My health ins. premium went up again. What is causing this? I am fed up.?

Rising costs of health insurance: here are my theories why: exorbitant salaries of ins. ceo's, over prescribing of medication by doctors, over testing by doctors, people going to the doctor ...

Rising costs of health insurance: here are my theories why:
exorbitant salaries of ins. ceo's, over prescribing of medication by doctors, over testing by doctors, people going to the doctor unnecessarily, exorbitant profits of pharmaceutical companies, over regulation by the government, collusion of government, insurance co., and drug companies.
These are to name a few. Maybe there are other reasons.

Steve D	You forget overuse of services by health insurance holders; over prescribing by doctors per insistence of patients, over testing of patients per insistence of patients (wanting a CAT scan when a simple x-ray will do); high admin costs on the part of insurance companies driving up costs to doctors who pass it on via charges; lack of insurance for many people who then use the ER as a primary care physician (most expensive care around) driving up costs in the hospital; frivolous law suits by patients driving up malpractice costs and malpractice insurance premiums. Obviously, this is a problem which has its roots across the board and everyone needs to take responsibility for it.

Jay S	Add to that: Health insurance companies are corporations that are expected to "grow" and increase revenues annually for their shareholders. Premiums are one place to get more money when other areas aren't doing well. The whole concept of healthcare is a real dilemma. On one side you need the incentive of personal profits to keep the best people possible interested in being in that field. The best doctors and scientists simply aren't going to do the job for government paychecks. On the other hand, corporate health insurance companies offer no added value THEMSELVES to the system and yet they siphon off billions as a middleman. I haven't seen an answer yet that looks like it will work. Nationalizing it will be a disaster.

bud68	Don't forget the lawyers encouraging lawsuits, which drives up the costs of all healthcare.

Emma F	Policies usually go up every year on the anniversary of your policy. Remember you are getting older too, and can cost the insurance company more. If you're not happy I would shop around for another plan. Use a local broker, who represents more than one company. Good Luck!

keiko	And, the number of claims filed and how much it costs to pay them. The company has to make meet all expenses and make a profit. Try some other companies for coverage. I just found this site when looking for insurance for myself. It seems reasonably accurate: http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/individual-health-insurance.ds

mbrcatz	How about, health insurance companies pay out in claims, 99% of what they receive in premiums. Overusage, overusage, overusage. People insist on birthing in hospitals (which drasticly increases your chance of a c section). People insist on eating poorly, being fat, and not excercising, but having medications to control symptoms of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart and cholesterol stuff. People insist on drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and being promiscuous. PEOPLE DON'T WASH THEIR HANDS AFTER USING THE TOILET, the #1 thing you can do to cut down on LOTS of things. Most of it, is people not wanting to manage their own health - in general, we want doctors and drugs to do it for us.