Individual Insurance Policies Susceptible To Increases
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that as the economy slowly recovers, health insurance costs for those with individual policies continues to increase over larger numbers of unemployed and those relying on government health care programs. As a result, "hospitals and doctors are passing on more of their uncompensated costs to patients with private insurance."Additionally, the cost for providing care is increasing and pools of people with individual policies have become filled with sicker people, adding to higher rates for everyone. "The problem is taking center stage now that Anthem Blue Cross has unveiled rate increases of up to 39 percent for its 800,000 individual policyholders in California. The premium increases, which will take effect March 1, far outpace the increases of 10 percent to 25 percent seen in previous years among most insurers offering individual policies" (Darce, 2/11). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
