tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post8228770982611075892..comments2022-12-11T04:38:26.917-05:00Comments on The Health Care Challenge: Some see huge hike for Medicare AdvantageUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-68598522598840079312014-10-14T02:14:42.123-04:002014-10-14T02:14:42.123-04:00Ms. Helms,
Your blog entry should definitely be ex...Ms. Helms,<br />Your blog entry should definitely be expanded to a "real story". I too have been notified that my BCBSNC Medicare Blue premium will increase from $18+ to $64+. Add to the list of reduced benefits that PCP office visit copay doubles from $10 to $20, and specialist copay goes from $35 to $40. <br /><br />I will now look into switching to a traditional Medicare plan. However, the premiums don't change until July and new pricing will not be available until May. See the handwriting on the wall?Dougnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-28593557875148889402014-09-23T22:38:54.106-04:002014-09-23T22:38:54.106-04:00Let me help a little as I am a agent in this indus...Let me help a little as I am a agent in this industry. So the payments from the Govt to BCBSNC have been reduced. On average $750/month goes to BCBS each month for a MA beneficiary by the way. The MA pool with BCBS is not running good with the population getting older and sicker. Lots of folks start with Med Supp plans which are superior coverage but do cost more. They do not have deductibles and copays. As clients get older and have less income, guess what? The MA plans suddenly are very attractive. Also as they get older many convert to MA plans because they have less retirement income or savings. Be thankful because the under 65 market is worse right now cost wise, unless you are subsidy eligible. Both segments will have pools that will run worse and worse throughout the years. As the private carrier plans cost higher and higher, there will be a PUBLIC option years down the road. Trust me on this! Its inevitable. They already have millions of signed up with healthcare.gov and it will continue to snowball. So far the only thing the ACA has accomplished is allowing people to purchase health insurance on and off the exchange. However the elephant in the room is sure the cost trend has slowed from years past, but it will take the next 5 years to see the new cost structure hit the doctors/hospitals. That will vastly change the services provided by Novant and CHC hospitals/providers. When their compensation is tied to efficiency of their patient care its a totally new model. Gone are the days of ordering 5 tests and get paid per a test. Going forward its all analyzing big data to help provide more efficient care. So prices across the board will continue to rise for everyone. Welcome to the new healthcare in the US. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-67065960752312087612014-09-23T19:08:16.702-04:002014-09-23T19:08:16.702-04:00I received the same notice, and in addition to the...I received the same notice, and in addition to the 300+% increase, the Silver Sneakers benefit is dropped. This is an attempt by BCBS to game the Obamacare system and I expect that other insurance companies to follow suit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09065469873533584131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-88717672660075859602014-09-23T15:12:11.801-04:002014-09-23T15:12:11.801-04:00I am one who received the exact same increases fro...I am one who received the exact same increases from BCBS NC. I will be shopping alternative plans. Why do they make everything so difficult?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-87025261964904308532014-09-23T13:50:23.414-04:002014-09-23T13:50:23.414-04:00Chuck, I agree -- this would be a poor example of ...Chuck, I agree -- this would be a poor example of investigative reporting. That's why you won't see it on the Observer's front page. A lot of potential stories come my way every day, and I see blogging as a middle path between "spike it" and "do a major story." It lets me put something out for early discussion that can help determine whether this is something that affects a handful of people or a significant trend for North Carolina.<br /><br />I did contact BCBS and got a vague response. If this turns into a real story, I will definitely keep pushing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-14915924591247525862014-09-23T12:35:43.502-04:002014-09-23T12:35:43.502-04:00I totally agree.... the status of true investigati...I totally agree.... the status of true investigative reporting is at a all time low. My wife also got those kind of increases. And some of her medications are tripling in price. <br /><br />(All while the top bosses at BCBS are getting 43% salary increases.)<br /><br />Ms. Helms let me help you. Here ARE a couple of questions you might want to ASK:<br /><br />BCBS: WHY did you raise the premiums so much?<br /><br />Federal Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services: Why is the experience so different in NC from what you have announced?<br /><br />Ms Helms, if you need help finding the phone numbers I would be happy to get them for you.<br /><br />Actually i took 45 seconds and looked them both up. Here you go.<br /><br />Press Inquiries<br />Phone: 202-690-6145<br />Fax: 202-260-1462<br />E-mail: press@cms.hhs.gov <br /><br /><br />BCBSNC Media Line<br />media.inquiry@bcbsnc.com<br />919-765-3005<br /><br /><br />Chuck Eatonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1915728975082444298.post-47282709097074531652014-09-23T11:25:00.674-04:002014-09-23T11:25:00.674-04:00This article was a total waste of space...it didn&...This article was a total waste of space...it didn't really explain anything definitively.JonMnoreply@blogger.com