Where's the Patriot on this story?

While doctors face increased costs and decreased reimbursements from various health insurers and consumers pay more and more for their health care coverage, the Blues certainly aren't singing the blues. In fact, their profits are up - way up in the case of Central Pennsylvania's Capital Blue Cross. And their CEO has to gall to say its due to decreased medical utilization because we are managing our health better. More like they put up more roadblocks to usage . . .

This from the Patriot News:

"Capital Blue Cross books increase in profitCapital Blue Cross saw its profits and reserves increase in 2005. The health insurer, based in Susquehanna Twp., had a profit of $186 million, up from $54 million in 2004. Its reserves swelled to $795 million, up from $616 million. A Capital executive attributed some of the strong performance to decreased use of medical services resulting from wellness and disease management programs. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department, which recently set limits on acceptable surplus levels for the state Blue Cross-Blue Shield plans, said Capital’s reserves are within the acceptable range. "

Why aren't their reporters asking the obvious questions - like:

1. Where's the study connecting decreased use of medical services with wellness and disease management programs?

2. Why isn't someone pushing the Insurance Department to lower those reserves?


What really galls me is that I pay premiums now, which are set aside for their potential future losses. I'm funding their future payouts for what will probably be other insureds. How about rebating some of those surpluses to the policy holders? I could put that into a long term fund for my future medical costs.