excellus health plan, inc. small group 2018 public comments · small group 2018 public comments i...

Excellus Health Plan, Inc.Small Group2018 Public Comments

I am writing regarding a letter I received today indicating your intention to raise insurance rates 6% higher. I cannot believe the current cost of insurance considering how little it covers. I paid over $500 this WEEK just for amounts NOT covered by insurance and I am sure this year coverage will cost me well in excess of 10,000 which is a large portion of my income. I do believe that having no insurance and paying out of pocket would be cheaper than having my current policy with you. I am reluctant to cancel the policy due to some health issues in the household but there is no way I will be able to continue to afford coverage. I hope that before you raise rates you consider those having to pay more when the current bills are excessive. Thank you.

I'd like to request a reconsideration for the premium rate increase for my organization. We are an extremely small non-profit providing needed services in and counties with a very humble budget. An increase in our premium costs would essentially limit the amount of resources that we are able to provide to people suffering from addiction in our area.

Every year there is a request to decrease coverage, increase co-pays, increase deductibles and increase premiums. The premium increase is always an outrageous amount. Only an insurance company would request a 9.7 % increase in premiums. There must be some other way that the hospitals,doctors, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies can control their expenses to prevent our premiums from going up each year. Maybe a reduction in bonuses could offset a premium increase. I am totally opposed to another yearly rate increase. The rates already went up substantially last year. On top of paying huge insurance premiums I find myself not going to the doctor because the co-pays and deductibles are so high. Only an insurance company would offer less, increase costs and expect to stay in business. Then afterwards, pat themselves on the back and reward themselves with a bonus.

Every year there is an increase to the premium we are charged for health insurance. The cost is already outrageously high. Please DENY the request from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to increase my premium by 8.2%.

I oppose the proposed rate increase because its not in line with the increase in costs for delivery of care and it impacts my ability to pay for the health care needs of my family

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield's request that would raise our premium by 11.6% is ridiculous. From the outside it looks like this company could save a lot of money simply by increasing efficiency. Every claim is accompanied by an attempt to not cover. Maybe if they just did their job they would not need to continually hike rates. Please audit their practices carefully before granting them additional hikes. Thank you.


I write this email today in Vain and as I always do annually!. I am aware that there is NOTHING As an Administrator for our Group Health Insurance I can do to stop these infernal rate increases! WE switched from Platinum plus 2 two years ago to Gold 17 last year to Bronze 4 this year. The savings that we passed onto the Taxpayer because of this change will now go away because you will be allowing 13.4% increase. When will this madness stop?? I recommend that you decline your approval of these rate increases. The Tax Payer does not give on iota that a Health insurance company, designed for profit incurs losses. On the other hand I as a can NOT Incur Losses and yet every year we are subjected to these rate increases. WHY can't you make these for profit industries tow the line. I will be putting this out to the Media

I write this email today in Vain and as I always do annually!. I am aware that there is NOTHING As an Administrator for our Group Health Insurance I can do to stop these infernal rate increases! WE switched from Platinum plus 2 two years ago to Gold 17 last year to Bronze 4 this year. The savings that we passed onto the Taxpayer because of this change will now go away because you will be allowing 13.4% increase. When will this madness stop?? I recommend that you decline your approval of these rate increases. The Tax Payer does not give on iota that a Health insurance company, designed for profit incurs losses. On the other hand I as a can NOT Incur Losses and yet every year we are subjected to these rate increases. WHY can't you make these for profit industries tow the line. I will be putting this out to the Media

Another increase in 2018 of 7.1% is outrageous considering the salaries paid to the executives and Board of not only Excellus but all insurance companies and pharm companies. I have worked since I was 15, paid into social security and would like to retire in three years. At the current rate of insurance my social security will barely cover a place to live let alone food and transportation. If I am forced to work until I die then consider the burden on the. Employers. Please, put a stop to these escalations and revamp the program and insist salaries be capped.

I strongly object to the proposed premium rate increase of 13.4% (HDHP), recently filed by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Like everyone else, I need health insurance and this proposed rate increase will be a major hardship for me. I believe that my carrier’s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are too high and urge you to require it to invest more premium dollars into its customer’s health expenses. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services’ efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

ANOTHER INCREASE TO MY PREMIUM BY 13.5%. We just experienced an increase not 6 months ago. I have over a $12,000 deductible for my son and I. Plus paying over $3000 a year for insurance that doesn't cover a damn thing! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY REDICULOUS. It would be a third of my salary every year just to have this stupid policy even begin to pay to have it. I would rather take the damn penalty at year end than lose $130 out of my paycheck. That JUST covers gas for two weeks! Theives!!!!!!


Any rate increases to SimplyBlue Plus Silver 14 just don't make sense fiscally. With insurance costs this high it makes not carrying coverage more affordable. This plan year I have had no visits covered by insurance so I'm out twice already, I pay for insurance I don't use and pay the doctors directly as well. I don't feel that there is justification for rate increases due to what little coverage I have. With all the good that Obamacare did I sure haven't seen a rate decrease, maybe we should have made it all single payer so some of our extraordinarily high taxes could fund that.

Stop allowing these companies to raise rates while lessening coverage. It's a joke!

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.


To Whom It May Concern,

I have to say, I am so disappointed in Excellus. In 2016, my husband had surgery and our co-pay was $150.00 for the surgery and stay in the hospital. In 2017, I had to have a and the co-pay went up to $500.00 for surgery and hospital stay.

Every year we receive this letter that Excellus is asking for an increase. Do you think it is possible for one year to NOT increase our rates? I find it hard to believe that so much changes in one year that such a large increase, 7.1% has to happen.

Again, as a person who works for , and certainly folks are not making as much money as they used to, this is very disheartening that Excellus needs to be so greedy.

Sincerely,

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1


I am writing to oppose the rate change to our premiums that are being proposed by Excellus. For several years now the rates have increased by double digits (12-14%). This is a hardship for my business that employs and does not have any negotiating power with insurance companies. We will not be able to afford offering our employees health insurance, nor will they be able to afford getting their own policies and also will be priced out of government assistance based on their income. I understand that health care is expensive but I also know that there is a lot of profit being made in the insurance industry. Small business will not be viable if we are continually asked to support these rate increases where larger companies with more profit margin are able to negotiate better rate packages due to the volume of policies they buy. Please deny the proposed rate increase and allow small business to be competitive job creators.

I strongly object to the proposed premium rate increase of 8.4% (CoPay) OR 13.4% (HDHP), recently filed by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Like everyone else, I need health insurance and this proposed rate increase will be a major hardship for me.I believe that my carrier’s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are too high and urge you to require it to invest more premium dollars into its customer’s health expenses. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services’ efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter.



To Whom It May Concern,

I was advised to submit my comment to this email address. The current rate is already a burden and does not benefit us.

Name of the insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShieldPlan: Deductible $2200 S / $4400 F PRO (SimpleBlue Plus Silver 4) Small Group CoverageHIOS Identification # 78124NY1000105-00

I don't understand another rate increase when it was just increased at the 1st of the year. What are their 'big wigs' salary? What are their expenditures? Why and how is this justifiable? I don't even make enough now to support my son and I. How am I to continue paying them more when I'm not making anymore? I don't think a 2nd increase in the year is acceptable at all (we can't even do without insurance lest we be penalized by the government - I'm feeling trapped broke).


