March 11, 2010
In what seems to be the second phase of an elaborate plan by health insurers, they have begun to hike rates in numerous states. This increase in monthly premiums comes only a few weeks after Scott Brown won a Senate victory, making any chances of Obama passing a Health Care Bill seem unlikely.

So far, many major for-profit insurance companies insurers including Blue Cross have increased their rates in the past month. Anthem Blue Cross is California's largest for-profit insurance company, and they announced in early February that they would be raising member rates to as much as 76%, which will affect millions of people. The company has also announced that they will be increasing prices for Wisconsin customers by 17.2%. Anthem Blue Cross is owned by industry giant Wellpoint, who blames demographics on the sudden price increase. Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has also followed suit by boosting prices in Iowa to around 18% for those with private insurance. Small Businesses that insure employees in areas such as California have taken a financial hit as a result.

Lawmakers are astonished, but it doesn't seem like they can do much to stop it at this point. All these rate increases are giving liberals the justification they need to try to pass a Universal Health Care system or a single payer option. It is starting to appear that maybe media kingpins like Rupert Murdoch received some type of payment or gifts in exchange for pushing an Insurance Company agenda through media outlets such as Fox News. Murdoch has admitted many times in video interviews that he does push an agenda with his news channels and newspapers.

Many have stated that it may be best to permit these corporations to sell insurance across state lines, however I don't see how that will stop them from creating a monopoly by using their big money to keep smaller companies in check. Without the government stepping in, America is at the mercy of these companies, and it seems that many of the people who feel they are fighting the good fight against big government may be hurting themselves in the end without even realizing it.