newsobserver.com projects - Blue Cross Blue Shield - Comments

Re: Money flows to Etheridge

GrayJ — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:46:31 -0400

Yes who are "the trial lawyers", they sound shady.

Re: Money flows to Etheridge

awbeal — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:12:07 -0400

Who are "the trial lawyers"? Sounds as if all trial lawyers agree on something and form one group.

Re: Money flows to Etheridge

GiggleBox — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:10:20 -0400

Just more proof that Paul Terrel guy should run everything since he has no support.

Re: Krugman criticizes Blue Cross of N.C.

dahedgehog — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:38:10 -0400

Krugman argues that none of the plans currently being discussed would force people into a government-run health care plan.

The above is an example of crappy reporting. By using the contsruction "Krugman argues..." you do a disservice to your readers. If I'm uninformed on the topic at hand, I come away from this blog post thinking that one side says X, the other side says Y. I walk away from this piece of reporting no better-informed than when I started my day.

A good reporter would instead have written, "None of the plans currently being discussed would force people into a government-run health care plan." This is an unarguable fact. Such a statement from the reporter would leave his readers with a better understanding of the issues.

Instead, your readers are forced to choose sides between the Corporation or the Liberal, and nobody leaves any better off than when we started.

I'm sorry, but this is a huge pet peeve of mine. If somebody is making a factual claim that is verifiable, do some freaking reporting and figure out who is right! Tell your readers!

Re: Audit blames plan administrators

jesmyopinion — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:47:57 -0400

I am surprised they were not given a raise, or gotten a promotion...

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

shp123 — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:28:13 -0400

Just curious when the N&O will reveal that the State contract has a production clause(when BCBSNC doesn't meet the contract stipulations) BCBSNC has to pay. Or when BCBSNC has given the State health Plan TONS of money to pay claims and now NO ONE in the general Assembly can find the money. Claims will NOT BE PAID.....REPEAT CLAIMS will not be paid. If you had a service in a doctor's office or hospital YOU ARE 100% responsible. Not so bad for BCBSNC who gave NC money to pay the claims and they spend it elsewhere. My heart goes out to all SHP members.we really are looking bad. Maybe they need to let BCBSNC run the State Health Plan and let the guys/gals in Raleigh figure out another way to blow our taxes dollars. wake up. Don't call to grip about the money BCBSNC makes call to ask the voted in member of general Assembly what the heck they did with OUR money. Maybe Bev can figure it out...Yeah RIGHT!!!

Re: SEANC defends its ad claim

tangoz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:42:22 -0400

The head of a union putting out a false ad. Who would have figured (sarcasm).

Policy holder objects to Blue Cross contract secrecy

jemphd — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:24:37 -0400

So, let's see - perhaps $180M - 65M salaries, - 45M incentives, - 20M capital improvements,- 19.5M advertising -30M debt service = $500,000. BX/BS - disprove those figures by opening your contract and books.

Re: Blue Cross objects to SEANC ad

aftercancer — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:14:20 -0400

Wow, I feel so badly for Blue Cross Blue Shield that I've almost forgotten that they are robbing the state blind and will not be increasing my premiums again. Maybe NOT!

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

jepthas — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:04:42 -0400

Are they going to do blood tests to see who smokes? Or will you merely check yes or no? Then be called back because they don't believe you? Can you be weighted nude?

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

thekittybees — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:08:31 -0400

Bendal, I believe the only way BCBS will be able to find out who smokes and is obese is to dump every subscriber into the 70/30 Plan come July 1, 2009. Then each subscriber will have to PROVE with a doctor visit (30% of which they will pay the cost of) that they are not smokers or are not obese. Can you think of any other way for BCBS to make more money in a rapid turn around than making all subscribers pay 30% of their doctor visit cost?

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

bendal — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:51:01 -0400

I still want to know how the SHP will find out whether a family member of a state employee is overweight or smokes. Will their doctor be required to report this information to the SHP, and isn't that a breach of privacy between doctor and patient?

While we're at it, what about those with risky lifestyles? Or those who skydive, or snorkel, or go hang gliding? Aren't those health risks too, and could impact the stockholders' profits...oh, I mean, impact the health costs to the program? What if someone has diabetes or asthma, or a child with an incurable disease such as Muscular Dystrophy? Shouldn't they be charged more too?

It's discrimination and acceptable because smokers/overweight people are considered "ok" to persecute. The thought is they did it to themselves so they deserve the scorn. Think about that.

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

goobnav — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:51:00 -0400

Its seems the N&O is trying to shift the blame away from its friends in the General Assembly. That is the issue, the mismanagement of the funding of this program comes directly from the Government not BCBSNC. What is the N&O protecting, an inept governor, the people have figured that out, the Good Ol'boy network at the General Assembly or are they being manipulated by other corporate entities that are savioring to bilk the people of NC out of more tax dollars that they already cannot afford. I would say all three, its surprising that SEANC is falling for this, they should know better that they are being misled by a bunch of ignorant lawyers who think the populus of this state is a bunch of dumb fools. I have news for them, we are more intelligent than you think and the people will rise up and take back what is rightfully theirs.

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

Corvus — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:57:03 -0400

Maybe SEANC can file a lawsuit based on the fact that this proposed health fix discriminates against smokers and fat people. All the while letting the high ups at BCBS get rich and make contributions to politicians.

Re: SEANC airs ads against Health Plan fix

Cottonelle — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:35:06 -0400

No need to wonder why alcohol is missing from the State's list of health intitiave sanctions even though alcohol kills, ruins families, and yes, makes people fat and stupid. Tony Rand, who sponsored the Health Initiatives bill, has now introduced a bill that will allow the selling of liquor by the drink on Sundays to benefit the restaurant industry and the state's increased tax on liquor by the drink. He seems to think it's all about money, "taking it off" the 60% of overweight people who have sat behind desks doing the State's business and taught its children.