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| Blue Cross NC to raise rates up to 24 percent on reinstated health plans |
| 2013-11-20 |
| [NEWSOBSERVER] Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina said Tuesday that it will raise rates as much as 24 percent on 2013 individual health insurance plans that are being extended next year. The increase is double the price inflation for the same health plans just a year ago, but many Blue Cross customers who have grumbled about rising costs in past years are cheering the news this time. The health plans in question were slated for elimination under the Affordable Care Act, the nation's health care law, but Blue Cross said last week it would offer the plans next year. President Barack Obama urged insurers to extend the individual plans for one year amid a public outcry over forced cancellations and steep price increases for replacement plans. The N.C. Department of Insurance will review the proposed rates and, if it determines they are too high, it could order Blue Cross to issue refunds to customers. The agency has not set a deadline to review the proposed rates, which go into effect Jan. 1. "The key thing is -- this is one more year," said Blue Cross spokeswoman Michelle Douglas. "It's not saying you can keep this plan forever." |
| Posted by:Fred |