Letter: Paying corporations using political power

Dear Editor,
Middle Easterners face leaders who’ve used political power for
private gain and have no intention of surrendering the
privilege.
  Americans face corporations who operate similarly—like
Wellpoint, owner of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Dear Editor,

Middle Easterners face leaders who’ve used political power for private gain and have no intention of surrendering the privilege.  Americans face corporations who operate similarly—like Wellpoint, owner of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Anthem sent out another round premium-increase notices last week.  Their previous try raised such a ruckus that they backed down.  The California Department of Insurance found that their proposed 9.8% increase actually worked out to 16.4% and that Anthem’s claims about price trends were exaggerated.  Now they’re back.  My monthly premium will now surpass my mortgage payment, while benefits steadily erode.  The letter’s fine print also mentions that Anthem “believes” it needn’t comply with some of the consumer protections put in place by federal legislation. 

Will Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones save us again?  Here’s the shocker: he doesn’t have the power.  Like vested interests everywhere, the insurance lobby dabbles heavily in writing legislation.  For that reason, Jones can do no more than request that a company reconsider its rates.  His department has no power to reject it.  Our watchdog was neutered in a Sacramento backroom.  You didn’t hear about it?  No accident there.

If you don’t like the situation, you’re not alone. Jones is pushing a bill to give him the powers his office ought to have—AB 52.  Will it survive the industry gauntlet?  Only if we yell in unison at Luis Alejo in the Assembly (831-759-8676) and Anthony Cannella in the Senate (831-769-8040).  If you’re not with Anthem, act anyway; your day is coming. And if you’re not a fan of government regulation, who else do you suppose is going to protect you?

Paul Fleischman, Aromas