Schuette opposes Blue Cross Laws

Attorney General Bill Schuette announced his opposition to new laws governing the conversion of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) due to concerns with the impact on hundreds of thousands of Michigan seniors who rely upon Blue Cross for Medigap coverage. Public Acts 4 and 5 of 2013 would permit the conversion of BCBSM from a charitable health care corporation to a non-profit mutual insurance company. ''We need a full and complete commitment to seniors, one that protects them from the looming senior cliff, which could cause skyrocketing Medigap rate increases for Michigan's most vulnerable,'' said Schuette. ''When the existing Medigap rate freeze ends in 2016, hundreds of thousands of Michigan seniors will either face higher rates or be left on their own to find new coverage if Blue Cross drops the Medigap plans. That is unacceptable, and as a result, I cannot support laws that open the door for a senior cliff.'' More than 200,000 Michigan seniors currently rely upon BCBSM's Medigap coverage. As a result of an historic agreement with the attorney general, BCBSM's Medigap rates were frozen for five years (Details on the agreement are at http://1.usa. gov/VaqbEH). Schuette noted the following concerns regarding how seniors will be impacted by the new laws: * Once the historic Medigap rate freeze expires in August 2016, the seniors it protects could face what Schuette has called a ''Senior Cliff'': an immediate, 66% rate increase for seniors covered by BCBSM Medigap policies. * Future rate increases to Medigap plans offered through BCBSM will not be subject to attorney general oversight, meaning the attorney General will not be able to negotiate on seniors' behalf for lower rates once the freeze expires. * The laws permit BCBSM to halt its Medigap policies altogether in 2016, leaving seniors on their own to find new coverage. * The average $24 million per year allocation for per year for five years by a newly-formed foundation will be insufficient to replace the current $180 million annual subsidy that keeps Medigap affordable for thousands of Michigan seniors. Published: Thu, Mar 21, 2013