.
-Allen

 

[TXINSURANCE]

I have heard from a reliable source that HSC (parent of Blues in IL, TX, OH) is forbidden from speaking to the media about potential changes in policies post 9/22.

Also heard no one can run new rates or access marketing materials.

Any truth to this?

HCSC is IL, TX, OK, and NM - not OH. OH is Anthem (Wellpoint).


Health Care Service Corp (HCSC)

 

[stuy119]

I was told today that Blue Cross of Illinois has not approved a policy in 6 weeks and is planning on not approving any indiviual health policies until Sebellius/HHS approves the rate hike request of their parent company. Can anyone else verify this? Sounds far-fetched to me, but if true it's good to see health insurers fighting back to an even greater degree than merely pulling child-only policies from the market.
-Allen

Not true. I just had a policy issued Friday, another one issued mid-week last week, and have another one in processing right now that is moving along without issue.

The one issued mid-week last week was for a 10/1 and had a rider or two attached to it.

All seems to be normal in BCBSIL-land, at least for me.
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Since things are in an unprecedented state of flux right now, I could see a $140 child price being jacked up to $600 between quoting and approval time. Don't know how any company could do this with plans already in underwriting without generating mass complaints to the state ins depts, but it could happen.
-AC
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Stuy, I just looked at BlueEdgeSM Individual HSA Plans ? Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and those choices are still there.

Do you write much Blue Cross? When they reduced their commission in 2006 I quit writing, unless a prospect insists on Blue Cross.
-Allen

90% of my individual business is through BCBS. Everyone I meet asks for them first, and I have about a 95% approval with them. The only time I don't suggest them is if there is a health problem, and the only time they get declined is if they try to slip one past me.

Everyone loves them, and I get no complaints about their claims process, which is why I write them. Sure, I might miss out on a few bucks, but I don't have any service issues - which is worth its weight in gold.

 

[AllenChicago]

Thanks for the thorough reply Stuy119. I have a few BCBS-IL individual policies. And you're right, I get no complaints from these customers other than premium increases, which is an industry-wide issue. If they paid better commissions, I'd write a lot more.
-Allen