Excellus (Blue Cross) increasing health insurance rates 8.8 percent

[Dennis Donovan]

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/excellus_increasing_health_ins.html

Excellus (Blue Cross) increasing health insurance rates 8.8 percent

By James T. Mulder / The Post-Standard
November 02, 2009, 12:44PM

Syracuse, N.Y. -- Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced today it plans to increase health insurance rates by an average of 8.8 percent in 2010.

The insurer said the increase, effective Jan. 1, is necessary because of the increased use of health services and higher costs of those services.

Excellus normally announces rate changes around Dec. 1. The company said it decided to do it earlier this year in response to numerous requests from employers.

The company said it plans to spend 89 percent of premium revenue on medical benefits.

The 8.8 percent rate increase is an average for all of the company’s experienced-rated and community-rated products. Some customers could see significantly higher increases than that. People enrolled in community-rated plans will see increases ranging from 10 to 16 percent in 2010.

The company said about 88 percent of its members are enrolled in self-funded or experienced-rated plans. Their rate increases reflect their employers’ claims history experience.

I guess they're getting ahead of the curve, the SCUMBAGS!!!!

[leftofcool]

1. Go fuck yourself BCBS!

I dropped your ass a long time ago amd will go without before ever doing business with you again.