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Regence BlueShield to drop child-only coverage in Washington

by KING 5 News

KING5.com

Posted on September 28, 2010 at 8:28 PM

SEATTLE - One of Washington state's largest health insurers will no longer offer child-only individual plans.

The Seattle Times reports that Regence BlueShield says the move affects only new policies and it is not dropping the 2,500 children it now insures under such policies.

The decision comes as the new federal health care law begins to take effect which keeps insurers from refusing coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

Another major insurer, Premera Blue Cross, says it will continue to sell child only policies "for now" and wishes to continue doing so.

State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is quoted as strongly objecting to what he calls Regence's "precipitous action."

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Comments: Displaying 1 - 15 of 24

auburngirl said on October 3, 2010 at 11:35 PM

All I know is that I will never understand any of it. It is a dam shame that my whole life is about paying F IN medical bills and F IN medical insurance and F IN car insurance and F IN life insurance and F IN homeowners insurance The american way is about insuring yourself against every other F IN american ready to hurt you or run into you with their dam car or burn your dam house down IT SUCKS PEOPLE I really think the best way to live in this country is in poverty they have it easy

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agirlinseattle said on September 30, 2010 at 3:45 PM

I don't blame them! THEY ARE A PRIVATE C0MPANY - FREE ENTERPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DISGUSTING G0VERNMENT!

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koolaiddrinker said on September 29, 2010 at 8:55 PM

It's going as planned, force private companies out of business. Welcome big brother, Hello single payer, bye bye freedom.

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mudrluvbone said on September 29, 2010 at 4:08 PM

Don't forget the Constitution does not say we the people must pay all the health care costs of everyone within our country to include all legal and illegal who show up at a hospital for free treatment whose numbers continue to skyrocket each year. Healthcare and healthcare insurance providers pay toward and absorb these costs as do docs, etc. who in turn raise their prices to cover the expense. I wonder why there are more people seeking free ER treatment each year?

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maynerdgkrebbs said on September 29, 2010 at 4:00 PM

noskills how do you figure health care is inter state commerce? Each state has the right to regulate insurance. Let's say the federal government can regulate health insurance. That right would not extend to forcing someone to buy it. In my most humble opinion there seems to be a conflict with "states right" and the regulation of "interstate commerce" I do not beleive the federal government can regulate health insurance. the solution is to level the playing field for more competition. When one state has 1400 mandates anda neighboring state has 10 there will be huge differences in cost of coverage.

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noskills said on September 29, 2010 at 2:56 PM

Premiums on Health insurances have been going up and coverage has been going down long before the health care bill. That is the reason behind the health care bill to begin with. Try actually looking at the data first. And the government is well within its right to regulate health care. The Constitution gives the Federal Government control to regulate interstate commerce.

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cyrixlord said on September 29, 2010 at 11:53 AM

This move is only logical. Children can't have jobs in the US, therefore, they cannot afford their own insurance. If you don't like the USA's pay-or-die healthcare system, then leave the country! bracket sarcasm /bracket

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rbees said on September 29, 2010 at 9:57 AM

For you people who don't believe this is exactly want the Gooberment wants, consider this. What was the rally cry of every Liberal democrat including Obama was? SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE AKA the Government.

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mellybelly323 said on September 29, 2010 at 9:55 AM

Here's something to consider. All of you out there crying fowl and screaming at Regence and any other health care insurer that follows their lead, listen up. Does anyone remember a number of years ago when this state decided that pre-existing conditions and waiting periods were going to be removed from all health plans in the state of Washington? What happened? Any time a person got sick, they bought insurance for a week or a month, got their treatment and then bailed off the plan... People were paying hundreds of dollars to have hundreds of thousands of dollars of treatment. It all but killed the individual market in Washington State and it drove most private insurers out of the state. Washington insurance companies can see the writing on the wall because they've lived it before. This new mandate is the same thing on a smaller scale. Until the federal government figures out a way to ease the huge expense these companies are going to see, this types of cuts will continue to happen.