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom it May Concern, Every year there is an increase to the premium we are charged for health insurance. The cost is already outrageously high! Please DENY the request from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to increase my premium by 8.2%. Health Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Plan Name: SimplyBlue Plus Platinum 2 Small Group Coverage HIOS ID #: 78124NY0980025-00 Thank you for your time,




To Whom It May Concern:

An Excellus increase of 6.1% is completely unfounded. Listed below, please see the outrageous salaries these executives make. Upon closer review, it's clear where the 6.1%increase needs to come from (i.e., a huge salary cut).

I strongly believe I share the sentiment of millions of hard workingpeople across New York Sate.

NO 6.1% INCREASE UNLESS IT COMES FROM THE EXCELLUS EXECUTIVES!

All the best,


With a high deductible plan, I pay most everything out of my pocket and in fact do not even use the insurance. I am lucky to be healthy and can see this being used if only something catastrophic happens. Being hit with an 11.4% increase only hurts my pocket more for an insurance that I probably will never use. It is unfair to do a rate this high. Please reconsider.


I am COMPLETELY AGAINST a premium rate increase! For my family plan, I pay a ridiculous amount of money for health insurance as it is! I pay a monthly premium and then have to meet a $12,000 deductible before anything is actually covered. That makes my $30,000 annual salary roughly $12,000 after I pay taxes, my current premiums and meet my deductible. My husband works as well, thankfully. If he were to take home $40,000 a year after taxes, we would still be below the US median income. My husband has pre-existing health issues and STILL works Monday through Saturday regardless of how he feels. I have a born with a that has become quite costly. I have a

who has . Thankfully, I have been quite healthy overall. God forbid if that ever changes, though. Very, very few things that my family visits the doctor for are covered under our plan as it is! The specialists for my husband, daughter and son are only partially covered if at all, until we meet that $12,000 deductible. Even then they are still not covered in full. So they visit them VERY rarely. They should be seeing them A LOT more for their conditions, but we cannot afford to do so. If anyone is sick, the doctor visit isn't covered and we have to wait until it is absolutely necessary before we go to see them. This may mean waiting until a condition has become much more serious just because we want to be sure that it's absolutely necessary, and then waiting until the doctor's office can get them in. It's $75.00 - $80.00 for a regular office visit regardless of what the reason is, unless it's for a yearly physical. REALLY? What am I paying for then? I might as well go ahead and pay out-of-pocket, and skip the $14,000 or more that I am coming out-of-pocket with now. I'd be no worse off, unless something catastrophic happened. Maybe I should just take my chances. Our alternative choice is to quit our full-time job, join the WELFARE bandwagon and let everyone else pay for us while we sit and do nothing with our lives. I guess we might as well, since everyone else is doing it and they live better than we do. Who wouldn't want FREE food, FREE healthcare, FREE housing, FREE cell phones, FREE education, etc. for an indefinite period of time? Free to those that get to suck off the system for YEARS AND YEARS (sometimes even their entire lives) but not to myself and the rest of the working class. I guess I have been living my life incorrectly this entire time!! The working class is TAXED to DEATH here in NYS just so that we can foot the bill for those that get all the freebies and don't work. Then to add on these extra hits to the working class is totally uncalled for. If you want to allow these insurance companies to increase their premiums, you must make several other changes first. REFORM the entire welfare system. A 2 year/lifetime cap on ALL assistance unless you are deemed disabled by Social Security Standards or elderly and can no longer work, and cannot afford to live. You have people on welfare running to the Emergency Room for a headache every chance they get!!! And this is allowed!! Here's an idea. How about we make those that are on welfare that run to the ER for a simple headache--costing the taxpayers $1,000 or $2,000 or more--PAY out-of-pocket for going to the Emergency Room for such frivolous reasons. I bet things will change drastically! If it was determined that these people went to the Emergency Room for NON-EMERGENCY ISSUES, and the payment by welfare was declined and put back on to the patient I guarantee things would change! Or if they do it too many times, they get sanctioned. Hold them accountable for a change!! Do drug testing!! I have to pass a drug test to work, why don't these people that are on welfare have to pass a drug test to sit on their butts and allow the burden to fall on those of us that work and struggle to make ends meet? I used to be so proud to say that I was from New York. I loved growing up here. I am from a smaller city, and it used to be such a great place to live. There were very few poor areas. Now the whole city is loaded with poor areas, public housing, dilapidated homes, slum-lords, LOTS and LOTS of drug dealers, drug addicts and overdoses, and LOTS and LOTS of crime to go along with it. It's TERRIBLE!! And these drug dealers and drug addicts are generally not working class people by choice. They are able to work, but choose not to because we have allowed them the luxury of not being required to. Around here they are the ones that are on welfare and have been for their entire lives! It started with their parents and the trend continues on. I wonder exactly how it is that they can affordto buy drugs, but they supposedly can't afford to buy food, pay for their own shelter, pay for their own healthcare, or pay for their education and now we give them the luxury of a free cell phone to go along with it. BECAUSE WE ARE ALLOWING THEM TO REMAIN ON WELFARE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND HANDING THEM ALL OF THESE THINGS!!!! I want in on that deal. Where do I sign up? If they had a 2 year/lifetime cap then they would be off the system and would have no other choice but to get jobs and work like the rest of us!! OR maybe they should ALL be made to work


somewhere if they are not already working. If they are receiving ANY type of assistance (not just cash assistance) and they are able to work (not considered disabled or elderly) they should be working just like the rest of us. There are TONS of jobs out there that need to be done. Giving them free handouts doesn't teach them anything, except how to ride the system for life!! It's a drain on society that is only going to get worse if it not stopped. How about these pharmaceutical companies making billions and billions of dollars or more? They are killing us all. LITERALLY. No one can figure out that they are the biggest problem? They are being allowed to charge the consumer/insurance companies OBSURD prices for medications that may cost them a dollar or two to make!! While people like myself have to find different medications for my disabled child to take because the ones that he needs, that he has been on for years and that work for him are NOT covered by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and have a $600 price tag or more per month! That's price gouging at it's VERY best!! It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. I guess I can't blame the insurance companies for wanting more money, because the prices that we all are paying are not regulated. Big Pharma is allowed to do whatever it wants. Seems pretty fishy to me! Do something that benefits us the working class for a change. We deserve it! We have carried the burden for long enough. Fix the things that need to be fixed and stop allowing it to go on. Listen to us for a change!!!! DO NOT ALLOW THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO INCREASE THEIR PREMIUM RATES. IT'S A PUNISHMENT TO THE WORKING CLASS!!

I think for the insurance company to ask for a rate increase is absurd. With the profits they make, they should be a ashamed the requests itself is outrageous. Yes, health care costs have increased, yes the baby boomers are adding more of an impact, but when this is all over, are they going to decrease their rates? Everyone in the country is suffering from increased costs and the worse for the population is insurance costs. For a company who makes an unbelievable profit on others suffering and needs, is absolutely ridiculous and I do not believe this request should even be considered. they can suck it up like the rest of us and forego the massive bonuses.

