More insurers shenanigans, this time in MA where Governor Patrick refused to accept huge price

Mass

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Wed Apr-07-10 07:34 AM
Original message

More insurers shenanigans, this time in MA where Governor Patrick refused to accept huge price

Edited on Wed Apr-07-10 07:45 AM by Mass

increases. Right now, insurance companies are halting temporarily the sales of individual contracts in MA, in an effort to force the governor to accept their outrageous insurance increases.

Another good reason to have a public option.

http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2010/04/07/mass_health_insurers_halt_new_coverage_offers/

Insurers call halt, get state warning
New policies stopped in disputed category; Regulators demand resumption by Friday
By Robert Weisman

The standoff between Massachusetts regulators and health insurance companies intensified yesterday, as most insurers stopped offering new coverage to small businesses and individuals, and state officials demanded that the insurers post updated rates online and resume offering policies by Friday.

People seeking to buy health insurance for the first time, or customers looking to change policies, found they could not do so, at least temporarily.
...
Insurance industry critics said the inability of new customers to buy insurance, even for a few days, is troubling. �This really is a violation of the fundamental principles of health care reform in Massachusetts, which is the universal availability of insurance,�� said Brian Rosman, research director at Health Care for All, a Boston consumer advocacy group.
...

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MannyGoldstein

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Wed Apr-07-10 07:35 AM
Response to Original message

1. Thank God We Avoided the Public Option

That 1/3rds of Americans want.

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Armstead

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Wed Apr-07-10 08:00 AM
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2. They're suing the state

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/04/massachusetts_insurers_sue_sta.html

A half-dozen health insurers in the state went to court Tuesday to overturn decisions by the Massachusetts insurance commissioners blocking a bunch of rate hikes on plans for small businesses and individuals.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a nonprofit that's the largest health insurer in the state, and five other insurers, also nonprofits, filed suit in a state court in Boston. Their claim: the insurance commissioner exceeded his legal authority and arbitrarily set premium rates in the individual and small group market.

The rejected increases ranged from 8 to 32 percent.

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HughMoran

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Wed Apr-07-10 08:11 AM
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4. Good, force the laws to be changed

Fucking fucking fucking ass holes - destroy them!

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HughMoran

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Wed Apr-07-10 08:09 AM
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3. They're practically begging the government to take them over

I think we should 'take over' their offices - force them to drag out dozens of people who simply want to ask them a few 'questions'. I can only hope that they keep pushing it - they're forcing the governments hand - which is fine by me. Destroy them!

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DCKit

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Wed Apr-07-10 08:24 AM
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5. Kick 'em out Gov., and start a state run, self-insurance program.

You know, like Mittens should have from the get-go.

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