What a tool. Playing on the fears of stupid people, this is what Republicans do best.

So Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan just had a request approved by state regulators to up their individual and group rates 22%, their excuse of course

“Blue Cross officials have said they need rate increases to help cover $133 million in financial losses in 2008 on its individual health insurance policies,”

According to the Detroit Free Press:

Blue Cross is also awaiting a September 14 hearing on its proposed 33 percent rate hike for senior citizens.

They also added

Monthly premiums for some of Blue Cross’ most popular plans would be increased this way:

• Young Adult Blue PPO, now $47.14 a month and will be increased 4.5% to $49.30.

• Individual Care Blue between the ages of 40-44 was $230.30 and will increase 28.2% to $296.67.

• Non-group Option C, for people who once had workplace coverage, was $361.42 and will go up 21.3% to $438.86.

• Group Conversion Individual Care Blue for an individual between the ages of 40-44 was $238.72 and will be increased 11.3% to $265.72.

• Group conversion Option C was $233.60 and will go up 24% to $289.75

A Little more information:

“The state’s insurance commissioner also approved an interim increase of 4.7 percent on Blue Cross’s supplemental Medicare policies, known as Medigap, which will affect more than 200,000 seniors in Michigan,” added Detroit News.

“In 2007, 11.6 percent of Michigan’s total population was uninsured, while 13 percent of Michigan’s non-elderly population was uninsured,” reported the state’s Department of Community Health (PDF link). “Michigan is ranked 11th among the states in having a low percentage of uninsured residents…”

The agency added that black and Latino Americans living in Michigan were almost twice as likely to be without insurance than Whites.

According to an article carried by the Michigan State University Library, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox took exception to the proposed increases, saying Blue Cross should cover its losses with its current $2.4 billion surplus.

The news comes just one day after Health Care Service Corporation — which runs Blue Cross Blue Shield — announced it would cut 650 jobs from offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and New Mexico in anticipation of the government’s new health care reforms.

But who cares if anyone in the real world is affected by the inaction of congressfolk and senators like Grassley. He would much rather talk about some idiotic red herring than anything that is real. Cause he is a douche owned wholly by the Right Wing Talking Machine.... I hope they follow Sarah Palin right off the cliff.

Great article and great film. Have the trolls taken over the comment section with orders from the Guardians of Mordor to disrupt everything. If they haven't shown up yet they will, soon enough.

No need to respond to the Dodo. He can't quite get past his name.

So interesting, I was just having a conversation with a friend who is British, and she said the exact same thing to me, it isn't perfect but it works well, and it seems to work better than well, it seems to work very well, very patient oriented, etc. She told me the NHS is a national treasure and that is simply how they view it, but you pay for it too. It isn't free of course she told me, it is paid for with taxes, something American's refuse to accept, they want it to be free, and of course nothing is free.

Thanks for the link. Very informative, not surprised she is a liar through and through, but quite informative, thanks again.

Unloved is that you? I see you are whining again about your place at Salon and that no one likes you they only like Chuchlain2007. Can you see the worlds tiniest violin playing my heart bleeds for you. Hahahaha. Hey I know they will love you when you head back to Redneckstate and littlegreenmorons. Once back there can write about how great you were at Salon teaching the libruls about how deep conservative thought is, and then they can become your fanboys. The one thing you conservative boys have in common is your ability to whine and moan about not getting the respect you think you deserve!

Go away moron, because you seem unable to contribute thoughtfully to the conversation. Typical of the conservatives who stop by Salon on a regular basis.

I was thinking the same thing, this conversation is going nowhere.

I think everyone gets a second chance. He's a kid, he made a mistake, he served his time, time for us to let go, he has said he is sorry over and over and over again. What else can he do, he is at least trying. Good for him. Forgiveness is healthy for everyone.

Is that true, in Holland you can marry your pets? I am really asking because I really didn't know that, and that is the craziest thing I've heard in a long damn time!

Even though don't watch that show, someone has to ask, Okay I am sure everyone has asked this: You Have Got To Be Kidding Me! Hahahaha

First Tom Delay is going to be on DWTS and now Orly Taitz is going to run for elected office. What a crazy, crazy day.

I want to see this dudes senior thesis, then I will judge him to the end of his dsys on the quality of that writing. What a lunatic.

Machiavelli? Huh? Machiavelli? WTF are you talking about. It might seem like the President is losing the message war, but he is not. 71% of American's support a public option in the final Health Care bill. What the President needs to do is let the Republicans filibuster a senate bill that includes a public option. James Carville, believes as I do that if republicans filibuster a plan that includes the public option, they will pay a steep cost at the voting booth. Who needs Machiavelli, he is dead, we have James Carville, he is good enough.

http://open.salon.com/blog/teresa/2009/08/17/senior_citizen_smackdown_aug_09