I think it's horrible. I choose Regence because their rates were close to affordable since I am self employed. I just got my notice yesterday that my rates were going up $30+ a month! Now I doubt I will be able to keep my insurance. If I get hit by a car or something I could end up bankrupt. The insurance company is just trying to make money on those of us not lucky enough to have insurance threw our employer. This rate increase is unjust. This along with gas prices is making living in Seattle very hard... almost impossible for me.

I am 55 years old and my regence policy is rediculous. My monthly amount to pay went from $342. per month to $496. There has to be something done to this insurance company. I only have a small business and my income is under $35,000 per year. I am just very upset about this increase. Like everyone else in a small business I chose Regence to be my medical insurance company. The Insurance Commissioner should have control over these company's.

It is clearly evident that Regence has taken unfair advantage of its subscribers on the Individual plan. There is no bargaining power for these folks and it is they who ultimately make up for the larger groups who have the ability to negotiate minimal or no increase in rates.
It is insulting to the average consumer to hear representatives of Regence say "we initiated the increases such that our competitors would not know our new rates," when asked "why the rate increase was implemented so soon after the legislature has recessed?"
I am a healthcare provider in Washington State and discontinued as a Regence "Preferred Provider" several years ago because of the large percentage of my fees that had to be written off. It is truly the consumer who suffers from the rate increases, along with greater deductibles, while their healthcare provider is attempting to render quality care for less.
They claim their profitability is being affected. My response to this statement is; "what industry in any major city owns the largest buildings?"

Of course this increase is not justified. Regence actually lowered its rates by about 5% last year and signed up 30,000 new customers as a result. Then they cleverly waited until the State Legislature adjourned for the year before instituting the 20% increases. SB 5261, which would have given the State Insurance Commissioner the ability to regulate health insurance premiums in the individual market, had already passed in the Senate, but apparently the House simply didn't get to it in time, and Regence clearly timed its increases to take advantage of this. Furthermore, the Insurance Commissioner has no real means of confirming that 72% of Regence's revenue goes to the payment of claims. The health insurers of this state are guilty of scamming their customers, without question. These actions will undermine the health and welfare of those who cannot afford the increases. This is unconscionable and immoral. We need strengthened state regulation of this industry now.

By the way, I was disappointed with the brevity of the coverage of this issue on the Upfront program.
My husband and I currently must pay close to 20% of our gross annual income for health insurance premiums and deductibles, and this is not an unusual circumstance. This issue is of critical importance and I wish that the media would take more of an interest in it.

I actually blame our elected officials for at least part of this. In March new legislation was enacted requiring these individual policies to cover mental illness. I'm surprised the president of Regence didn't mention that.

Elected officials don't understand economic issues or insurance. For example, a rise in the price of gasoline doesn't require a rise in the price of oil. And a rise in the price of oil won't necessarily mean a rise in the price of gas. It's supply and demand. But in the insurance area, a rise in costs will result in higher rates.

Another example. The 2000 legislation mentioned in the piece was to correct prior legislation from approximately 1998. The legislature then required that individual policies cover pre-existing conditions. You can do that with group policies, because becoming covered is dependent on another event--typically employment. But with individual policies adding the coverage became dependent on health. For example someone would sign up for coverage once they were pregnant, and then drop coverage after the baby was born. My only surprise was that it took two years for the insurance companies to pull out.

I could go into other examples, such as mandating coverages for certain drugs, etc. But the bottom line is every additional thing that the government requires to be covered results in additional cost to consumers. It's not free money.

I too feel this is an unfair increase I have a policy for just me and the kids (hubby isnt even covered) and ours is increasing $90+...I work part time just to pay for insurance...looks like they expect me to work full time now..I have lost all respect for regence and have already purchased coverage through another company to start july 1st...GOOD RIDENCE REGENCE!

Bunk. Bogus. Not buying it.

Have they ever been late before?

Ever been 30 days or more late before?

Ever during legislative session before?

If the answer to all three questions is "No.",
the explanation that this was just unavoidable,
is highly suspect.

The coincidence of never having been late before,
never more than 30 days or during a legislative
session, just happens to have occurred during
a year in which there was consideration of
reauthorizing the state insurance commissioner,
maybe there is hope for me and Julia Roberts
after all.

