Comments on: Walker, Blue Cross Ranger http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/ The Progressive Pulse is a blog about the issues, debates, and people that affect North Carolina public policy. As with the organization that sponsors it, NC Policy Watch, its ultimate objective is to improve the quality of life in the state, in this case by promoting the development of an informed, energetic and progressive online community. The Progressive Pulse welcomes the contributions of interested people of all points of view provided they are of a reasonable length, have some relevance to issues of North Carolina public policy and abide by the common rules of online etiquette (i.e., please avoid inappropriate language and show a measure of respect for others --even the John Locke Foundation). To post a comment, simply click the comment line then provide your name and email. Your email address will not be collected or shared. If you would like to be contributing writer, please send your post to info@ncpolicywatch.com with 'blog' in the subject line. If the post meets with our criteria (has a progressive perspective and is relative to our state), we will publish it. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:41:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alex http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35760 Alex Thu, 14 May 2009 19:40:44 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35760 The State plan is in what is known in the insurance industry as "the Spiral of Death". The only one's beside the State paying into the plan are dependents as of July 2009. They raise the dependent rates to cover some of the short fall. If dependents can get insurance elsewhere they do. The average age of the health plan is ten years higher than the average for other plans. As long as the rates go up for dependents while pay decreases for State employees more dependents will be forced off the plan. The rates will increase until no one will be able to have a dependent on the plan. The State would lose all the money from the premiums and the plan will cost the State too much. The end of the Plan for all. The millions of dollars from the State probably go to pay the top ten executives of BCBSNC who makes several million a piece in salary and bonuses each year. The State plan is in what is known in the insurance industry as “the Spiral of Death”. The only one’s beside the State paying into the plan are dependents as of July 2009. They raise the dependent rates to cover some of the short fall. If dependents can get insurance elsewhere they do. The average age of the health plan is ten years higher than the average for other plans. As long as the rates go up for dependents while pay decreases for State employees more dependents will be forced off the plan. The rates will increase until no one will be able to have a dependent on the plan. The State would lose all the money from the premiums and the plan will cost the State too much. The end of the Plan for all.

The millions of dollars from the State probably go to pay the top ten executives of BCBSNC who makes several million a piece in salary and bonuses each year.

]]> By: Niki http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35665 Niki Wed, 13 May 2009 19:44:52 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35665 Mike, you refer to "you people" and "your membership"... well, apparently you are not a State Employee or a health care provider who is aware of the increasing premiums and decreasing benefits for dependents - especially children. Even if 5%-8% are ineligible for coverage, at least premiums were paid for that coverage ... Before the State wastes more money for the expense of auditing its own employees, maybe BCBSNC should have to explain what is being done with the millions of dollars they receive from the state. Based on my experience, it is not being used to pay for claims!!! Mike, you refer to “you people” and “your membership”… well, apparently you are not a State Employee or a health care provider who is aware of the increasing premiums and decreasing benefits for dependents – especially children. Even if 5%-8% are ineligible for coverage, at least premiums were paid for that coverage … Before the State wastes more money for the expense of auditing its own employees, maybe BCBSNC should have to explain what is being done with the millions of dollars they receive from the state. Based on my experience, it is not being used to pay for claims!!!

]]> By: gregflynn http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35288 gregflynn Fri, 08 May 2009 15:06:26 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35288 If you want to make a point, beginning with "You people are fools" is a great way to trivialize it. The point is that the money going through BCBS is not being examined with even a fraction of the degree of scrutiny being applied to plan members. BCBS also manages the PPO network. It's like paying a car dealer to negotiate with himself on your behalf and paying him to handle the payments. We really don't know how much profit is skimmed off by the not-for-profit BCBS. If you want to make a point, beginning with “You people are fools” is a great way to trivialize it.

The point is that the money going through BCBS is not being examined with even a fraction of the degree of scrutiny being applied to plan members.

BCBS also manages the PPO network. It’s like paying a car dealer to negotiate with himself on your behalf and paying him to handle the payments. We really don’t know how much profit is skimmed off by the not-for-profit BCBS.

]]> By: mike http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35280 mike Fri, 08 May 2009 13:13:19 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35280 You people are fools, you are allowing your own membership to steal from your fund and you object to providing simple documentation of eligibility. Truth is 5-8% of most dependents are ineligible. Its not only College kids, the divorce rate in this country is 50%. I am sure you know of co workers who still cover their ex or children even though they could/should be covered by their new employer or spouse. An audit will save the plan millions and protect your ability to maintain your benefit package. BCBS just pays the claims the plan controls eligibility. The amount that is paid into the Plan for Dependent coverage does not even come close to what the plan pays out for these dependents. No employer plan pays to take care of nieces, nephews, grandchildren or other kids, why would you risk your benefits so that others can steal from the system. You people are fools, you are allowing your own membership to steal from your fund and you object to providing simple documentation of eligibility. Truth is 5-8% of most dependents are ineligible. Its not only College kids, the divorce rate in this country is 50%. I am sure you know of co workers who still cover their ex or children even though they could/should be covered by their new employer or spouse. An audit will save the plan millions and protect your ability to maintain your benefit package. BCBS just pays the claims the plan controls eligibility. The amount that is paid into the Plan for Dependent coverage does not even come close to what the plan pays out for these dependents. No employer plan pays to take care of nieces, nephews, grandchildren or other kids, why would you risk your benefits so that others can steal from the system.

]]> By: ABB http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35199 ABB Thu, 07 May 2009 16:48:30 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35199 That's fine Mr. Walker (not a Dr. in my book) I'm getting ready to drop my child from my policy and get a much better and cheaper private policy for him. You have priced famlies out! Time for you to leave and never come back. That’s fine Mr. Walker (not a Dr. in my book) I’m getting ready to drop my child from my policy and get a much better and cheaper private policy for him. You have priced famlies out! Time for you to leave and never come back.

]]> By: AdamL http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35187 AdamL Thu, 07 May 2009 14:34:31 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35187 Walker actually lists PhD after his name on the letter! The letter that says your children are ineligible if they go to an unaccredited school. Wow. Walker actually lists PhD after his name on the letter! The letter that says your children are ineligible if they go to an unaccredited school. Wow.

]]> By: Adam Searing http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/07/walker-blue-cross-ranger/comment-page-1/#comment-35186 Adam Searing Thu, 07 May 2009 14:30:59 +0000 http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/?p=5466#comment-35186 Walker's PhD from Columbia Pacific is from an unaccredited university. There is no dispute about this. So, as Greg says, Walker is demanding from state employee kids what he didn't even do himself. Walker’s PhD from Columbia Pacific is from an unaccredited university. There is no dispute about this. So, as Greg says, Walker is demanding from state employee kids what he didn’t even do himself.

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