Anthem Health Insurance California plans recently filed for their 2013 rate hikes for individuals and families. This was had a meeting with swift disapproval from not only their members, but from the Dep. of Insurance as well. Over the years, Anthem Blue Cross with all the major carriers have been continuously raising premiums for their individual plans. Their reasoning was to keep up with the interminable rising costs of medical therapy, pharmaceutical costs, and executive wants.
Formerly, there had been small for members to do apart from pay the higher premiums, move to a less complete plan, or shop with another carrier. This was frequently difficult to do as medical claims and established conditions made it impossible to move from their present plan. As a result, many were forced to pay premiums they could not afford, or risk going without anthem health insurance California altogether.
This looked like a lose-lose situation, till Assembly Bill 52 (Feuer) was passed. This bill required anthem health insurance California and all carriers to file their suggested rate increased with the insurance commissioner first, starting January 1, 2012. The rates would be filed with paperwork supporting the rate hikes, and could not be implemented without approval. This was was hoping to cease" excessive, insufficient, or unfairly discriminatory"rate hikes on shoppers, and force anthem health care insurance California carriers to provide proof that the rate increases were in the best interest of plan members as well. Since implementation of AB 52, many suggested rate increased were cancelled, postponed, or reduced, much to the relief of customers.
However , blue cross health insurance California plans must stay abreast of rising medicare costs. Additionally , since the imposing of the Medical Loss Proportion requirement, every dollar was stretched further. While we all hear things about top corporate executives ranking in millions on millions of dollars, it is vital to remember the rest of the people inside these insurance companies who do make the plans work. Administrators who work out issues with claims or membership, the ones that make the talks with doctors and hospitals to ensure their members can stay with them, and those who ensure your plan pays according to your contract. These are the people who help blue cross medical insurance California members maintain optimal health and get the most from their health plan.
With big changes on the horizon, it is still to be seen if blue cross health insurance California will continue on as it has thus far. We know many carriers would like to compete within the health insurance exchanges, and remain a big player in the sector. This year should be an interesting one, as insurance corporations, insurance commissioners, and providers wind down the year of insurance as it was, and head into the great unknown.
Formerly, there had been small for members to do apart from pay the higher premiums, move to a less complete plan, or shop with another carrier. This was frequently difficult to do as medical claims and established conditions made it impossible to move from their present plan. As a result, many were forced to pay premiums they could not afford, or risk going without anthem health insurance California altogether.
This looked like a lose-lose situation, till Assembly Bill 52 (Feuer) was passed. This bill required anthem health insurance California and all carriers to file their suggested rate increased with the insurance commissioner first, starting January 1, 2012. The rates would be filed with paperwork supporting the rate hikes, and could not be implemented without approval. This was was hoping to cease" excessive, insufficient, or unfairly discriminatory"rate hikes on shoppers, and force anthem health care insurance California carriers to provide proof that the rate increases were in the best interest of plan members as well. Since implementation of AB 52, many suggested rate increased were cancelled, postponed, or reduced, much to the relief of customers.
However , blue cross health insurance California plans must stay abreast of rising medicare costs. Additionally , since the imposing of the Medical Loss Proportion requirement, every dollar was stretched further. While we all hear things about top corporate executives ranking in millions on millions of dollars, it is vital to remember the rest of the people inside these insurance companies who do make the plans work. Administrators who work out issues with claims or membership, the ones that make the talks with doctors and hospitals to ensure their members can stay with them, and those who ensure your plan pays according to your contract. These are the people who help blue cross medical insurance California members maintain optimal health and get the most from their health plan.
With big changes on the horizon, it is still to be seen if blue cross health insurance California will continue on as it has thus far. We know many carriers would like to compete within the health insurance exchanges, and remain a big player in the sector. This year should be an interesting one, as insurance corporations, insurance commissioners, and providers wind down the year of insurance as it was, and head into the great unknown.
About the Author:
Daniel Abrams, owner of Abrams California Health Insurance has been a top selling agent for blue cross health insurance California for over 30 years