Regence Insurance Premiums Going Up 15% Because Of The High Cost Of Health Care?

That is what the President of Regence said today on NPR. Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

In response the State Insurance Commissioner’s resistance to the notion of increased rates, (partly because Regence is sitting on a gazillion dollar surplus), he said that bigger (more) is better. He pointed to WAMU, and Kitsap Physician Services, and our State Industrial Insurance Fund as examples of where large “surpluses” turned out not to be enough. Huh?

Pressed with what to do about all of this, he said we have to “get to the health our our community.” Especially, he said, the kids need work. He mentioned the increased rates of obesity in children and the fact that that WILL lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc. He threw in the usual scare tactics in appropriate places, of course.

When asked whether or not Regence could trim the administration costs here and there, he said it was an “extra-ordinarily complex” question. Good thing for us that Regence is also “extra-ordinarily” sensitive to the various concerns that were raised: he said it several times.

What a great system.