As an Empire Group Health insured I feel the ruling is anti-consumer. Our rates have jumped over 60% since 2002. Just after the conversion to for-profit, NYS approved a new Mid-Hudson geographical rating territory for Empire, with a 38% rate hike. Was it any coincidence that Pataki took $1.1 billion from Empire and used it to pacify Dennis Rivera and Local 1199 with pay raises and thereby garner their support in his last re-election to Governor! We now have the highest rates in NYS! Health Insurance costs are completely out of hand. I am an insurance agent but would fully support nationalized, single payor, rationed health care for all, administered by govt. and paid for by a national sales tax (5%?) on every product and service, with severe penalties for cheating.
As an Empire Group Health insured I feel the ruling is anti-consumer. Our rates have jumped over 60% since 2002. Just after the conversion to for-profit, NYS approved a new Mid-Hudson geographical rating territory for Empire, with a 38% rate hike. Was it any coincidence that Pataki took $1.1 billion from Empire and used it to pacify Dennis Rivera and Local 1199 with pay raises and thereby garner their support in his last re-election to Governor! We now have the highest rates in NYS! Health Insurance costs are completely out of hand. I am an insurance agent but would fully support nationalized, single payor, rationed health care for all, administered by govt. and paid for by a national sales tax (5%?) on every product and service, with severe penalties for cheating.