Regence rates increase


The Oregon Insurance Division has approved an 18.9% average rate increase that will affect almost 70,000 people covered by Regence BlueCross BlueShield.

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The Oregon Insurance Division has approved an 18.9% average rate increase that will affect almost 70,000 people covered by Regence BlueCross BlueShield.

Regence had asked state regulators for a 22.7 percent average increase to take effect in October. But because of negotiations between Regence and state officials a decision was delayed, according to Cheryl Martinis, insurance division spokeswoman.

“Overall, we estimate the impact of changes due to federal healthcare reform at 3.5 percent of the overall 18.9 percent increase,” Martinis said, adding that families with children up to 24-years-old will see “higher rate increases than others because of the federal reform that guarantees coverage for children under age 19.”

The decision follows prior average increases on Regence individual plan holders of 17.1 percent in 2009, 24.1 percent in 2008 and 17.6 percent in 2007.

Read more at The Lund Report.

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