PRESS RELEASE: February 8, 2010

"Shop Around" says CA Insurance Chief to Anthem Blue Shield Members

Freedom Benefits Association was pleased to read California's Insurance Commissioner urge Anthem Blue Shield’s customers to look around for other more affordable health insurance options. Up to 800,000 Californians who buy their own health insurance will need to reconsider their insurance options this month or face rate increases of up to 39% on March 1. "Helping buyers find affordable options is the foundation of our service" added Tony Novak, founder of Freedom Benefits. "No single insurance plan is the best deal for everyone and every health plan has its strengths and weaknesses". Anthem Blue Shield is currently the most popular health plan for individuals in California but the market share may decline modestly following recent rate increases.

In a statement issued today Commissioner Steve Poizner said “I’m alarmed by the Anthem Blue Cross health insurance rate hikes, especially in a time when the recession has forced so many people into the individual health insurance market,” said Commissioner Poizner. “State law requires that insurers spend at least 70 cents of every dollar of premium on medical care. I have instructed my department to hire an outside actuary to examine their rates line by line to ensure they are complying with this state law. If we find that their rates are excessive, I will use the full power of my office to bring these rates down". Freedom Benefits believes that the sharp rate increase is more likely attributable to the state's insurance mandates rather than an improper action of Anthem officials.

Commissioner Poizner also reminded Californians who have to purchase individual health insurance that there are dozens of insurance companies to choose from that offer individual major medical insurance, supplemental health insurance and mini-med coverage in California. “Consumers can choose from nearly 70 different companies who offer health insurance in the individual health insurance market,” Commissioner Poizner said. “As a consumer you need to shop around.  A different provider may prove to be a better value for a particular individual or family’s needs, and all of them are looking for new customers.  I encourage consumers who are not happy with their rates, co-pays, benefits or service to look at other options.”

Even the federal government took a strong stance in the price shocker. In a letter to Blue Shield, Obama's Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote "These extraordinary increases are up to 15 times faster than inflation and threaten to make healthcare unaffordable for hundreds of thousands of Californians, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet in a difficult economy." The federal government may make inquiries but is relatively powerless to overstep the state's control of this insurance issue.

The Los Angeles Times carried comments from a number of concerned residents. Some were willing to blame the insurance company but others looked past the rate formula for the underlying cause. One comment said "the market is too regulated, thinning out the potential competitors." Another pointed out  that "The government has a lot more culpability in the causes for the excessive cost of insurance than it wants to own up to but is more than happy to let private insurance be the scape goat." It seems likely that many customers are unaware that the formula for spiraling rates is built into the laws that regulate California's health insurance. State lawmakers are not required to consider the financial effects of new regulations in laws that affect the actuarial factors of the state's commercial health insurance. Private health insurance rates are required to absorb the medical costs of Californians who are uninsured. Under this type of unstable financial design, the huge cost increases are unavoidable. The same out-of-control premium rate inflation incurred in other states like New Jersey where lawmakers were more concerned with making insurance available to all on demand without considering the impact on affordability. In this environment, the best way to escape the spiraling rate increases may be to find an insurance plan that legally sidesteps the problematic regulations. Some specialty health plans are permitted to design coverage with a primary goal of keeping rates low rather than focusing on offering higher level of benefits and availability.

Freedom Benefits' California health insurance exchange lists alternate insurance companies that offer health insurance along with contact information, pricing and secure immediate online enrollment. OnlineAdviser service can help individual consumers compare specific features and limitations of the different health plans available. We expect that additional information and suggestions on specific options available will be distributed over the next few weeks through the regular OnlineAdviser publications.