See attachment on the Letters & Documents tab




To Whom it May Concern,

I am currently insured by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield with the plan SimplyBlue Plus bronze 4 with small group coverage and my HIOS Identification number is 78124NY1000169-00. I am sending this email in regards to reasoning for my increase in my health care plan. I understand the aging population and increased costs associated with a thing like this I just can?t justify using my insurance once in a full calendar year and having to pay more. I also have looked into the averages that are provided through your website and can?t understand why my rate is a couple of percent higher than the average. Being that I am a healthy young man that doesn?t go to the doctor rarely ever I don?t feel this extra increase in warranted. If you could give me an explanation on this I would greatly appreciate that.

Thank you,

I am a member of a small group that provides health insurance for its full time employees. I also have to pay 100% of my own family plan premium. The rates for this insurance (while the benefits continue to decrease) have been drastically increasing each year. In 2016, I had to pay over $1,600 each month just for my premium. This cost has already dramatically increased to $1848.09 monthly in 2017. An additional increase of 9.7% in my monthly premium would be debilitating both as a member and also for our small business providing health insurance for our employees. For the sake of businesses and individuals like us who are already paying their fair share of medical expenses, this rate increase must be denied.

a rate increase of 13.4%( for simplyBlue Bronze4 seems excessive for an individual health with a $ 6,400 deductible; With the high deductible health plan the majority of the premium is already going into the reserve. Individuals taking on the risk of a high deductible plan should not be penalized by paying a higher increase in premiums that are already difficult to afford.


a rate increase of 13.4%( for simplyBlue Bronze4 seems excessive for an individual health with a $ 6,400 deductible; With the high deductible health plan the majority of the premium is already going into the reserve. Individuals taking on the risk of a high deductible plan should not be penalized by paying a higher increase in premiums that are already difficult to afford.

Each year, medical coverage increases, as does the cost of many other everyday items. I have the SimplyBlue Plus Bronze 4 plan as it is the cheapest offered at my company. Each month I pay over $250 for something I (thankfully) do not use. The few times I used it, I have to pay additional costs for the visit and any medicine prescribed by my physician. The proposed percentage increase is greater than any raise percentage that I have received in the past. Is this increase truly necessary, or is this greed on the part of Excellus? Please take a close look at their profits and take into consideration the people who already scrape by on plans that cover very little.

I can not believe that they can justify requesting a rate increase of 9.7%. I work hard for my paycheck and under no circumstances would I be given a pay increase of 9.7%, so how can they expect someone like me to be able to afford to pay my premiums? I am lucky if I get a .5% cost of living increase. I feel that their request for this high of an increase isout of control. They keep raising our premiums and at the same time decrease benefit coverage and increase deductibles. Lets get in line with the working class people here and get rid of the excess that is causing them to have to ask for an outrageous increase like they are trying to get away with.

-----Original Message----- From: Sent: Saturday, June 03, 2017 5:55 PM Subject: NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit Inquiry Dear : Your inquiry submitted to the NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit has been received and will be reviewed promptly. The information you entered is as follows: Your Name: Email: Address: Your Company/Organization: Daytime Telephone#: You are a(n): CONSUMER Type of Insurance question/comment: HEALTH Your Questions and/or Comments have been recorded as follows: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I am writing regarding a letter I received today indicating your intention to raise insurance rates 6% higher. I cannot believe the current cost of insurance considering how little it covers. I paid over $500 this WEEK just for amounts NOT covered by insurance and I am sure this year coverage will cost me well in excess of 10,000 which is a large portion of my income. I do believe that having no insurance and paying out of pocket would be cheaper than having my current policy with you. I am reluctant to cancel the policy due to some health issues in the household but there is no way I will be able to continue to afford coverage. I hope that before you raise rates you consider those having to pay more when the current bills are excessive. Thank you. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sincerely, New York State Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit. email at: [email protected]




Dear DFS,

We are a small employer and are not mandated to provide medical coverage for our employees, however we do. If Excellus is granted a 13.4% increase for the Simply Blue Pus Bronze 4 we may have to discontinue our practice of paying 50% of the cost of coverage for a single person. Why? Because this increase, coupled with the $.70/hour increase in the minimum wage and the added employee or unemployment costs we will have to bear to accommodate NY?s paid family leave will cost more than our low margin business can afford ? or than our customers will pay.

Best regards,

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I ask that the DFS not approve the rate increase. We need to control health care costs as a society, and raising premiums by 11.6% is not a method to do that.


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I strongly object to the proposed premium rate increase of 8.4% (CoPay) OR 13.4% (HDHP), recently filed by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. I currently carry the following insurance: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield SimplyBlue Plus Gold 1 (CoPay) Like everyone else, I need health insurance and this proposed rate increase will be a MAJOR hardship for me. I believe that my carrier?s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are too high and urge you to require it to invest more premium dollars into its customer?s health expenses. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services? efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,

We are a very small non-profit who struggles every year to keep the doors open and provide a very small group of people (who have toiled for many years for very little pay) with decent health insurance. We simply CANNOT afford more increases or we will no longer be able to provide insurance to these individuals which will be devastating to these people. This is simply out of control!

I do not agree with yet another rate increase. Each year my rate goes up and my coverage goes down. I do not believe it is due to raising health care costs as the Ins company pays a very small percentage of what a Dr bills. For ex. a Dr bills $100, Ins allows $56 and pays $32 of that. The Drs have to bill high in order to be paid anything, and those of us who work hard just to survive an are the ones who are punished. I pray I don't get seriously ill as I will loose everything I have because the Ins co I have paid into for year and rarely used will not cover the bills for treatment. I have watched it happen to to many people. I honestly believe the rate increase is only th ensure that the Ins companies continue to receive their overly large profits and bonuses. How sad they profit off of our health.

I recently received notice from Ecellus BCBS about a proposed insurance premium rate hike of 7.5%. This rate hike will cost me $1131 of take home pay. Less than a year ago Ecellus BCBS raised my health insurance and my take home pay went down by $1307. So in less than a year my take home pay will have decreased by $2438, more than $200 per month. I feel this is unacceptable and am adamantly and in the strongest of ways requesting that this proposed rate hike NOT be allowed. I would very much appreciate your feedback on this situation.




I strongly object to the proposed premium rate increase of 8.4% to my SimplyBlue Plus Bronze 4 plan, recently filed by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.Like everyone else, I need health insurance and this proposed rate increase will be a major hardship for me. I have small group coverage and my HIOS ID is 78124NY0980058-00.I believe that my carrier?s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are too high and urge you to require it to invest more premium dollars into its customer?s health expenses.I strongly support the Department of Financial Services? efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter.Sincerely,

--




Dear Sir/Madam,

Please see attached file for our comments on this matter. Thank you.

Best Regards,

The information contained in this message is intended only for the person(s) or entity named above, and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any forwarding, copying, disclosure, distribution, or other use of this information by any person is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient or the agent responsible for delivering the communication to the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of the communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify me immediately and delete the erroneous communication from all computers.




Excellus Blue Cross Blue ShieldSimplyBlue Plus Bronze 4Small Group CoverageHIOS 78124NY1000169-00

Excellus has sent a letter asking to raise the rates of our bronze health plan by 13.5%. In the letter they claim write ?As you know, rising medical costs, an aging population, and other factors continue to drive health care costs higher.?First, the sentence itself is redundant ?rising medical costs? drive health costs higher.? Second, if a population is aging then medicine is working. Maybe it is beside the point, but it comes across that Excellus doesn?t think we deserve a real explanation for raising out health insurance rates, so they say ?it?s getting more expensive,? and hope the people don?t notice.

