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Oxford Health Insurance, Inc.Small Group2018 Public Comments

I received a notice that they want to increase our rates by 14%. We are a tiny company with almost no claims on our insurance. We barely even touched our deductables. There is no reason for them to raise our rates.

Our rates go up each year for the same services covered. We can no longer absorb the increases. We will be forced to discontinue coverage if an increase is approved. Please do not allow any increase. Thank You

Please do not approve any rate increase. We simply can not afford these ever increasing premiums! We will be forced to discontinue providing coverage to our employees.

I am shocked to see yet another rate increase being proposed by this insurance company. With the proposed increase, this rate will have increased in excess of 50% over the past four years. That is an incredible burden on a small company. I fully understand that costs for the insurance companies are rising as well, but I find it hard to believe their costs have increased over 50% in four years. Why should mine?

Dear Sir and Madam, I received letter from United Health Care for increase insurance. Just increase insurance cost from month of April. Unfortunately we could not afford anymore increase cost of Insurance. Please help us. UnitedHealthCare Health Plan 911-06111-07 Member ID Group Number HIOS identification Number 85629NY0010300

We have last year premium increase which was very big. compare to our payroll income we can not afford coverage premium. we understand expense of medial need increase we appreciate if they can increase 3% as inflation rate.

To whom it may concern: I am a small business owner who opted to provide my sole employee full insurance coverage. We put the policy in place I received today, 6 months after binding the policy, a proposed 10.9% premium increase. As you can imagine this is not acceptable for the following reasons. -My employee has not incurred a single medical expense during this time period -The policy has been in place less than 1 year -I am a small in it infancy -We serve solely NYS non-profits thus our own profit margin is low Thank you for your consideration.


We pay over 1,700 per month for three people - what we receive in a small network, constant red tape, inability to find doctors (website has not been updated in year), high deductibles, refusals on medicines. The list goes on and on. There are no real options for insurance and they just raise rates to make more money. This coverage is poor at best and massively expensive. NY should be ashamed of itself if the proposed rate is allowed to be raised.

I received a May 26, 2017 notice of a proposed 7.4% rate increase. As the head of a that strives to keep its few staff members covered with decent health insurance, this rate increase would cause me to rethink my ability to provide health coverage. Furthermore, when I followed the instructions of the letter to read the narrative explaining the reasons for the rate increase request, the website did not actually have the narrative accessible according to the instructions. A phone call to Oxford did not yield any further information other than the fact that the narrative explanation had not yet been uploaded. It seems that transparency and compliance are being lost in this process and that is worrisome. I look forward to reviewing the narrative when it is uploaded and aim to provide further comment at that time.

Oxford is proposing an 11.1% increase. Their increase one year ago was over 5%. Cost of living increases are less than 2%. It is cost prohibitive for a small company and their employees to bear the burden of these increases year after year.

Good afternoon. We are a small business and we cover the total cost of health insurance for our office personnel. We have been with our carrier (United Healthcare/Oxford) since we began health insurance coverage and EVERY SINGLE YEAR they request a rate increase. We pay an astronomical monthly premium since we are a small group. Any further rate increases will ultimately result in our already unaffordable premiums and likelihood of terminating coverage. This would not only hurt our relationship with our employees but would detrimentally hurt the employees that we currently cover. We ask you to reject this 11.5% increase. How much more can small business be hurt in the State of New York, when they try to do the right thing to help its employees? Respectfully yours,


I am writing to protest the proposed 14.2% rate increase requested by United Healthcare Oxford for the 2018 calendar year. Before any increase is approved, I would ask that the State review whether this increased premium is reflects only increased medical costs, as they contend, but rather is also a result of expenses incurred by both massive administrative waste as well as the exorbitant salaries earned by their corporate executives that enrich their already bloated pockets . None of the premium increases translates to additional benefits or cost savings for the consumer or increased contracted rates for the provider. In fact, in my experience, there is an inverse relationship between premium increases and Oxford's financial obligations: premium increases are always accompanied by more obligation to the consumer through higher deductibles, higher out of pockets expenses and a higher percentage of co-insurance. I would like to know how the state assess premium rate increase requests and would appreciate any information you can provide me with. Thank you,

I oppose any increase in rates for an unimproved, unchanged service. The rates were increased in January of this year, and they seek an additional 6.3% beginning 2018. The cost of health coverage is too high and it is making small business operators such as myself suffer financially! I oppose an increase!