Regence lowered its rates last year and signed up thousands of new customers as a result. Now they have pulled a "bait & switch". They intentionally waited until the Legislature adjourned before releasing the rate increases. I am self-employed and this will have a substantial affect on me. It is time that legislation is passed to require insurance companies to offer affordable individual plans in order to be allowed to participate in the group coverage market. This would prevent them from pulling out of the individual market en mass, as they did some years ago. Insurance companies spend phenomenal sums on marketing, sales executive bonuses, corporate executives bonuses and the industry posts incredibly healthy profits. Yes, the Insurance Commissioner should, once again, have a fair amount of control over rates.

Regence lowered its rates last year and signed up thousands of new customers as a result. Now they have pulled a "bait & switch". They intentionally waited until the Legislature adjourned before releasing the rate increases. I am self-employed and this will have a substantial affect on me. It is time that legislation is passed to require insurance companies to offer affordable individual plans in order to be allowed to participate in the group coverage market. This would prevent them from pulling out of the individual market en mass, as they did some years ago. Insurance companies spend phenomenal sums on marketing, sales executive bonuses, corporate executives bonuses and the industry posts incredibly healthy profits. Yes, the Insurance Commissioner should, once again, have a fair amount of control over rates.

Six months ago I was insured with a large company. Then I decided to change to Regence. I was told I could not go back for one year. That was ok with me I thought I was making the right choice for my child and I. BIG MISTAKE!! This is bait and switch. My rates went from 485.00 per month to 585.00 per month. This is so much money for me I will have to drop Insurance all together. I struggle to come up with my premiums I have to pay them myself. I feel they want to squeeze us out because they do not want to give us a decent health plan. A 100.00 rate hike six months after I join. What does that look like to you? That is HUGE! Thanks Regence. Does Regence have record profits like the oil companys? This is nonsense and it should be against the law! What is up with Washington state? This is a crime. If it is not it should be.

The story on Regence stated that they were trying to persuade people to choose high deductible plans. I have an HSA w a $2500 deductible - my rate is increasing from $197/month to $251 - and increase of approximately 25%. If Regence is stating, or implying, that members w high deductibles are not being hit w this increase, this is clearly not true. My impression of the spokesperson from Regence (didn't catch her title) was that she was sanctimonious and extremely disingenuous. Why doesn't KING 5 do a story on how much money Regence has put into lobbying and into the coffers of state legislators?

I am at the mercy of the Regence Individual plan. The last time I went to the doctor his assistant looked at my particular plan and said..."oh you're almost poor!" It's a good thing I'm not totally poor...Regence paid $18.00 of the $108.00 bill. Lord help me if I ever need medication to remain alive...that is totally out of pocket. The good news is that my doctor no longer nags me about having a mamogram. And I know I must be perfectly healthy because if there is anything REALLY wrong with me I can't afford to find out!
I hope to eke out the year with my catastrophic insurance plan. Next year I my insurance cost$ will raise along with my age bracket. This is the America I live in. One where I need to hope to have a health catastrophe so I can get my health needs met.

My health insurance premiums and co-pays for a family of four cost me over 20% of my gross income. I make a decent wage. However, with continuous medical insurance increases year after year of between 15% and 28% on our group medical plan, and cost of living increases only at the inflation rate, it is easy to calculate a point in the not to distant future when one's entire income could go to medical insurance!

I'm worried. I haven't gotten anything regarding a rate increase yet from regence but I have a low deductible plan so I'm scared. I'm low income but I was over the income guidelines for state basic health by a few hundred dollars a month so I went with Regence selections. I've gone into the doctor once for a UTI since getting the plan. That's it. I could understand them hiking my rates if I was unhealthy and going into the doctor all the time but I am in good health and rarely need medical care. That UTI was the first time in 8 years I'd needed a doctor to prescribe medicine for anything.

And I'm sorry Regence but I thought the reason I got to have a low deductible was because I was paying a whole lot more a month for my plan than I would be for a high deductible plan. Yet the biggest rate increases are going to go towards us with low deductibles? Why am I paying you so much more a month then if I get the bigger increase?