ObamaCare: Insurance premiums will be going up

President Obama traveled to the Cleveland area on Wednesday, and he rolled out another falsehood, as the Senate Republican Communications Center informs us.

FACT CHECK: PRESIDENT ON HEALTH PREMIUMS

Despite Contrary Press Reports, President Claims That Health Law "Stops Insurance Companies From Jacking Up Your Premiums"

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "That's Why We Passed Health Insurance Reform That Stops Insurance Companies From Jacking Up Your Premiums At Will." (President Obama, Remarks, Parma, OH, 9/8/10)

"WHOPPING RATE INCREASES ARE COMING SOON"

"Health Insurers … Have Asked For Premium Increases Of Between 1% And 9% To Pay For Extra Benefits Required Under The [Democrat Health Care] Law." "Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections. Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators." ("Health Insurers Plan Hikes," The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

· "Aetna, One Of The Nation's Largest Health Insurers, Said The Extra Benefits Forced It To Seek Rate Increases For New Individual Plans Of 5.4% To 7.4% In California And 5.5% To 6.8% In Nevada After Sept. 23. Similar steps are planned across the country, according to Aetna." ("Health Insurers Plan Hikes," The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

· "Regence BlueCross BlueShield Of Oregon Said The Cost Of Providing Additional Benefits Under The Health Law Will Account On Average For 3.4 Percentage Points…" ("Health Insurers Plan Hikes," The Wall Street Journal, 9/8/10)

WASHINGTON STATE: "Whopping Rate Increases Are Coming Soon For Many People With Individual Health-Insurance Policies. Most insurers offering individual policies in the state have asked for and been granted rate increases, effective Oct. 1, according to the state's insurance commissioner. Regence BlueShield's rate increase an average 16.5 percent was one of the highest. It was topped by Asuris Northwest Health, a Regence subsidiary, with an increase of 23.7 percent. Group Health Cooperative, the fifth-largest insurer of individuals, was considerably lower, asking for an 8.2 percent increase. But its newer program, Group Health Options, asked for a 22 percent increase. By reducing benefits and making other changes, the plans trimmed increases to 7.8 and 13.8 percent, respectively. A lot of angry customers are asking why." ("Steep Rate Hikes On Way For Individual Health Insurance," The Seattle Times, 9/7/10)

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