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skok_cush said on September 29, 2010 at 9:48 AM

hows all that Hope N Change, Workin for ya. . . . . . .And for those blaming this on Capitalism. . . . .we havent had a Free Market Health Care system since the 60's. . . . . . Incrementally year by year, more regs, more cost, less freedoms.

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hologram5 said on September 29, 2010 at 9:47 AM

@scott_bellevue: Capitalism hasn't failed us, with Obammy's legislation, capitalism is NOT allowed to function correctly. With every Federal intervention comes a cost or do you know anything about economics? Capitalism flourishes with FREE trade and a level playing field. When Federal legislation narrows the playing field, WE,the people lose out.

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truthdector said on September 29, 2010 at 9:03 AM

The rats have reverted to form and become the party of food stamps while the tea-party conservatives will be the party of employment.

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iwaterdave said on September 29, 2010 at 8:31 AM

OBAMACARE at work...

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maynerdgkrebbs said on September 29, 2010 at 7:39 AM

If the federal government had truly wanted to "reform" health care,they would have leveled the playing field across state lines. That would have allowed across state lines competition. The individual state legislatures caused this mess by having so many differing mandates from state to state. This is the way it should be in AMERICA ! States have rights ! States can pass laws and regulations to insurance companies. Whether it be auto,life,health any insurance should and is regulated by the individual state. So if you understand what I have posted,the fight is really over state and individuals having the right to exercise their beliefs rather than the Federal government dictating how to live.

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mudrluvbone said on September 29, 2010 at 7:30 AM

Wow, how uterly miopic. Just a broad, generalized statement: "Capitalism has failed us." Really? You still live here don't you? You too have taken some role in "Capitalism" for your benefit haven't you? You buy things at places that practice "Capitalism" don't you? Sorry for your disappointment. The world is a big place, maybe a move might help you, you know, to get away from all us Neanderthals.

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scott_bellevue said on September 29, 2010 at 7:06 AM

All of the comments here just kill me. Big insurance companies are still conspiring to raise rates as high as possible and provide as few benefits as possible, and you all want to blame the democrats and "socialism". What a bunch of Neanderthals.

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scott_bellevue said on September 29, 2010 at 7:04 AM

Hey Truthdector, it's capitalism that has failed us. Regence Blueshield is all about stealing your money, and it's lobbied congress in DC and here in Washington for years, with millions of dollars, to take away your rights to fight them. Capitalism BOUGHT democracy. So you can talk about socialism all you want, but runaway capitalism has put is in this situation. And Regence Blueshield is the worst, most inhuman, uncaring, criminal and pirate insurance company of them all. They will steal your money and watch you die as their CEO pockets millions. Go look at their 10K reports and see for yourself.

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truthdector said on September 29, 2010 at 6:10 AM

Change you can Believe In! Socialism has failed where ever it's been tried; looks like they won't be getting that free gas too..

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vffrwm said on September 29, 2010 at 5:31 AM

And this is a surprise? Just wait. My part of my premium here at work just hit a 25% increase for the year and it will be going up again next year and the next. I sure do love "the change". How anyone anywhere thought that this particular health care revision was going to be good for the working guy must live with their head in the sand. It's not if it's going to cost us as consumbers more it's only a question of how much more.

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rfisherman said on September 29, 2010 at 1:07 AM

remember what goverment gives they can easily take away so no needs from goverment is my policy. I dont rely on welfare,social security or any other program Iam a totally free american but freedom has its cost too and often are heavy but it beats being under anyones thumb

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rfisherman said on September 29, 2010 at 1:05 AM

not surprising, big guys find ways arround goverment and the working man gets steam rolled every time. Goverment has no interest in serving or helping us only serving its self and its corporate friends.

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collegeguy said on September 28, 2010 at 11:01 PM

rbees, of course, as you know exactly what the government has planned. It is all an evil plot of the government to control all our lives from here on out...

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noskills said on September 28, 2010 at 10:16 PM

YES, the insurance companies who hate the idea of health care reform are conspiring with the Dems to get rid of the insurance companies.

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rbees said on September 28, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Anybody not surprised by this? This is the first phase of the DEMS plan to get everyone on a single payer system...aka The Government

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