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Blue Shield has
announced a rate increase effective 7/1/2008 for existing
individual/family (not Medicare supplement) clients and new enrollees with effective dates of 7/1 or later.
If you are interested to Blue Shield, try to get an effective
date before 7/1 to lock in the old rates for up to 6 months.
If you wish to compare your current Blue Shield
individual/family health plan to other carriers such as Blue
Cross of California, please run your
individual/family instant quote.
If your rate looks
different than the one shown, please
email
us your ages, plan, and zip code. You may be on
a higher tier with Blue Shield based on health at the time of
enrollment or later plan changes. There are many options
on the market and we would be happy to research the market to
see if there is a better value for your age(s), plan type and
zip code. |
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Below if more
information provided by Blue Shield regarding the specifics of
the rate change: |
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| New plans |
| With the
success of
Vital ShieldSM
2900*, and the increasing demand for HSA-eligible plans, Blue
Shield has added two new PPO plans to our portfolio: Vital
Shield 900* and Shield Spectrum PPOSM
Savings Plan 1800/3600*. |
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| With a
combination of low deductibles and coinsurance maximums,
preventative care, and prescription drug coverage1,
these plans are excellent options for price-driven shoppers
seeking coverage in case of serious illness or injury. For plan
details see the Vital Shield and Shield Spectrum PPO
Savings when you run your instant quote. |
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| Rate Changes |
| Blue Shield has
held IFP rates for 17 months, which puts them below the market
trend. To stay competitive, however, our rates will change
effective July 1, 2008 for all IFP health and dental plans. |
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| We have
realigned some rating regions to reflect changes in the actual
cost of health care in each geographic region: |
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County |
From
Region |
To Region |
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County |
From
Region |
To Region |
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Colusa |
2 |
1 |
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Orange |
8 |
7&8 |
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Fresno |
6 |
3 |
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Riverside |
8 |
7&8 |
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Humboldt |
6 |
1 |
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San Benito |
2 |
1 |
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Kings |
2 |
1 |
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San
Joaquin |
2 |
1 |
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Los
Angeles |
8&9 |
7&8 |
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Santa
Barbara |
1&7 |
1 |
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Madera |
2 |
1 |
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Santa
Clara |
4 |
4&5 |
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Mendocino |
2 |
1 |
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San Diego |
7 |
2 |
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Merced |
2 |
3 |
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Siskiyou |
2 |
1 |
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Mono |
6 |
5 |
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Ventura |
8 |
7&9 |
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Monterey |
6 |
5 |
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Yolo |
1 |
3 |
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| We have also
expanded our rating categories from four to nine, by launching
gender-specific rating and categories for single parents:
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Current
rating options |
New rating
categories |
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YouthCareSM |
YouthCareSM
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Single |
Male
subscriber
Female subscriber
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Party of
two |
Subscriber
& spouse/domestic partner
Male subscriber & child
Female subscriber & child
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Family |
Subscriber
& spouse/domestic partner
Male subscriber & child
Female subscriber & child
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| Rating
categories for our dental plans have also been changed to mirror
our health plans, but without gender distinctions: |
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Current
rating options |
New rating
categories |
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Individual |
Subscriber |
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Party of
two |
Subscriber
& spouse/domestic partner
Subscriber & child
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Family |
Family
Subscriber & children
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| How
will these changes affect existing members and new business?
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- Existing
members who are not in a rate guarantee will be moved to the
appropriate rating region and/or rating category effective
July 1, 2008, or their first billing cycle thereafter.
-
Existing members who are in a rate guarantee will be moved
to the appropriate rating region and/or rating category once
their rate guarantee has expired.2
- New members
with effective dates of July 1, 2008 and later will be
enrolled in the new rating regions and rating categories on
their original effective date of coverage.
- The new
rating regions and rating categories are effective
immediately for all sales of Vital Shield 900 and Shield
Spectrum PPO Savings Plan 1800/3600.
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