In a continuing effort to provide their customers with access to quality health care at an affordable price, Independence Blue Cross (IBX) is making some changes. Can't be too bad, right....?
Beginning on March 1, 2010, Personal Choice-Standard (PPO), will no longer be available...
(btw- this is my current policy), and after 20 years of offering this plan....
....this is what they had to say:
As health care costs continued to rise and our members' utilization of health care services continued to increase, we found it necessary to change the benefits structure of our Personal Choice plans to keep premiums as affordable as possible.
Read: Costs are rising, and members are using too much health care.
The two new plans, Personal Choice-Basic and Personal Choice-Value HSA will help control costs through new cost-sharing schedules and benefits maximums.
Read: You will be paying more and getting less.
Furthermore, current PPO policy holders are required to make a choice between the two new plans.
Here is a quick comparison of the existing Standard PPO plan, and the new Basic PPO plan:
Existing Personal Choice-Standard PPO
Monthly premium: Single $302./Family $770
Calendar year deductibles: Single $500./Family $1000.
Out-of-pocket expenses: Single $2000./Family $4000.
New Personal Choice-Basic PPO
Monthly premium: Single $466./Family $1202
This is a 54% increase over current PPO
Calendar year deductibles: Unchanged
Out-of-pocket expenses: Single $2500./Family $5000.
This is a 25% increase over current PPO
In addition to the premium increases, there are a bunch of medicines, therapies and treatments that are no longer covered; they have expanded the list of medical conditions in their "No Longer Covered" list, and serious mental illness is not covered, at all. If that wasn't enough, most of the general benefits are decreasing by 5-10%.
Still, if I can afford the increase in premiums and provided I don't suffer a psychotic break, logic tells me I should go ahead and select the new PPO called Basic.
Logic might also suggest that IBX would move the hundreds-of-thousands of current Standard PPO members into their new Basic PPO as well. If only because the two benefit structures are much the same.
But, no.
Blue Cross released this statement to its Personal Choice-Standard plan holders:
You will be automatically enrolled in Personal Choice-Value HSA, unless we hear from you by January 15, 2010.
At first glance, it looks reasonable. In fact, the monthly premiums are almost identical to the existing PPO, however, that's where the similarity ends.
New Personal Choice-Value (HSA) plan:
Monthly premium: Single $301./Family $768.
Calendar year deductibles: Single $5000./Family $10,000.
This is a 400% and 900% increase over current PPO
Out-of-pocket expenses: Single $5000./Family $10,000
This is a 400% and 900% increase over current PPO
So, even though the benefits of the new PPO are nearly identical to their existing PPO, Blue Cross moves their members into an HSA plan.
Clearly a way for them to shift the cost of health care to scores of their victims...I mean, members.
A crafty bait-and-switch perhaps?
Or a sign of things to come.
Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't have $5000.
With an unsteady and unreliable employment situation (four different jobs, in my field over the last six years) and ever increasing costs coming at me from every direction, I doubt I'll have anything close to $5000. saved anytime soon.
What is clear, is insurance companies are looking for ways to shift costs to the consumer...the patient...the sick.
They are looking for ways to game the system and bleed their customers dry, in order to satisfy the relentless greed and ferocious appetite of Wall Street and their executives.
You'd think they would chill out until those 30 million new customers show up at their door with orders to buy their scam.
But, no!
Anyone who thinks pending reforms will help keep the insurance companies honest, or control costs are deluding themselves. They are a greedy and corrupt industry....
A public plan might solve this problem...Medicare for All might solve this problem.
It looks like I'll be forced to give the precious few dollars I do have, to an industry that only serves to take advantage of me.
Mr. President, are you listening....do you know what's going on?
Warning my friends, the thievery has begun.
Beware.
Finally, IBX adds this helpful little reminder at the bottom of their letter:
PersonalChoice Value plan is an HSA-qualified, high deductible health plan and may be combined with a Health Savings Account (HSA). HSAs are tax-advantaged, personal bank accounts that can be used for medical expenses or saved to supplement retirement savings. IBC has a preferred relationship with an independent company, The Bancorp Bank, where you may open an HSA, or you may use the bank of your choice. Information about Bancorp HSAs can be found at: mybancorpHSA.....etc.
Read: Yeah, we're in cahoots with the banks, too!
I have, however, decided not to join the kill-the-bill caucus, mainly because there are so many people suffering, I feel it necessary to pass this and get the catastrophic coverage (to be available in 6 months, I believe) up and running, as well as the expansion of CHC secured by one of my heroes, Senator Bernie Sanders. Additionally, there are many people outside the beltway such as, Ezra Klein, Wendell Potter and Howard Dean who are encouraging us to pass this and start working immediately on improvements. Their support, however reluctant, sways me to the pass-the-bill caucus.
I can't bear to hear another story of a friend or neighbor suffering because they have nothing. I won't watch my friends die because they have nothing.
I'm illuminating this situation as as sign of things to come for many of us.
As it stands now, the subsidy calculator says I don't qualify for any assistance. I have sent this information to my Senators as well as Olympia Snowe and the President of the United States. Somehow, I'm holding out for a miracle at the end. Either in reconciliation between the House and Senate bills, or that someone has an awakening of the heart...
I hope they are listening.
UPDATE 1:
Rec list!
Wow, I am humbled. Thank you!
I was on the phone with mom when I logged on around noon....mom knew something was up when I dropped the phone :-O
UPDATE 2:
Guess I won't have to worry...it looks like BC is canceling my policy. Due to my being out of work, I was unable to pay my December premium.
Also, I sent the info regarding the increases and plan changes to the WH, and both of my Senators. Yeah, like it will get read....?!