The number one reason for the health care crisis: health insurers
Despite the historic recession, health insurance rates are sky rocketing. Our small group has seen our Regence premiums grow 150 percent over the past decade. As bad as that is, it is less than the 201 percent increase by Premera.
Mike Kreidler, our Insurance Commissioner is one of the best public officials our state has ever had. He is requesting the legislature to enact HB 1301 (SB 5247). This would allow him to consider a not-for-profit health insurer's surplus when regulating its rates.
The insurers are up in arms. They say consumers need "strong muscular companies." They use scare tactics by alluding to possible earthquakes, epidemics, and President Obama's health reform. But according to The Seattle Times they have piled up $2.4 Billion in surplus - triple what it was ten years ago.
No one can afford to send more lobbyists to the halls of our government than insurance corporations. But we the people can join together to support Kreidler and the legislators who will vote for this bill.
We need to stop the madness. Insurers need to be regulated. Enough is enough.
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