This is the most affordable plan that our company qualifies for, it costs $970.17/month for a high deductible family plan. Meaning that for Excellus to spend a single cent each employee spends $12500 in out-of-pocket medical expenses, and Excellus makes $11642.04 per employees family in premium payments. The median household income in Onondaga county is $50,676. This means that our employees must spend ~23% of their income on medical premiums, and then pay everything out of pocket up to another $12500 deductible. The proposed increase would make it 26% toward insurance premiums.

Finally, Excellus had a profit of $99.5 million in 2016, and a profit of $58 million in 2015, and $24 million in 2014. If they want to claim that the cost is going up, then why do their profits continue to nearly double each year.

Please do the right thing, small businesses are at the mercy of the State. If we are to continue to operate in NY, then our health care premiums cannot continue to climb 10-20% each year.




To Whom it May Concern,

I am writing you in regards to the recent notice I received from my employer explaining that my the proposed rate increase for my plan is 8.4%. This is a huge burdensome amount!

Because I work hard and my employer tries to pay me well, I do not qualify for any state assisted insurance. Despite being a careful planner, money is very tight. This increase for someone who makes as little as me would come directly from my grocery bill. Should I have to choose between health care and food on my table?

Please be reasonable and cap the amount that Excellus can up my rate.

Thank you for your time,


I oppose any rate increase proposed by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Last year the cost of premiums increased, co-pays increased and our deductibles went up. In addition, the services covered in our plan decreased. With our funding shrinking it is wrong that the provider of our health insurance can ask for and receive more money from New York State and our cost to insure employees rises every year. We pay over $30,000 to keep some of our staff healthy. For $30,000 we could hire much-needed staff; these rising costs prohibit full staffing. Our part-time staff we cannot cover at all. Shrink Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s bloated profit margin. Require that it covers us better for less money so we can offer health insurance, and possible health care for all.

I have a high deductible plan. Last year the premiums went up so much that they were nearly the same as the co-pay plans. If Excellus can give executives big bonuses, they can keep their rates down.

Insurance Premiums are already high and despite the insurance company stating that they are experiencing rising medical costs, they continually hand out less coverage and deny claims. The people truly experiencing rising medical costs, are people like myself, the middle class worker. I do not support the proposed increase premium rate, and believe you should deny their request.


Excellus proposes a 13.4% increase to rates that had just been increased at the beginning of the calendar year. Their stated justification, in the letter I received, is rising medical costs, an aging population, and other factors. While that underlying statement is true, those factors were known at the time my plan's rates were negotiated for the year. It is the insurer's burden to understand and mitigate their economic risk; that is, in essence, the business they are in and the sole source of value they add to health-related economic exchange. I will repeat that: it is their burden, not mine, not my employer's, and not the taxpayers'. I accepted this plan in good faith based on the rates presented to me, which were negotiated by my employer in good faith. While the insurer may have relied upon government-reported economic data, or may have agreed to participate in this market subject to government rate constraints, it was their choice to do so, and they did so with full awareness of their role, which is to understand and mitigate risk. It is not the obligation of the People (as government, employers, or consumers) to underwrite the risks taken by insurers. Their request to increase the agreed upon rate is unfair and amounts to a bait-and-switch tactic, selling apparently low-cost plans and then victimizing locked-in plan participants and employers. It is particularly egregious, given: (a) the size of the requested increase relative to the rate of actual cost increases over the few months since the agreement (costs have not increased 13.4% in six month) ; and (b) failure to make even a reasonable effort to justify the requested increase (it is their JOB to forecast health care costs and demographics and not be surprised by them; it's unlikely that even their ASSESSMENT of costs has increased 13.4% in six months). The only valid justification for such an increase would be an unexpected regulatory change over this same time period, however: (a) there has been no such unexpected regulatory change; and (b) this is not the justification provided for the request (such factors are not even mentioned). In short, I as a would-be victim insist that this request is wholly unjustified and unfair and should be rejected outright. Furthermore, if that is true, then this should be investigated as an unethical attempt to abusively employ the letter of the law in violation of its intent to prey upon small businesses and workers. In earnest,

The proposed premium rate changes are excessive. I only make minimum wage as it is. The rate changes will reduce my take home pay, after which I will not be able to afford rent, so I will need to seek employment elsewhere. That means I can no longer afford to work at a nonprofit that provides services to the community.


I have had nothing but problems with this provider Yesterday I learned I needed prior authorization for medication I have used since due to I have also had other medications denied for

even though I meet their stated Criteria requiring a . meds such I don't understand why an

insurance is allowed to practice medicine without ever obtaining a medical license?



I would like to request the justification provided by Excellus/Blue Cross/Blue Sheild for the requested rate change of 8.2% to my premium rate. I am currently paying 1/3 of my income for coverage. An approved increase by DFS may force me to drop this coverage.

Our company currently provides health insurance to our employees and their families. We are finding it more and more difficult with the increase premiums that Excellus has received over the past 10 years. Year after year they ask for double digit increases and receive 6-10% increases in premiums. Their CEO and top executives all receive increases in salary year after year. Most other businesses are unable to keep increasing salaries. I suggest one year of no Premium Increases to see if Excellus executives can figure out how to effectively manage with less Revenue and stop this escalation of rising premiums and less people with adequate insurance.

last year took a 13% percent increase to my plan and doubled my out of pocket expense. Now requesting another 7.1% increase where does it stop. my single individual is already 750.00 month and in network 6000.00 out of pocket. do the math, remember we are middle class making a living( I think) please contact me.

I would like to comment that the health insurance premiums continue to go up year after year after year. The trend will surely make healthcare one of the most unaffordable priviledges in this country. How can a family in upstate NY afford a premium of over $20,000. Honestly, it is approaching becoming more than half of an individuals annual salary in our area and albeit many more areas in the state. This is catastrophic. Where is the ceiling? In general, a personal salary orwage does not go up annually by 10-20%. How can insurance keep going up and up and up if no one is paid anymore than they did the previous year. Do the math. People can't afford these health insurance premiums or costs. Let's put our money in health care instead of free college tuition. Where do you think all this money comes from.


I received notification from Excellus regarding a proposed increase in the premium rate for the SimplyBlue Plus Bronze 4 Plan. Excellus is requesting a premium change of 13.5%. While I do understand the reasoning behind the proposed increase in premium, I find the amount to be unnecessarily high. To date this year, I have not used the health insurance that I have paid for. As it stands, this is the most affordable plan offered by my employer. The requested increase of 13.5% will make a major difference for myself and my coworker, as our salaries have remained the same. New York State continues to lose talented and young workers to other states due the growing taxes and medical costs. I fully understand and accept that this comment will not factor into the decision to increase premiums. I will put my efforts from here on out to find a career in another state that is more financially advantageous to workers.

I am not in favor of the 13.5% premium rate increase proposed by Excellus.

