Ask Colleen King

I would have gotten to writing this sooner but I’ve been talking/emailing with many of my clients today about the Los Angeles Times story today talking about Anthem Blue Cross’s March 1 rate increase. The story is claiming an average of 30-39% in increases.

First of all, we all know the media loves controversy and shock value. As usual, they skipped a couple of things. Don’t get me wrong, just because I sell health insurance doesn’t mean I agree with all the carriers say and do. Independent agents like myself want to see some changes in how health insurance works because we spend a lot of time trying to get people covered, trying to appeal above standard rate increases and declines, then we have to take cover when the increases hit.

I pulled out my Anthem list of March 1 increases to see how many of my people are in the 30-39% range–none of them. Anthem has gone to ‘anniversary date’ ratings recently so that the increases don’t all hit on March1; it’s tough for them and for agents trying to help their clients. Otherwise I would have had about 60 people calling me. So out of my 12 people getting increases this month, three are dental plans only, and those increases are from 5-13%. But that’s dental you say, so what?  How much were the medical increases you ask?   Read on…..

Tags:   health insuraance · Individual Health InsuranceNo Comments