Despite extensions announced earlier this week by federal authorities, the deadline for individuals and families selecting a new plan through HealthSourceRI is still Monday, March 31st. HealthSourceRI spokeswoman Dara Chadwick spoke with the Providence Journal, Chadwick said the state will still use federal guidelines to create special provisions for those unable to enroll by March …
(12.2) Need health insurance? Come to Thee Red Fez at 5:30pm on Monday, December 2nd to learn about your new health insurance options through HealthSource RI. On HealthSource RI, single people can earn up to about $46,000 a year and get a tax credit to help them purchase health insurance. Single people earning under about …
The Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner will hold public hearings regarding a request by Blue Cross to increase premium rates for the Direct Pay class. Public comment will be taken at 9am on Wednesday, May 29th. Any member of the public unable to attend at that time may appear at 6pm on Thursday, May …
The headline says it all “Blue Cross seeking hefty rate increase.” According to today’s Providence Journal, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is proposing 2014 premium increases averaging 18 percent for individuals and 15 percent for small groups. The rates, the largest increases requested by Blue Cross in recent years, must be approved …
(5.1) Sorry to be late on this one. Ocean State Action has called for a rally in the State House rotunda, Gender rating is the industry practice of health insurers charging women higher premiums than men. This is outright gender discrimination, and RI must outlaw this practice now! Urge the General Assembly to pass H-7512/S-2208. …
Kudos to Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller; it would appear that he has heard the desperate chorus of voices from the direct payer cohort. Not only has Koller issued an order lowering the effective overall average* rate for the Direct Pay plan by 1.1 percent, but according to the Providence Business News, …
The Commish Comes Through For Direct Payers — Denies Blue Cross Rate Hike Read More »
[Address Correction: The hearings are being held at the RIPUC at 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick. The address below is that of the OHIC. Apologies for this error and the inconvenience it may have caused. BC] The Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) has scheduled a public hearing regarding a petition by Blue …
Attention Direct Payers — Blue Cross Rate Hike Hearings Tuesday Read More »
(10.19) Rhode Island Community Forums, presented by The Rhode Island Foundation and Rhode Island Public Radio, is hosting a panel discussion on the state’s plans to create a new healthcare insurance exchange on Wednesday, October 19 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Crowne Plaza, Warwick. Rhode Island Public Radio’s Health Reporter Megan Hall will moderate …
Demystifying The RI Healthcare Insurance Exchange Read More »
On May 14th Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts (Chairwoman of the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission) wrote a column for the Providence Journal trying to explain how millions of dollars in federal grants resulting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 has benefited Rhode Islanders so far. Four days later the Journal ran the column …
Less Care + Higher Costs = Big Profits For Insurers Read More »
I’ll give you a second to catch your breath. According to The Providence Journal, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island CEO James Purcell will ask the state to approve premium rate increases* in May, citing rising costs and increased use. But that new office building downtown? Nope, that was a cost-saving measure. Purcell said …
Providence College grad Karen Ignagni is the subject of this subtle approach of bringing back good old insurance industry vilification. If it ain’t broke… from Ocean State Action: When Big Insurance CEOs return to Washington on Tuesday to plan how to warp health care reform to pad their profit margins, we’re going to be ready …
That’s the dream of Ocean State Action and 23 other labor, community, environmental, student and religious groups. Wednesday at 4 pm — Rally at the Soldiers and Sailors monument in Kennedy Plaza, right across from the Providence City Hall. Join us to call for urgent action from Congress to create more jobs for Rhode Islanders, …
ProJo columnist Edward Fitzpatrick casts a gimlet eye on the new biodegradable/compostable/recyclable Blue Cross office building and sees right through to the fancy new offices, cafeteria and gym with their sweeping views of Waterplace Park and beyond. The costs of this new building are apparently to be borne by the direct payers, subscribers with no …