We're a small business whose employees pay approx 20-25% of our GROSS income for health insurance premiums. Something is out of proportion here. Excellus is a non-profit yet, (below from a syracuse.com article:) Excellus BlueCross BlueShield made a profit of $99.5 million in 2016 and paid its top executive $2.09 million. The health insurer's profit was more than 1.5 times greater than the $58 million it made in 2015. The company's $99.5 million profit represents 1.7 percent of the $6 billion it collected in premium revenue last year. <> Compensation for Christopher Booth, the company's CEO, increased from $1.92 million in 2015 to $2.09 million last year, a 9 percent increase. The report shows Excellus paid 107 employees more than $200,000 last year.

We offer 2 Plans to or staff of 16. This years increase has gone up 8.2% 6.7%. A single plan from $594.63mo to $680.50mo. 2015-2016 went from $621.36 mo to $695.35mo. 2014-2015 from $556.32 to $621.36, 2013-2014 from $525.16 to $556.32. ETC. You see where this is going. Yet year after year Excellus turns profits in the millions. Their executives are given Millions of dollars in salary and bonuses. I would like to send supporting documentation in protest of the constant increases in small business increases. There needs to be a better balance between Premiums and EXCESSIVE CEO bonuses.

First - you should learn how to spell Monroe county (Not Monrow as listed on your website...). Second - the greedy millionaire CEOs of the healthcare companies are making it increasing difficult for regular folks to afford proper healthcare and prescription medications. Healthcare should not be a for-profit enterprise and I'm tired of paying more every year and getting less. NO RATE INCREASE PLEASE.



Dept. of Financial Services June 28, 2017 www.dfs.ny.gov/healthinsurancepremiums As printed in the Syracuse Post Standard recently: “Excellus BlueCross BlueShield made a profit of $99.5 million in 2016 and paid its top executive $2.09 million.”(http://www.syracuse.com/health/index.ssf/2017/03/excellus_makes_995_million_profit_see_how_much_it_paid_20_execs.html) The profit made by Excellus was 1.5 times greater than that made in 2015 ($58 million). They “claim” they need these types of profits for the security of “its members”, while at the same time paying some of the highest salaries in the industry and having more than 100 employees earning over $200,000 a year. This is not the first article about Excellus and its reported profits. I am the at a small family owned business in Health insurance is offered to all employees with a shared premium cost of the Company paying ½ of the premium and the employee absorbing the other ½. As an employee and an accounting professional I cannot stress enough the burden that health insurance premiums are having on both the Company and its employees. I have yet to see one year without an increase after been having employed with

In researching the history of our premiums and the health coverage plans we have had in place since 2012 I found the following: Every year 2012 – 2016 incurred an increase of 10% - 55%. Only two instances of a lower premium occurred and these were the result of the Company switching to a lower tier plan with higher deductibles and increased co-pays. The overall percentage of increase in these four years was 24% under our single coverage plan and an unbelievable 44% on family coverage. This is in addition to substantial out of pocket increases by our members. The burden on both the Company and employee to maintain health coverage has been substantial. For these reasons, as a representative of the Company and also on a personal level I strongly disapprove of the requested rate increase which Excellus proposed at 9.7% on our SimplyBlue Plus Gold 17 Plan, HIOS ID 78124NY0990249-00. Respectfully yours, Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueSheild Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 17 Small Group Coverage HIOS ID #7812NY0990249-00

I currently pay for health insurance that covers almost nothing, as I have a deductible of $6450 per year (just for myself). I can't afford the plan without the high deductible. I avoid going to the doctor now because I can't afford to go, as I will have to foot the entire bill. Now the insurance company wants to raise my rates another 13.4%. That is unconscionable.

Rates have been increasing steadily over the past several years. I feel any rate increase over CPI is unwarranted and unjustified. It's increasingly hard to pay for health insurance, esp as an independent contractor. Please do not let the rates increase by this vast amount in 2018.



ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To: Department of Financial Services Date: June 20, 2017 Re: Premium Rate Increases Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Small Group Coverage Simply Blue Plus Standard Bronze HSA HIOS ID #78124NY1000009-00 Simply Blue Plus Platinum 2 HIOS ID #78124NY0980025-00 So here it is barely half-way through 2017 and you’re already advising us of proposed rate increases for 2018. I doubt my letters are even read, as I sent one last year for the same reason. Here are my concerns regarding the proposed Excellus increases: 1) Excellus sent us THREE different mailings (two of which were the EXACT same letters) regarding the rate increases, a total of nine (9) pages. So how much was spent on Administrative costs, postage, printing and paper? We’re just one of your accounts, so if you did this to all of your accounts, then no wonder you’re proposing rate increases. How much would you save if you sent just ONE letter? Plus the waste of the trees with all of this paper. Not to mention the numerous letters you’ve sent to my husband and daughter about the fact that she’s aging off her plan. One reminder would have been sufficient and less costly. 2) Asusual, your reasons for the increase are “rising medical costs” and the “aging population”. Medical costs aren’t rising since YOU control the “allowed” charges. However, the cost of your yearly employee bonuses is astronomical. And didn’t Excellus have a profit of around $90 million last year? Since your employee bonuses and profits are published, it’s rather hard for us to watch you justify rate increases. And don’t worry – if the cost of health insurance keeps increasing, the elderly won’t be able to afford even a supplemental plan and will probably die. So soon you won’t be able to use the “aging population” as an excuse to increase rates. 3) This year, our plans went up similar percentages which you’re proposing for next year. So let’s figure this out: If you keep increasing our plans by the same percentages for the next eight years, the Plus Platinum 2 premium for an individual will be around $1430/month, almost double now. And the Plus Standard Bronze HSA for a parent and child will be around $1695/month, more than double what it is now. I know that we will not be able to afford those amounts and I’m sure no one else will, either. 4) We own a very small business, and raise our prices less than 2% per year, based on increases to our materials. If we were to raise our prices the same percentages you do every year, we would be out of business. But don’t worry, between the cost of health insurance and other insurances in New York State, we will probably be out of business anyway. Thank you for looking out for yourselves and not the individuals who are trying to keep their heads above water.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom It May Concern: I received written notification from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield that they filed a request with NY DFS for a 13.4% premium increase. As a customer, I am opposed to such a drastic increase. That seems exorbitant and well beyond most people’s increase in their annual incomes. I hope you will consider denying or moderating their request to a lesser increase, preferably something less than 5%. Regards,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To whom this may concern, I received the notification of possible rate increase for 2018 today. My insurer is Excellus Bluecross BlueShield. I have the SimplyBlue Plus Standard Gold in a small group coverage plan through my employer. My HIOS ID number is 78124NY0990041-00. I have had this plan since . I have yet to use it. I wanted to voice my concerns and frustrations at this possible increase. I find the proposed 6.7% change to be an outrageous increase. I already pay an appalling amount for this insurance coverage (that lacks dental and eye care) and have significant co-pays and deductible. I understand that medical cost are increasing but my income is not. An increase of almost 7% is nothing less than gluttonous and demonstrate a lack of understanding and/or concern of your middle class costumers who are trying to keep their head above water. I will actively, advocate for my employers to explore better healthcare options, if this increase is the route Excellus takes without a significant upgrade to the benefits offered through the health insurance plans. I understand this is a business but your actions influence my life. I'm not asking for health insurance to be free. I know that is not where our society is at but you (as a company) need to be more understanding that this inflation is not sustainable for your customers. Thank you for your time,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom It May Concern, I am writing in regards to Excellus' proposed rate increase of 13.4%. I have a unique perspective because I am an , responsible for selection of the medical plan for employees and also for claim submission for patients. In the last 7 years, we have selected a medical plan to keep the premiums for our employees fairly steady, although for successful continuation of our business, we have had to increase the employee's share of their premium. Since 2011, our deductible amount has increased from $1800 to the current $6250. Our employees, while aware of the HSA offered, do not have enough disposable income to fund that account to meet their needs, especially if a situation would arise whereby necessitating use of their entire deductible amount. Personally, I try to live a healthy lifestyle and have been fortunate that I rarely see a doctor, expect for routine medical care. Our plan also includes an exercise benefit of $300/year. I have belonged to a phenomenal gym at the , close to my home, for 15 years. Excellus, however, has continually denied my claims for the exercise benefit because their guidelines state that it must be a gym "open to the public". The Persons may also join if someone in that group sponsors them. The vast array of exercise services and low cost have kept me returning. I have looked into other facilities and can find none that match n service or price. I am disappointed that a benefit to encourage a healthy lifestyle, qualifies where this exercise must take place. The amount of money I am requesting to be reimbursed for my exercise benefit is probably less then the amount of money Excellus wastes in mailings to our office. They have the contact information for our office/all providers and can communicate with us electronically, yet we receive a concerning amount of regular mail from them. There are many times when we receive the same exact mailing in separate envelopes addressed to the office and then each individual provider, including providers who have not been here in years (and yes those providers have been properly terminated as providers at this office). It is especially disturbing when we receive these mass mailings regarding something that has absolutely nothing to do with our practice, such as a vaccine for children, when we are for adults only. These mailings must go to every single person associated with Excellus, regardless of specialty. I would think that a fax or email to all providers would be less costly. I understand Excellus made a $99.5 million dollar profit in 2016, and they state they need this money for reserves, however this is 1 1/2 times the amount of profit they made in 2015, while Mr. Booth received a 9% increase in pay. As a provider, whose majority of patients have Excellus insurance, it would be nice if we could just increase our rates in order to have extra "reserves" and give our employees raises. We have seen a tremendous increase in people calling to be new patients, however it is a constant turnover of these new patients because they tend to quickly drop out of continuing treatment; their number one concern is the cost, even those who do not have a deductible, are burdened by a $40-$60 copay. Their finances are coming ahead of their

