Anthem Health Insurance California plans just filed for their 2013 rate hikes for individuals and families. This was met up with immediate disapproval from not only their members, but from the Department of Insurance as well. Over time, Anthem Blue Cross along with all of the major carriers have been continuously raising premiums for their individual plans. Their reasoning was to keep up with the interminable escalating costs of medical care, pharmaceutical costs, and executive needs.
Previously, there had been little for members to do other than pay the higher premiums, move to a less complete plan, or shop with another carrier. This was often tough to do as medical claims and pre-existing conditions made it difficult to move from their plan. As a consequence, many were made to pay premiums they couldn't 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 needed 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 together with paperwork supporting the rate increases, and couldn't be implemented without approval. This was was hoping to cease" excessive, inadequate, or unreasonably discriminatory"rate hikes on clients, and force anthem healthcare insurance California carriers to prove that the rate hikes were in the best interest of plan members also. Since implementation of AB 52, many proposed rate increased were cancelled, postponed, or reduced, much to the relief of customers.
However , blue cross health insurance California plans do have to stay abreast of rising medical care costs. Additionally , since the imposing of the Medical Loss Proportion obligation, each dollar was stretched even further. While we all hear things about top company executives ranking in millions on millions of bucks, it is vital not to forget the remainder of the people inside these insurance companies who do make the plans work. Administrators who work out issues with claims or membership, those that make the talks with doctors and hospitals to ensure their members can stay with them, and the ones who ensure your plan pays according to your contract. These are the folks that help blue cross health care insurance California members maintain optimal health and get the most from their health plan.
With enormous 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 are hoping to compete in the healthcare insurance exchanges, and remain a big player in the industry. This year should be a fascinating one, as insurance firms, insurance commissioners, and providers wind down the last year of insurance as it was once, and head into the great unknown.
Previously, there had been little for members to do other than pay the higher premiums, move to a less complete plan, or shop with another carrier. This was often tough to do as medical claims and pre-existing conditions made it difficult to move from their plan. As a consequence, many were made to pay premiums they couldn't 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 needed 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 together with paperwork supporting the rate increases, and couldn't be implemented without approval. This was was hoping to cease" excessive, inadequate, or unreasonably discriminatory"rate hikes on clients, and force anthem healthcare insurance California carriers to prove that the rate hikes were in the best interest of plan members also. Since implementation of AB 52, many proposed rate increased were cancelled, postponed, or reduced, much to the relief of customers.
However , blue cross health insurance California plans do have to stay abreast of rising medical care costs. Additionally , since the imposing of the Medical Loss Proportion obligation, each dollar was stretched even further. While we all hear things about top company executives ranking in millions on millions of bucks, it is vital not to forget the remainder of the people inside these insurance companies who do make the plans work. Administrators who work out issues with claims or membership, those that make the talks with doctors and hospitals to ensure their members can stay with them, and the ones who ensure your plan pays according to your contract. These are the folks that help blue cross health care insurance California members maintain optimal health and get the most from their health plan.
With enormous 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 are hoping to compete in the healthcare insurance exchanges, and remain a big player in the industry. This year should be a fascinating one, as insurance firms, insurance commissioners, and providers wind down the last year of insurance as it was once, 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
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