Rates have steadily increased between 5%-15% for years and years. This is unsustainable for a such as ours, and more importantly, for our employees who will end up bearing the brunt of these proposed increases. Therefore, we do not believe these new increases are just.

OUR RATES HAVE HAVE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY EACH YEAR FOR THE LAST 5. WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FOOTING THE BILL FOR THOSE WHO ARE GIVEN HEALTH INSURANCE FOR NO COST. IF THE 10% INCREASE IN OUR RATE IS APPROVED, WE WILL DROP THE INSURANCE. WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THESE RIDICULOUS RATES. WHO WILL FOOT THE BILL THEN?

Every years the rates increase and the benefits decline. When is this ever going to end or at least rise at slower artes. It's a larger burden for a small business.


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1. United Healthcare Oxford2. EPO Bronze; PPO Platinum3. Group Coverage4. 85629NY0010310; 85629NY0050026

To Whom it may concern, Here at , we take great pride in being a responsible employer that provides high quality health insurance to all of our 50+ employees. We do so free of charge to our hard working employees. We believe that doing this is our obligation as a successful small business. The large increase that Oxford made last year in our premium has already made it necessary for us to scale back the insurance we provide, from a plan with out of network benefits, to one with in-network benefits only. We regretted the necessity of this step, but this was the only way we could continue to provide similar health care to our valued employees without taking contributions from their pay. This year's proposed rate increase would necessitate further changes that we hope not to make. Please, do not approve this very high proposed rate increase. Our company wants to continue providing high quality health care for our employees as we have always done.Thank you for taking the time consider this.




I am responding to you regarding a rate increase letter I received from United Healthcare Oxford. We have been insured by them for years.We are under United Healthcare Oxford, Freedom PlanFamily PlanHIOS ID: 85629NY0050012

They are planning on yet another 11.5% increase. Every year it?s the same old nonsense.We are currently paying 2930.83 per month for an annual premium of $ 35,169.96You add 11.5% increase to that we will be paying $ 3267.83 with an annual premium of close to $40,000 per year.You can?t be serious. This is outrageous and should not happen. Rates are out of control.




To Whom It May Concern:

This comment is in regard to: HI8899,CSP02, EPO Gold and Bronze

Insurer: United/OxfordPlans: HI8899, CSP01 and CSP02 HIOS Number: 85629NY0010238 and 85629NY0010154

The proposed rate changes of 10-13% over 2017 are exorbitant by any measure. My small business, as competitive as it is, would not raise fees on customers of even 5% in a given year as it would cause unnecessary stress on our clients. United/Oxford ought to be tasked by the DFS to make their own processes more efficient, to seek out fraud instead of putting additional stress on its customers that they justify with a blanket rationale of rising costs. Please reject United/Oxford's proposed rate increases altogether.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,


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Dear Sir and Madam, I received letter from United Health Care for increase insurance. They just increase insurance cost from April. Unfortunately we could not afford anymore increase cost of Insurance. Please help us. UnitedHealthCare

Member ID Group Number HIOS identification Number 85629NY0010300

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Dear Sir/madam,

I just received the letter from my insurance company United Health Care Oxford plan for the 11.1% rate increase. I just had my premium increase last year. This is a lot. I would here by like to request you to look in it and please disallow this increase. The nam of insurer in United Health Care Oxford freedom Network. I have group coveragethe HIOS Identification number is 85629NY0010247. I will appreciate if you can consider my request. The increase is every year for last 10 years .

Thanks




To Whom it May Concern:

I received a letter from my health insurance company, United Healthcare (Oxford), notifying me of their rate increase request of 13%. I am writing to respectfully request that you seriously review this request and not just rubber stamp it.

The medical insurance increases are strangling and killing small businesses in this State (and in the county) as well as individual consumers. We work so hard to stay afloat while at the same time providing our employees with decent wages and benefits so they too can live a decent life. We are willing to do out part but these rate hikes are beyond reasonable. It never is enough for the insurance companies. Considering how medical coverage has changed during the last several years we are paying the insurance companies more and more while at the same time paying more doctors and services out of pocket because their services are no longer covered by insurance companies. We pay higher amounts for the privilege of just having insurance that covers less and less. Access to insurance does NOT mean coverage!

In these very tumultuous times please, please, vote with the people in mind and not large corporations. Thank you.





