regence blue cross blue shield
January 8, 2012 -- When insurance officials made a decision about a rate request by Regence BlueCross BlueShield after reviewing documents behind closed doors last summer, it raised the ire of Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland).
A strong proponent of transparency, he’s drafting legislation that would let consumer watchdog groups such as OSPIRG have access to such proprietary information, giving them intervener status.
Jan 9, 2013
January 2, 2013 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield took back its spot as Oregon’s top provider of health insurance, though its ongoing battle for market dominance remains a near-tie with previous leader Kaiser Permanente. Oregon’s health reform efforts played a major role pulling Kaiser down from the top position.
Jan 2, 2013
November 21, 2012 -- A potential conflict of interest exists between an organization set up to help people resolve their health insurance bills, known as CoPatient, and the non-profit parent corporation of an insurance company, Cambia Health Solutions which derives its income from the investment portfolio and surpluses of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and other Regence plans in Washington, Idaho and Utah.
That’s the concern of Jesse Ellis O’Brien, the healthcare advocate for OSPIRG, a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests.
Nov 20, 2012
October 25, 2012 -- It seemed like a good idea at the time. With healthcare costs rising, insurance plans from across the Northwest thought they might be able to save money by sharing resources. By 1997, Oregon’s BlueCross BlueShield had merged with BlueShield of Washington and other “Blues” plans from Utah and Idaho to become The Regence Group. Headquartered in downtown Portland, soon the new company had set its tech team to work at integrating its multiple lines of business.
Oct 25, 2012
October 4, 2012 -- Kaiser Permanente has bolstered its newly won lead as the state’s top health insurer at the same time as long-time leader Regence BlueCross BlueShield has continued its slide.
And while No. 3 PacificSource still has half the members of Kaiser and Regence, it enrolled more new members than anyone else in the state, according to reports on the first half of 2012 filed with the Oregon Insurance Division.
Oct 4, 2012
October 3, 2012 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield could find itself on the hot seat again. This time actuaries from inside the Oregon Insurance Division are in the midst of conducting an in-depth financial review at Regence’s headquarters in downtown Portland -– looking for any irregularities and whether the insurer has the financial stability to meet the needs of its policyholders.
Oct 3, 2012
September 13, 2012 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield is at it again – this time asking for a 4.3 percent average rate increase for small employers that, if approved, would take effect in January.
However, this time around Regence’s request actually represents a 3.9 percent decrease from previously approved rates by the Oregon Insurance Division. .
Sep 13, 2012
About 30,000 policyholders will also see much higher deductibles, and lose mental health coverage and pay more for their prescriptions
Aug 30, 2012
Meanwhile the Oregon Insurance Division has approved a 12.2 percent rate increase for people who purchase their own coverage through Providence Health Plan
Aug 23, 2012
August 3, 2012 -- While advocates and rate payers await the decision by the Oregon Insurance Division on a proposed 9.6 percent increase by Regence BlueCross BlueShield that would impact about 53,000 Oregonians, a significant distortion stands out.Initially, Regence told the Insurance Division and OSPIRG Foundation that that its salaries had risen by 37 percent while fees paid to insurance brokers had jumped by 84 percent between 2010 and 2011 for the individual market.
Aug 3, 2012