Due to the decline in a steady patient base, decrease in ongoing appointment bookings, increase in no shows or late cancellations, reimbursement rates being dictated by Excellus, and expenditures being dictated by everyone else, our office has been forced to decrease the pay of employees and reduce our office hours. At the same time, there is an outcry in this country for better access to when it should be access to affordable

Sincerely,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. NYS Department of Financial Services Health Bureau – Premium Rate Adjustments 1 State Street New York, NY 10004 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Silver 14 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000185-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 6 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000025-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 3 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY0980105-00 I am writing to comment on the Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regarding the Small Group Coverage plans identified above. I respectfully request that the proposed rate increases be denied. Health insurance premiums, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield profits, have continued to rise disproportionally to the average annual increase in median wages of Central New York workers. Meanwhile, health care benefits have continued to decrease despite the higher premiums. Another increase in annual health insurance premiums ranging from 7.3% to 11.6% in 2018 will negate the benefit of any higher wages employees might receive. Higher premium rates create a significant financial hardship for small businesses like

and their employees. I personally, along with the other 1.6 million people that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield insures across Upstate New York will be negatively affected by the proposed increases. Sadly there are very few health insurance options in our region of New York to help keep the premium rates competitive. It is important to our small to continue offering health insurance coverage for our employees, however it is becoming more difficult to fund in an environment where insurance premium rates continue to sky-rocket while our funding remains flat. Please don’t allow the greed of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to place this benefit out of financial reach for like ours. Please deny the proposed rate increases and limit the enormous profit margin that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield currently enjoys. Denial of the proposed 2018 increases will help to ensure that average citizens in Central New York can afford the premiums. Thank you.


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. NYS Department of Financial Services Health Bureau – Premium Rate Adjustments 1 State Street New York, NY 10004 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Silver 14 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000185-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 6 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000025-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 3 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY0980105-00 I am writing to comment on the Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regarding the Small Group Coverage plans identified above. I respectfully request that the proposed rate increases be denied. Health insurance premiums, and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield profits, have continued to rise disproportionally to the average annual increase in median wages of Central New York workers. Meanwhile, health care benefits have continued to decrease despite the higher premiums. Another increase in annual health insurance premiums ranging from 7.3% to 11.6% in 2018 will negate the benefit of any higher wages employees might receive. Higher premium rates create a significant financial hardship for small businesses like

and their employees. I personally, along with the other 1.6 million people that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield insures across Upstate New York will be negatively affected by the proposed increases. Sadly there are very few health insurance options in our region of New York to help keep the premium rates competitive. It is important to our small to continue offering health insurance coverage for our employees, however it is becoming more difficult to fund in an environment where insurance premium rates continue to sky-rocket while our funding remains flat. Please don’t allow the greed of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to place this benefit out of financial reach for like ours. Please deny the proposed rate increases and limit the enormous profit margin that Excellus BlueCross BlueShield currently enjoys. Denial of the proposed 2018 increases will help to ensure that average citizens in Central New York can afford the premiums. Thank you,


NYS Department of Financial Services Health Bureau – Premium Rate Adjustments 1 State Street New York, NY 10004 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Silver 14 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000185-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 6 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY1000025-00 Name of Insurer: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Name of Plan: SimplyBlue Plus Gold 3 Small Group coverage HIOS identification number: 78124NY0980105-00 I am writing to comment on the Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regarding the Small Group Coverage plans identified above. I respectfully request that the proposed rate increases be denied. While Excellus BlueCross BlueShield continues to make increasingly more profit each year, I find that my wage has not kept up with the increases of the past few years. Since I work at a , my agency is unable to increase the health benefit in a budget that is barely covering the costs of our current operation. I see the incredible stress that worry about health care coverage is causing my coworkers and some of the awful choices people have had to make in order to pay for the past premium increase, higher copays and coinsurance. I cannot imagine the hardships ahead if another increase is approved. At some point, enough is enough and you need to just say no to premium increases for policies that continue to cover less and less each year. I am not opposed to a company making money, but we should not be forced to forsake our health and well-being for the ridiculous level of profit insurance companies make at our expense. Thank you for your time and consideration,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Hi, I have the SimplyBlue Plus Platinum 2 plan, small group coverage , and my HIOS I.D.# is 78124NY0980025-00. I have this insurance through my employer but, as a I pay all expenses from my including 100% of the insurance premiums. I received the annual letter from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regarding the 8.2% premium increase they are requesting. It is very distressing that this request comes along ever single year. I researched past years and found that in 2012 the monthly premium was $461.58. In 2014 we changed our plan to pay higher deductibles in order to bring the cost down to $435.70 but that did not last. Currently it is $615.88 and if this 8.2% increase is approved, then it will be $666.38/month in 2018. That is an increase of about 53% or $230.00 per month since 2014! It is the largest monthly expense I have and as a fortunately healthy person I use very little of the coverage. I’m not sure what your situation is regarding paying for insurance at the DFS, but I hope you will empathize with all of us who are struggling to keep up with these increases. Please do not approve this 8.2% request! Thank you,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Re: Another rate increase for my insurer: My employer is struggling to continue to offer insurance, if the rates continue to rise employees will have to make up the difference. Employees are choosing high deductible plans that they cannot afford and then sacrificing their health and not seeking medical care when needed due to the expense. Please stop all this rate increase foolishness and move to national health insurance now. 1. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield 2. SimplyBlue Plus Platinum 2 3. Small Group Coverage 4. 78124NY0980026-00 Sincerely,

Unknown Insurer2018 Public Comments



Hello,

I'm infuriated I received a letter on Saturday, regarding an increase in my premium for 2018. THIS IS RIDICIOULOUS how much money does one person have to pay for health insurance. This is unacceptable I?m a single person and my rates were just raised this year $36.00 a paycheck.