This is regarding Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change, , EPO Platinum, 85629NY0010036

We would like a copy of the Narrative Summary of rate change request by Oxford Health Insurance, Inc..

Please email a pdf copy or mail to our address below.

If you need any further information from me please contact me by phone or email.

Thank you,




Dear Sir or Madam:Please see the attached letter with respect to this firm?s objections to Oxford?s Proposed Premium Rate Change for HIOS #85629NY001024600; Thank you.

NOTICE: This e-mail message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. The contents of this e-mail are confidential and subject to the attorney-client and work product privileges. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.




To whom it may concern:

I am a small business owner who opted to provide my sole employee full insurance coverage. We put the policy in place I received today, 6 months after binding the policy, a proposed 10.9% premium increase. As you can

imagine this is not acceptable for the following reasons.

⦁ My employee has not incurred a single medical expense during this time period

⦁

⦁ The policy has been in place less than 1 year

⦁ I am a small in it infancy

⦁ We serve solely NYS non-profits thus our own profit margin is lowThank you for your consideration. See the plan details below.

Name of Insurer: United Health Care, Oxford

Group CoverageID number: 85629NY0010058





The yearly proposed increases for health insurance are too much for small businesses like ours to bear. We have about employees plus partners and health expenses have gone through the roof. I hope these increases won?t go through.




Good afternoon,I am writing to inquire about the letter I received referring to OHI?s request to approve a rate change for 2018 for

Does the 16.8% apply to me, even though my medical situation has not changed? I understand that it applies to I look forward to hearing from you once you get word from the DFS.Thank you very much,




The proposed rate increase should be disallowed as the premiums are extremely high already and nearly unaffordable.Thank you.

***************************




Regarding the following plans:

Insurer: United Healthcare

Individual/Group: GroupHIOS number: 85629NY0010240





DFS:We received these notifications for the three group plans we offer employees for proposed rate increases. The rate increases range between 10.4% - 15.8%. These rate increases are very difficult for a small business. It is already a struggle to provide good quality affordable health plans for our employees that are not a severe burden on the expenses to the company. Please consider not approving these rate increases.





I'm against rate increase on the health insurance. the premium is already high. I can not stand further increases.

Name of insurer: UnitedHealthcareName of my Plan: OxfordGroup coverageHIOS# 85629NY0010036

Sincerely,

I cannot even believe that they want to increase the individual plans 11.3%. They just increased it 15% last year. Healthcare is already unaffordable. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. There is plenty of money, the corporation quiet simply mismanages that money. If they are looking to better offset operating costs, they can stop paying their CEO's, CFO's, COO's and anyone else salaries upwards of 6 to 7 figures. The individual plan barely covers anything to begin with. If I became seriously ill, my health plan would be useless. I would die. I have the most basic plan, and it is expensive, and it covers practically nothing..... so they want to charge me more for it? This makes no sense. They are crooks, running the largest ponzi scheme in history, and will always get away with it. If there was any decency left in this world, the DFS would disapprove the rate change.


I ask that you please deny the request from Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. to increase premiums charged to their members by 10%. Oxford's rates - including co-pays and deductibles - are already far too high. In recent years, Oxford has implemented a $2,000 deductible for all services rendered by specialists and healthcare providers other than PCP's, and I personally experienced out-of-pocket costs (via deductibles) of over $2,000 between 2015 and 2016 for a necessary procedure and follow-up visit that I never had to pay before. That, coupled with the increase in co-pays and other costs, have made me afraid to even visit my PCP for fear I may incur further costs I cannot afford. Essentially, my health insurance has become car insurance - it's for emergencies and severe illnesses, only. With wages continuing to stagnate - including mine - and other costs consistently going up (e.g. rent, food, transportation, etc.), economic relief is desperately needed, and the additional burden of a premium increase is too much to bear. Now that healthcare reform is supposedly in the offing, health insurers should be made to wait until the new laws - if any - are passed before determining whether an increase in premiums or other member costs are warranted. Thank you.

I oppose this increase. An 11% increase is uncalled for. In this era of low inflation and colas, there is no reason for a double digit increase. The only purpose of this increase is to supported an inflated profit margin and an inflated executive compensation scheme.

I have an HMO through United Healthcare/Oxford and what I'm coming to find is that that virtually all of the doctors and specialists my family needs to see are not covered by this insurance as they are out of network. This has cost me a significant amount of money this year and will continue to cost me until I am able to change my plan. I don't think 10.5% increase is merited when they cover nothing.

