“We received a 92 percent proposed increase from Blue Cross-Blue Shield for our current plan in 2014”, said a constituent of Rep. Pittenger, whose office is refusing to investigate?
On October 2nd, 2013 Rep. Robert Pittenger of North Carolina asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for a few minutes regarding the Republican led shutdown of government. There he took the time to share a concern from one of his constituents in North Carolina.
“Mr. Speaker, I have been listening. I have been listening to phone calls. I have been reading emails. I have been hearing what my constituents have to say, and I can tell you that they are deeply concerned. They are concerned with the direction of our country. Yes, they are concerned with a body that can’t seem to come together, that can’t seem to listen to each other. One of them wrote me just today. He said this:
I have watched with great interest the ongoing debate between the House and the Senate regarding the new Federal health care law. Quite frankly, I was of the opinion that an absolute stand by House Republicans to defund ObamaCare was an inappropriate step as compared to less drastic measures ….. However, in the mail today, we received a 92 percent proposed increase from Blue Cross-Blue Shield for our current plan in 2014. The explanation of the increase all boiled down to the changes in the insurance market required as a result of the full implementation of ObamaCare. You can easily understand why we are astounded that this is the best health care direction that our country can embark upon.
I encourage you to take whatever opportunities come your way to stop this disaster that is looming. The financial impact on people who are not a drain on the government will be immense”, said Rep. Pittenger (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
We looked into this premium increase which appears to be an effort to gouge customers or force them into the Health Care exchange – and officials with the insurance agency refused to comment on this situation. We also called Rep. Pittenger office to find out if he would launch a congressional investigation into this unfair market practice – his staff member refused to comment on that?
See related article: Health Insurance Premium Increases Vowed by Companies for 2014 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/health-insurance-premium-increases_n_2932704.html