Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield Jack up Premiums for Private Plan Members 50%

As of January 1, 2004, Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield private plan members in New York will be paying a whopping 50 percent more in monthly premiums for their health insurance. For an individual, this means paying between $507 and $535 per month, or more than $6,000 per year, just to maintain coverage. This is all thanks to actions by our state legislators and approval by the New York State Insurance Department. <!--break--> As of January 1, 2004, Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield private plan members in New York will be paying a whopping 50 percent more in monthly premiums for their health insurance. For an individual, this means paying between $507 and $535 per month, or more than $6,000 per year, just to maintain coverage. According to a letter from Preferred Care, in the past, the New York State legislature did not allow them to charge full cost for covering the personal plan members. That changed this year. Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield claim that it costs them more per member to cover personal plan members than it does to cover group plan members. This is a sleight-of-hand with actuarial tables. Of course, it costs them more for personal plan members -- the only people who could afford to pay what were already high premiums ($354/month for Preferred Care) are those who had significant need for coverage. What it going to happen is that people who need the coverage the most will be the least able to pay. With these new premiums, what will essentially happen is that the carriers will be able to get rid of members they are unable to dump legally. No one -- except for the wealthiest (who don't need them anyway) -- will be able to maintain these personal plans. This means that thousands more people will be added to the rolls of the uninsured. This is why we absolutely MUST have universal health care coverage! Please, get on the phone. Call your legislators and tell them what you think about this absurdity. To find your New York State Senator, go here: http://www.senate.state.ny.us To find your New York State Assembly person, go here: http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem Also, these increases were approved by the New York State Department of Insurance. You can contact the New York State Insurance Department (Health Insurance Bureau) and voice your disapproval at 518-474-6272 or e-mail health@ins.state.ny.us.

<p>As of January 1, 2004, Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield private plan members in New York will be paying a whopping 50 percent more in monthly premiums for their health insurance. For an individual, this means paying between $507 and $535 per month, or more than $6,000 per year, just to maintain coverage. This is all thanks to actions by our state legislators and approval by the New York State Insurance Department.</p> <!--break--><p>As of January 1, 2004, Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield private plan members in New York will be paying a whopping 50 percent more in monthly premiums for their health insurance. For an individual, this means paying between $507 and $535 per month, or more than $6,000 per year, just to maintain coverage.</p> <p>According to a letter from Preferred Care, in the past, the New York State legislature did not allow them to charge full cost for covering the personal plan members. That changed this year.</p> <p>Preferred Care and Blue Cross/Blue Shield claim that it costs them more per member to cover personal plan members than it does to cover group plan members. This is a sleight-of-hand with actuarial tables. </p> <p>Of course, it costs them more for personal plan members -- the only people who could afford to pay what were already high premiums ($354/month for Preferred Care) are those who had significant need for coverage.</p> <p>What it going to happen is that people who need the coverage the most will be the least able to pay. With these new premiums, what will essentially happen is that the carriers will be able to get rid of members they are unable to dump legally. No one -- except for the wealthiest (who don't need them anyway) -- will be able to maintain these personal plans. This means that thousands more people will be added to the rolls of the uninsured.</p> <p>This is why we absolutely MUST have universal health care coverage!</p> <p>Please, get on the phone. Call your legislators and tell them what you think about this absurdity. </p> <p>To find your New York State Senator, go here: </p> <p><a href="http://www.senate.state.ny.us">http://www.senate.state.ny.us</a></p> <p>To find your New York State Assembly person, go here:</p> <p><a href="http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem">http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem</a></p> <p>Also, these increases were approved by the New York State Department of Insurance. You can contact the New York State Insurance Department (Health Insurance Bureau) and voice your disapproval at 518-474-6272 or e-mail <a href="mailto:health@ins.state.ny.us">health@ins.state.ny.us</a>.</p>