Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Promotes New Bills

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Promotes New Bills in Politics and Legislation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the state’s largest non-profit health insurer, is fully behind four new bills being considered in state Legislature.

Because BCBS of Michigan has a non-profit status, the state determines the rates set for consumers. The new legislation would allow BCBS to set their own rates without approval from the insurance commissioner, and avoid challenges from the attorney general.

The state could still appeal and review any rate increases, and order refunds and reductions if the hikes are found to be unfair, reported the Detroit Free Press.

One of the new bills would also form a high-risk pool that would accept applicants with pre-existing conditions or poor health history.

The other pieces of legislation give the go-ahead for the Accident Fund, who only offers worker’s compensation policies, to sell other kinds of insurance. The Accident Fund is a for-profit subsidiary of BCBS of Michigan.

Blue Cross is heavily promoting the new bills to the public, spending money on television advertisements during prime-time programs.

“Reforming the insurance market is a major public policy change that we feel obligated to make sure the people of Michigan hear about,” said Blue Cross in a statement.

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