THAT'S $36.00 every two weeks and now your raising them again. You received an increase this year of $936.00 a year.

What is going on??????????????????????????

I think this is unfair that ANYONE WHO HAS INSURANCE MUST PAY DEARLY FOR ALL THE LOSERS THAT HAVE NO INSURANCE!!!!!!!

I want someone to call me and explain the increase asap. I will be writing the governor on this as well.

Warmest Regards,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.

Good Morning Thank you for the opportunity to chime in regarding the increase in our = insurance. We pay out of our own pockets each month - we do not have an employer = that pays our insurance.=20 We are the family that does not go to the doctor frequently so we pay = each month for services we do not use.=20 An increase in our plan will have a negative impact on our family. = Please do not raise the rates.=20 I feel the focus should be on the medical professionals who are using = the system for gains they are not earning.=20 Thank you

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Please do not increase my premium rate. I don't even use any of those features listed in the reasons for the increase. My premium rate is already too high and I get next to nothing with it. If you increase the premium I might have to skip on health insurance and just pay whatever fee because it will most likely be cheaper in the longer run. -

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Good Morning Thank you for the opportunity to chime in regarding the increase in our = insurance. We pay out of our own pockets each month - we do not have an employer = that pays our insurance.=20 We are the family that does not go to the doctor frequently so we pay = each month for services we do not use.=20 An increase in our plan will have a negative impact on our family. = Please do not raise the rates.=20 I feel the focus should be on the medical professionals who are using = the system for gains they are not earning.=20 Thank you


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I just received a letter in the mail from my family's health insurance company. This is an absolutely unacceptable rate increase. I am already paying over $25,000 for health insurance for 4 very healthy people. I can not accept this rate increase and if it goes through I will be forced to pay the penalty for no insurance and pray to god that no one in my family is hurt or gets sick. This is an extremely sad state of affairs when insurance companies can back us hard working tax paying citizens into a corner, force us to pay exorbitant rates to protect our family and then have the nerve to raise the rates 13.7% per year. There is no other industry that increases cost to their clients like this and I for one am really tired of being abused. The DFS is supposed to stand up for the people and protect our rights and family's well being. Well I can no longer afford health insurance so in 2018 i will not be renewing. I ask you to please keep these insurance premiums under control. The general public that does not work for the state or government are being asked to foot the bill for the other half of the country and it is wrong. I expect a response as this is an extremely important topic and negatively effects my family directly. I appreciate you having this address for people to offer their opinions. Please help.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails.

I just received a letter in the mail from my family's health insurance company. This is an absolutely unacceptable rate increase. I am already paying over $25,000 for health insurance for 4 very healthy people. I can not accept this rate increase and if it goes through I will be forced to pay the penalty for no insurance and pray to god that no one in my family is hurt or gets sick. This is an extremely sad state of affairs when insurance companies can back us hard working tax paying citizens into a corner, force us to pay exorbitant rates to protect our family and then have the nerve to raise the rates 13.7% per year. There is no other industry that increases cost to their clients like this and I for one am really tired of being abused. The DFS is supposed to stand up for the people and protect our rights and family's well being. Well I can no longer afford health insurance so in 2018 i will not be renewing. I ask you to please keep these insurance premiums under control. The general public that does not work for the state or government are being asked to foot the bill for the other half of the country and it is wrong. I expect a response as this is an extremely important topic and negatively effects my family directly. I appreciate you having this address for people to offer their opinions. Please help.




I think any rate increase is an outrageous idea.

My family currently pays over 15,000 dollars a year for a family of 4.

My office contributes a portion to our coverage so the yearly total is even more than that. If you add the outrageous $4000.00 deductible that brings coverage for a small family to over 20,000 dollars, but that's not enough???

It would have made more sense for my family to save all that money yearly rather than contributing to this "insurance".

This NYS government office should be requiring the insurance companies to bring their rates down to reasonable prices rather than allowing them to get rich on the backs of New Yorkers, whom you should be representing.

Approving the increase would be a terrible hardship on hardworking middle class families who are being forced to carry the cost of healthcare for the entire state!

Don't allow this unjust increase to be approved!




Hello Could you possibly keep this increase to less then 2% ,0%would be more realistic .Really would that be too much to ask . I personally have a child in college and 1 working a full time job and I pay 335 a week now. Why can't you due your part to make America great again and let the working class actually catch our breath for this year. Hopefully you actually read this. If so thank you Middle class father of 2

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Are you kidding me?

20

When does the insanity end? When businesses in NY can no longer afford to offer health insurance? When individuals and families in NY can no longer afford to carry health insurance? At some point someone has to have the balls to say no to these insurance companies. NY health insurers seek an average 17% rate increase

22

I would like to take a minute of your time to express how disturbing the increase in my health care benefits is.10.73% is just not feasible for people on fixed incomes.

please stop these increases as we can not afford it. What if it was your mother?!

10

We are outraged at our current proposed cost increase for our individual health plan, Proposed increases have been very close to actual the last 3 years and there are not a lot of options of going to other plans. Very few are offered. We are a family of 4, Small Business owners, making middle class wages (roughly $ 110,000 annually). Premiums are so high we will be paying more for health insurance than our mortgage come next year. As business owners we cannot raise our prices to keep in line with insurance prices, what are we supposed to do??????? Everyone talks about insuring the uninsured, what about those who WORK very hard for a living and cant afford insurance. Why is this matter never addressed? I would love to hear from you on this matter rather than on keeping "Obamacare Safe" (Newsday 6/7/2017)




To Whom it may concernI?m against a rate increase of almost 12% . This state is going to putHard ship on the small business. I can?t afford to stay in this state. It time for theState to think about it residents and not about politicians and insurance companies profits.Best regards

Small Business Owner

Sent from Mail for Windows 10



Hello, Increasing the premiums on my already overpriced inadequate insurance coverage is over the top. As a contractor, I have paid for my own individual health insurance coverage for the past 10 years and I have seen my premiums increase by over 40% and my coverage drop by 100%. The fact that hard working citizens have to pay increasingly more for less coverage is compete nonsense. Low life system suckers should be the ones getting my poor 4000 a year deductible insurance for free or 20 dollars a month. I'm actually paying for coverage while people who qualify and participate in NY state of health have much better coverage than me. How does this make any sense? It's literally socialism, the only difference being I'm not rich and paying 5000 a year for garbage insurance that I end up paying another 2000 out of pocket for to cover deductibles is flat out ridiculous. Cut off the welfare, health insurance isn't a right, it's a privilege you pay for.... just like driving a car. Stop punishing people who work to subsidize those who choose not to. Perhaps if all of the working Americans like myself decide to say no to subsidizing broke lazy people it will bankrupt and destroy the insurance companies, and force the change we really need. I suggest raising the rate for people who pay nothing to 20, and those who pay 20 to 60 a month... but instead you will charge those who pay to help those who don't. In conclusion, if my rate goes up, I will cancel my coverage and pay out of pocket, which I pretty much already do. Then you can figure out how to make a profit when no one pays in.




