Health Care

July 26, 2012 -- Physicians and other healthcare professionals are being hit with a rate reduction from Regence BlueCross BlueShield on October 1, while the insurer is asking the InsuranceDivision to approve a 9.6 percent increase for roughly 53,000 people who buy their own coverage. A public hearing on that rate request will be held next Monday at 3 p.m. in Salem.

July 9, 2012 -- More than 52,000 Oregonians with individual health insurance plans will see rate hikes of 9.6% on average, and as high as 16.4%, if the premium rate hike posted today by Regence BlueCross BlueShield goes forward.

PORTLAND, Ore., July 6 -- The Oregon State Public Interest Research Groupissued the following news release:

As any small business or individual who pays for health insurance can tell you, it hasn't been easy. Far from it, what with 20 percent rate hikes and a terrible economy.

But thanks to new rules to crack down on excessive health insurance rate hikes – and the greater scrutiny that has followed – consumers have reason for cautious optimism.