sponsored by
10/08/2009
enlarge
Staff photo by Andy Molloyfrom the Kennebec Journal
BUDGET CUTS ORDERED
Many happy returns in Richmond
Tax woes land on Whitefield
Rapist denied new trial
AUGUSTA MINDING A MINE
SPORT OF KINGS Falconry a blend of dedication and commitment
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
WEDDING BURGLAR JAILED
Youths talk Turkey Day
Plenty of free Thanksgiving meals available
Turkey prices make for happier holiday
Kennebec County Superior Court
POLICE
COLLEGE HOCKEY: Maine rallies but falls short against Boston College
COLLEGE ROUNDUP: Colby women win season opener at home tournament
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
AUGUSTA -- More than 100 people stood in the pouring rain Wednesday to protest Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's lawsuit against the state.
The suit seeks to overturn a decision by Maine's insurance superintendent denying the company a guaranteed 3 percent profit margin.
Protesters rallied on the lawn of the Kennebec County Courthouse on State Street, where the suit was filed Aug. 21. Oral arguments are expected to be heard next month.
Phil Bailey, state director for Change That Works, a grass-roots organization supporting health care reform, told the crowd Anthem's rates in Maine have increased 89 percent and profits have grown 79 percent in the past seven years.
"We're gathering here asking them to drop the suit against taxpayers of Maine, who already can't afford their policies, and return the money -- that they are using to lobby against health-care reform -- to their ratepayers in the form of reduced premiums," Bailey said.
"They don't want to talk about this, but the bottom line is it's shameful what they're doing. They want to have the 3 percent profit margin built in to make sure they make a profit," he said.
In a brief filed with the Maine Superior Court, Anthem called the zero-percent profit margin unfair and unprecedented.
Calls to WellPoint Inc., Anthem's Indianapolis-based parent company, were unreturned. Anthem spokesman Chris Dugan also did not return a call seeking comment.
Bailey said that after holding several public hearings, Insurance Superintendent Mila Kofman also cut the company's rate increase request of 18.5 percent for individual health insurance products to 10.9 percent.
He said the private insurer has asked the state to raise its rate almost every year for the past seven years.
"The superintendent, citing the economic climate, denied their guarantee net profit, so (Anthem) chose to take the taxpayers to court," Bailey said. "It's funny, they didn't sue over the (rate increase) being cut in half. I guess they didn't need it as bad as they said."
Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that blaming Anthem for soaring health care costs is not fair or accurate.
"Prohibiting any business from making a profit is a slippery slope that should concern every business in this state, no matter the type or size," Connors said.
"What the protests and rhetoric don't tell Maine people is that Anthem is the only major carrier willing to write policies in the individual market here in Maine, and we are fortunate to have them doing so. Why aren't other major carriers willing to serve Maine people in this market? Because of the high risk and costs associated with doing so," Connors said.
Andrew Twaddle -- a retired University of Missouri professor who attended the rally -- said medical costs are bankrupting our society.
"Since the early '90s, about 1.5 million people per year have lost health insurance in this country," said Twaddle, of Boothbay, who said he spent 40 years studying health care systems around the world while teaching medical social programs and family community medicine. "What we have is the only developed country rapidly moving away from universal health care. With the failing of the Clinton (health-care reform) plan, insurance companies took over the system."
Shanna Rogers, a 29-year-old restaurant manager from Lewiston, also joined the protest with her three young sons.
Rogers said she was four months pregnant with identical twins when doctors diagnosed her with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a disorder that causes one twin to receive more blood flow while the other receives too little.
"First (Anthem) denied the life-saving surgery. I won that appeal," Rogers said. "Then, after their birth, they denied the vaccine that would keep them out of the hospital with respiratory viruses, which is common for preemies. Anthem won that time.
"At the request of my pediatrician, I kept them out of day care; and then, last but not least, this fall when they were diagnosed with speech and hearing problems, the speech therapist refused to bill Anthem directly because of Anthem's high denial of claims. I would need to pay for my services up front.
"(The twins) are wonderful, sweet boys, and they wouldn't be here if Anthem had their way."
Mechele Cooper -- 623-3811, ext. 408
mcooper@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
Click here to view or add reader comments