Please see enclosed letter from AARP indicating I have coverage elsewhere and no longer require your companies services.

Cancel my coverage effective immediately.

Confirm cancellation immediately to

Sent from my iPhone


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I think this is ridiculous, I'm a single male in his who rarely gets sick. I only use my health insurance in emergencies and for prevention. Now you might say, buy a smaller plan, the last time I did that I broke an ankle and my deductible was so high it make it a struggle to get by. My big gripe about the health care is that it focuses on getting people on drugs and not on preventative things, such as massage, acupuncture etc. The more people used prevention the less people would get sick, leading to a lower cost for everyone. FIX THE SYSTEM Thank you

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Dear Gentlepeople, Regarding the 17.14% rate increase for 2018... The 2017 increase was very reasonable but why such a large increase for 2018? This is a huge increase for me as I am on a very fixed income at this point in my life, and I will now need consider dropping health insurance all together. If there is room for any consideration, please do so. Best regards, --

-----Original Message----- From: ] Sent: Friday, June 16, 2017 3:55 PM To: Subject: NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit Inquiry Dear Your inquiry submitted to the NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit has been received and will be reviewed promptly. The information you entered is as follows: Your Name: Address: Your Company/Organization: Daytime Telephone#: You are a(n): CONSUMER Type of Insurance question/comment: HEALTH Your Questions and/or Comments have been recorded as follows: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Received a notice of proposed premium rate change...very discouraged about another premium increase (2018 - 7.5%) Would like to understand justification for such an increase. Thanks, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sincerely, New York State Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit. email at: [email protected]

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To whom it may concern. I recently recived a letter letting me know about my health Insurance premium increase. It is kind of redicules, because price is going up, but my salary have not for many years! My premium will be $1130.51, deductible will be what? $16000?20000, it is basically no insurance at all, I am barely paying for mine and my wife health insurance.I don't understand how much do you want me to work to afford this? There is only 7 days a week. Stop this insanity with out of control premiums!!!!! Enough! You are increasing premiums by 16.92%, year after year. Which is way above common rate of inflation, mind you. What kind a racket is this? Also, where is a so-call “service”? I see that you’re using very expensive paper to send this notification to me. Stop the waist! I know that NON of you really care! I am not under any illusion and I know that this email will be ignored, maybe I will receive some kind of "standard bureaucratic answer", it is just a formality. Yes, I am very disappointed about this rate increase. Sincerely (Simple silver)


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom It May Concern: I, along with many others, have incurred premium rate increases every year since the "affordable care act" has begun. Your increases are both unsubstantiated and a burden on your subscribers. This has been a bait and switch from the beginning, and good tax paying Americans are being taken advantage of to feed the appetite of insurance companies. The increases are not normal low numbered increases to meet such things as inflation, but they are double digit percentage increases that make it more difficult to afford. So, yes I disagree with this increase and hope others express their views also. Sent from my iPhone

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I am really disturbed about the proposed rate increase. These insurances are meant to help the lower class that doesn't have money to afford private insurance. So raising the rates sort of defeats the whole purpose.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Hello, I am writing in response to the letter I received dated 06/01/17 regarding a proposed rate hike for my insurance plan. My original premium is $367.04 and the proposed amount is $415.04. I have a high deductible plan of $6000. As of now, I would have to pay a total of $10,404.48 before having medical services covered without paying out of pocket. The proposed rate would mean that number goes up to $10,980.48 for out of pocket expenses per year. I am a healthy person so my medical expenses on average are less than $1,000 a year. Without insurance, I run the risk of a catastrophic injury putting me into bankruptcy, but at this rate, having insurance is doing that anyway. So if your rates do increase, I will be dropping coverage and taking the risk whilst paying the fine for not choosing insurance. It's not my first choice but enough is enough. Plus, if I'm thinking it, so will the other healthy 20and 30 year olds who and strapped with massive student loans, and can't afford to be squeezed for every penny we make. Please consider if you would like to keep me and those like me insured. Or else, you will be doomed to have ever increasing premiums and more and more of us will have to drop coverage. Regards, --


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I don't know how much good this does because every year nothing changes....insurance companies get their increases and the executives get HUGE bonus's, HUGE salsries.... and the American People get higher rates...i just want to know when enough is enough....what is the number that will be the ceiling $ figure?? If you raised me 50%, would that change anything? I'm pretty sure I haven't had a pay increase in years...and people are working with less income due to these increases, yet you just get to raise our rates..... So tell me, what is the number? 25% increase? 30%? 70%? when will you have had enough? When will NY stop letting votes dictate what is right and wrong? When will someone actually care about all the fraud, enough to save the American people money? And it's fraud on all ends... I can recall speaking with someone on the phone about 5 years ago and the woman was originally from Texas who worked at an Insurance company. She said NY tells the employees NOT to ask questions .Hmmm.... She told me in Texas, you don't get away with the stuff NYS allows. Amazing how an hourly employee with no managerial training put together that the system is broken yet ALL THE BIG PEOPLE IN POWER CHOOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ESPECIALLY IN NYS!!!!!!!!!!! Being Democrat or Republican....Rich or Poor......Citizen or Non-Citizen.....these raises are WRONG on so many levels. Give me a break. You do your due diligence and send these "legal" letters out but it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. STOP KILLING TREES Just to make yourself feel good. The system is broken and your division that takes care of these letters is a waste of money.

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New York State health insurance companys are asking for a 31% hike in 2018. We are/will be carrying the equivalent of two mortgages ... what are you going to do about it?

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we have a crisis in this state and country with the cost of health insurance. It has been breaking my company and my competitors for many years. The insurance companies are asking you for even higher prices this year again. We cannot withstand this any longer. People being paid $30k per year are getting bills for $20k for just health insurance today that is not as good as the insurance was in the 1980's. We build some of the world's best heart monitors here at but are being strangled by this insane cost. Insurance rates continue to climb way beyond reasonableness and our product prices are dropped beyond survival. if you want low quality Chinese junk equipment used to diagnose your family's diseases, then continue what you are doing. If you want American made top quality, then stop this now. You must not only reject their request for high rates, but you must make their rates go down. The medical profession is being paid less and less and the insurance rates are going higher and higher. the money must go to the medical people, not the insurance companies. Please stop playing politics on this. you are destroying our state and country. Please fix this. we cannot last much longer at the current rates. We needed relief about 5 years ago. now it is literally killing us off wholesale. If your goal is to destroy us, then allow the rates to continue upward. if you want us to survive and actually thrive, then allow the market to set the prices again like in the 1980s. Much better insurance at 1/10th the price.