Health-care shocker: Policy-holder's premium goes up 69%

[cal04]

Source: Marketwatch

College-age kids get more than twice Anthem's average rate hike in California

While lawmakers and President Barack Obama are lamenting premium hikes of up to 39% that Anthem Blue Cross of California plans to charge policy-holders, Lori Creasey says that's nothing.

Try 69%.

Creasey, a Huntington Beach, Calif.-based attorney, said she received notices late last year for the two individual Anthem policies she bought for her college-age sons. For her 18-year-old son, Kyle, the monthly premium was climbing to $135 from $80, a 69% hike. Her 21-year-old, Walter, saw his premium jump to $139 from $84, a 65% increase.

(snip)
In response to an inquiry about Anthem Blue Cross rates from MarketWatch, WellPoint Inc.'s staff vice president for corporate communications, Jerry Slowey, sent the following statement via email: "It is important to note that premiums are expensive because the underlying health-care costs are expensive.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/health-care-shocker-policy-premium-goes-up-69-2010-02-19

[virgogal]

1. I never heard of Anthem,thank heavens.

[glowing]

2. Yeah right... how often are two young males going to need their ins?

Unless they do have medical conditions.