The Progressive Pulse

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AdamL 22 Oct 2009 8:03 pm

To think that Barbara Morales-Burke would have her hands in this sort of campaign is just sad.

Alex 22 Oct 2009 8:15 pm

I am glad to find out where the money the State spends on my health care is going. I could not see my Doctor for a rotator cuff injury last week because I have to space Doctor’s visits out with my BCBSNC plan. The money to treat my shoulder is going to fight health care reform. I have alieve and ice.Thanks BCBSNC

Adam Searing 22 Oct 2009 8:23 pm

Yeah, Alex has a good point. Every dime of this campaign NC Blue Cross is spending is a dime out of hard working average North Carolinians’ pockets. We’ve asked for a policyholder rebate for years as the profits have rolled in to Blue Cross, but I guess we know what they want to spend their money on.

With the history of the company as an organization whose formation was “never pecuniary gain for those who promoted it” (from the history of NC Blue Cross compiled by the Health Access Coalition), it is a far fall to stoop this low. Disgusting.

Lou Meyers 22 Oct 2009 8:54 pm

Our premium dollars at work!

If these postcards are going to Blue Cross customers whose premiums are jacked every year as their plan deteriorates before their eyes —- this may well backfire.

Probably a better approach would be to mail these to the free riders
who are worried about mandates that will force them to finally pay their fair share.

EBB 23 Oct 2009 11:06 am

Why to Senator Hagan? I thought she was still ambivalent about a public option?

Mason 23 Oct 2009 12:06 pm

Since the postcards are postage pre-paid, my wife and I edited them in bright red ink to tell Senator Hagen that we support the public option and sent them in.

Adam Searing 23 Oct 2009 1:29 pm

Mason – great idea! I love it!

Barbara 23 Oct 2009 1:47 pm

I also edited my postcard to Senator Hagan to ask her to support a public option. Maybe if everyone did that . . . . Spread the word!

tomdupuy 23 Oct 2009 2:35 pm

You may want to check out these sites also

http://www.PrintsMadeEasy.com <—they are currently offering 100 FREE business cards that you can custom design on their interactive website and they will ship right to you.

You may also want to check out http://www.Postcards.com <— same deal, custom printing, any size, high-gloss, excellent quality and service

Marsha V. Hammond, PhD 23 Oct 2009 2:55 pm

Madame Defarge II : Scrutinizing BCBSNC

http://madamedefarge2scutinizingbcbsnc.blogspot.com/2009/10/call-senator-hagan-support-her-against.html

Friday, October 23, 2009
Call Senator Hagan & Support her Against BCBSNC Whom is Waging War on Her

Here’s her D.C. number: 202 224 6342. They’ll ask for your zip code.

Call Senator Kay Hagan and let her know that you stand behind her re: making competition available for BCBSNC. If they’re so good, then they won’t mind the competition….for after all, that’s what capitalism is supposed to be about. Better yet: take the nasty BCBSNC postcards and send them to Senator Hagan—-ON BCBSNC—-w/ a comment that you want her to stand up for a public option and competition for BCBSNC.

Olivia 23 Oct 2009 8:28 pm

I did our card in ORANGE and called, emailed and notified state officials andour reps about this…everyone including Will at AARP who has sent this on. Our Retired STate School Personnel Group had just had a district meeting, and PACS were, as always in my NCAE work stressed as separate fund groups by law from our organizational monies. I bet BC/BS doesn’t even bother tho think that we would question them, but our email to them came back witha verification received from their Customer Service rep. The same day, we got their notice that our youngest son’s individual premium, which we pay, hs gone up 25%…He is healthy, has not gone to a doctor., has minimal coverage, and a $186 new premium..(see the rotator cuff sufferer above), and is all of 23. I am so angry with this abuse of funds by a non-profit (HA!)…and angrier yet at their position which makes health care for so many unaffordable, and useless for those of us who are insured.

AdamL 24 Oct 2009 8:35 am

Great work Olivia!

Adam Searing 24 Oct 2009 6:44 pm

I know, their behavior is outrageous – let’s keep the pressure up!

Roberta 25 Oct 2009 12:20 am

Is is actually legal for a non-profit insurance company to use subscriber money to lobby? I didn’t see any notification on the card that it was paid for by a PAC so it must be coming straight from BCBSNC. I’m going to call Wayne Goodwin’s office on Monday & complain. Shouldn’t we all organize a phone/email campaign to both Goodwin & BCBSNC’s president? There is a possibility this campaign could backfire.

Karen 25 Oct 2009 9:51 am

Let’s hope it backfires big time!

The Progressive Pulse – Top of the morning 26 Oct 2009 6:48 am

[...] up on Adam Searing’s report that BCBSNC is sending out pre-paid postcards to its policyholders encouraging them to send the [...]

John 26 Oct 2009 6:07 pm

I just “fired” Blue Cross today as insurer of our Group Health Plan and signed with another company, principally because of this patently naked political attack using OUR subscriber payments without our consent. I sent them a certified letter telling them exactly why they were being fired, and sent a copy to:
Wayne Goodwin, Commissioner of Insurance, and
Roy Cooper, Attorney General.

NOW! Blog » Oops! Blue Cross mails customers about 11% rate increase, opposition to public option 28 Oct 2009 4:21 pm

[...] rate increase – they do control a whopping 53% of the market in North Carolina after all [pdf], and 98% of the individual market and billions in reserve dollars, so they can get away with that kind of thing – and with the other, tries to enlist these same [...]

The Progressive Pulse – The Blue Cross campaign to kill health reform at the state level 8 Dec 2009 2:19 pm

[...] move is not shocking, given the recent behavior of BCBS of North Carolina. But it is disturbing because while BCBS has some say over national [...]

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