1. 15645 POINTS
    Edward HarrisPRO
    Owner, Best Health And Car Insurance Rates - Instant Online Quotes, US
    I suppose you could take your pick. Some independent industry experts will point their finger at President Obama. Others will blame Congress and other government officials. They may both be right.

    Insurance companies are frequently a target, but in a capitalistic system, it benefits the insurers to charge the lowest rates so they can gain market share.

    Ourselves (consumers) may be partially to blame because of bad eating and exercising habits (some of us).

    Yes, there are plenty of folks to blame for high health insurance premiums.
    Answered on May 7, 2013
  2. 11783 POINTS
    Larry GilmorePRO
    Agent Owner, Gilmore Insurance Services, Marysville, Washington State
    What is to blame for the sharp increases in health insurance? Well is it OK to say everybody? We all have a hand in the cost of healthcare in this country.  This is going to be why it will so hard to change our system or lower it's costs. To do so, requires everybody to do something and the problem is everybody has a solution that leaves them untouched and hammers the other guy.  Just won't work that way.
    Answered on May 7, 2013
  3. 80 POINTS
    Michael Braun
    Agent, Leading Times Insurance, LLC, United States
    Well, there are a lot of reasons for sharp price increases.   High utilization, aging population, more expensive treatments and tests, regulations, and other factors.    All countries are struggling with high costs of healthcare and not just the US.   Remember, 85% of all premium paid is then returned out in claim payments.   
    The other factor that we have seen over the years is the Medicare rub.   We have seen a larger increase in cost in the commercial risk (employer pool) because of a lowering of medicare reimbursement rates.   When Doctors and hospitals receive less in reimbursements on on part they need to make it up somewhere else.   So, the employer pool has been supporting Medicare.
    Answered on May 8, 2013
  4. 1492 POINTS
    Jeff Davis
    Insurance Advisor, Lordship Insurance Services, California
    I dont believe that there is any one person or entity to blame. Insurance, like everything else (except interest rates) has been rising in costs. We can attribute these increases to a couple of factors including; higher costs of providing healthcare, people living longer and needing additional healthcare services, % of premiums received to claims paid, higher administrative costs, etc. The government and their policies can also influence rates as their actions can have a direct impact on what it costs an insurer to operate. In order to stay in business insurance companies must remain profitable and sometimes that means an increase in pricing.
    Answered on May 8, 2013
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