Individuals

Insurers Ready Another Round of Double-Digit Hikes

State actuaries say medical costs went up 12 to 13 percent last year

February 4, 2010 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield is asking the Insurance Division to approve a 25.3 percent average premium increase on more than 73,000 individuals whose policies renew starting April 1. Read More >>

It’s Time for Mental Health Parity for all Oregonians

February 4, 2010 -- There are more than 201,000 Oregonians who pay for insurance by themselves and who don’t have mandated mental health benefits. It's time they do.
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Investments Buoy Oregon Health Insurer Profits

Will gains transfer to lower premiums? Not yet anyway

December 10, 2009 -- Oregon insurers continued reaping the rewards of a positive stock market through much of this year, based on the latest available financial statements filed with the state. Read More >>

An Insurance Bureaucrat Speaks Out

Dr. Don Thieman’s been inside the health insurance industry and he’s not remaining silent

December 3, 2009 -- A former medical director at Regence Bluecross Blueshield of Oregon says people have nothing to fear. By and large those in government have our interests at heart much more than people in the insurance industry. Read More >>

Wyden Wins Free Choice Concession

Vote likely on amendment to offer vouchers for tax-free portion of employer sponored health plans

November 20, 2009 -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) have taken a long stride toward locking down the support of Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Read More >>

Regulators Offer Little Backstop for Premium Hikes

High paid executives and skyrocketing premiums from coast to coast

November 19, 2009 -- New information from a Senate investigation reveals CIGNA, one of the country's largest health insurers, failed to account for $5 billion in premium revenue reported to state regulators. Read More >>

Regulators Praised for Tough Stance on Insurers

The Oregon Insurance Division says no exemptions to public disclosure on rate filings

October 27, 2009 -- State regulators at the Oregon Insurance Division are getting the thumbs up from health insurance reform advocates who say they’ve drawn a firm line in the first draft of rules to tighten the way they regulate health insurance premiums. Read More >>

High Risk Pool to Increase Premiums

Insurer of last resort for those rejected for individual coverage plans to raise rates by 12.5 percent

October 14, 2009 -- People rejected by insurance companies because of pre-existing conditions will pay 12.5 percent more for health coverage through the high risk pool starting Jan. 1. Read More >>

Industry Pressure Mounts on State Regulators

Lobbying to limit health insurance rate regulation extends beyond walls of the state capitol

September 3, 2009 – Armed with authority to peer deeper into health insurance balance sheets, the state agency that governs the industry faces intense lobbying pressure. Read More >>

Rejections Increase as Policy Prohibition Nears

Individual rejection rates for pre-existing conditions continued to reach toward one-in-four who apply

August 21, 2009 -- It’s a foregone conclusion these days that if any healthcare reform bill passes Congress this year it will end the practice of rejecting individuals for health insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Until then, insurers are continuing to reject as usual. Read More >>

Our Mission

The Lund Report keeps its radar focused on Oregon’s healthcare industry. Our goal is to empower consumers. We believe an informed public can create a more accountable and transparent system.

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