Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Unhappy about rising health care rates

I am retired and have used a Regence Plan for my medical coverage since turning 65 seven years ago. Up until now, I've been satisfied with the services they provide.

However, I just received the 2010 information for my Regence MedAdvantge Plus health plan. My monthly premium has been raised from $149 to $262 per month. This represents more than a 75 percent increase over 2009. In addition, many of my co-pays have been raised from $10 to $25 per service. When I inquired about this rate increase, Regence said the reason for the increase was the reimbursement from Medicare had been cut something like 4 percent. A 4 percent loss versus a raise in excess of 75 percent?

While I expected a raise in rates, it seems to me that 75 percent is to say the least excessive if not outright criminal. I don't understand how the state Insurance Commissioner allowed this to pass, but I plan to try and find out.

To me, this is even more evidence for the need of an effective single-payer government option.

Phil Kelly

Bellingham