A 14% rate increase for my plan is egregious and unfair considering I have basically consumed little to no healthcare over the past year. Rising costs of medical care is a flimsy excuse for raising premium rates when insurance firms profits continue to rise. I also have no sympathy for the claim that the government regulation environment poses challenges. Rather than lobbying for protective legislation, the health care lobby should look at how they can provide meaningful ways to reduce costs to consumers rather than protect profits.


I feel an 11.1% increase is outrageous. The monthly premium is almost $800 and has increased every year. For those living pay check to pay check this increase will substantially change my ability to cover my basic monthly bills. Increases should align with cost of living increases or close to it. This is not fair for those of us that are working hard to survive in today's economy!

In response to a rate increase of 9.2% for our Oxford health plan, I feel that this is absolutely gouging an already overly expensive health care plan/system. We have had this health care plan for approximately a year with no major medical requirements by us. We are not only paying high co-pay but everything we do still seems to include a big out of pocket cost on top of our high monthly insurance expense. We have no regular or catastrophic health care requirements and feel that our insurance costs vs. our medical needs are far from fair. Please do not raise our insurance rates.


I have United Healthcare (UHC) Oxford as my health insurance, which is an EPO Gold Plan referred to as Oxford Ease. I receive my health insurance through a small business that I’m a partner in. As a small business owner in New York that operates with only partners, we purchased a small health group plan. Our current monthly premium is approximately $4,000 and the HIOS identification number is 85629NY001008400. UHC Oxford/Optum RX should be ashamed of itself asking for any amount of premium increase from NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS). This insurance company is a rip-off not just in New York but in many other states as well. The amount of complaints from members regarding not paying or covering costs for prescription drugs, doctor visits and hospital stays are overwhelming. I have read thousands of complaints on many various websites from members including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that has assigned UHC Oxford with an F rating. In my case, UHC Oxford was paying for my medication from to treat my painful From early to late Health Republic of New York paid for to treat my pre-existing condition. In late when my group came back to UHC Oxford and purchased the current health plan in effect today, my prior authorization (PA) for

was denied on multiple occasions on for the reason of not medically necessary. My doctor and I pleaded with UHC Oxford to approve the PA for However, UHC Oxford until this day has not approved the PA for and I’m not receiving full treatment for my pre-existing condition from UHC Oxford. This is aganist the Affordable Care Act. My doctor and I have gone through multiple internal appeals with UHC Oxford that were all denied for the reason of not medically necessary. I had filed a complaint with the State of New York Office of the Attorney General with no positive outcome from the assigned investigator. Also, I filed a formal complaint with DFS with no positive outcome. Similarly, I filed for an external appeal with the DFS and again no positive outcome. Likewise, I had filed a complaint with the BBB which did not help. Many lies were made by UHC Oxford and Optum RX to all the various people that were assigned to these cases to prevent the approval for the PA for This should not have happen to me as this is a generic medication that is on UHC Oxford’s Pharmacy Drug List (PDL). This case has been going on for over a year now. My started in late . I had to pay for out of my pocket with no reimbursement from UHC Oxford to treat my condition. The medication costed me $313.95 with a – that I found online. Without the discount card, this medication will cost me approximately $1000 for a 23 day supply. As of January 2017, I had to purchase outside the country as its too expensive for me to purchase in the United States. It is extremely sad to say that UHC was paying for to treat my pre-existing condition for and now it’s not because of the PA that UHC Oxford placed on to prevent people like me from obtaining this medication to treat . In addition, the PA was place to increase their profit margin. UHC Oxford is an extremely greedy company that wants to steal members’ premiums without approving medical benefits and not paying for prescription drugs. UHC OXFORD/OPTUM RX SHOULD NOT GET A PREMIEUM INCREASE UNTIL THIS HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY CLEANS UP THEIR ACT. THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EXTREMELY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL WITH THEIR MEMBERS. Presently, UHC Oxford is not paying for my full treatment for my pre-existing condition for which is against the Affordable Care Act.

We are paying through the nose as it stands. If they are requesting a greater increase, it is because of their greed and mismanagement, and they have no standing with cause to request this.


HIOS Identification number: 85629NY001003400 I recently received a notice in the mail saying that Oxford has requested to raise my group's premium by 13% in the next fiscal year. Last year, I had to change my insurance plan because Oxford increased premiums by the same percentage. I am now on the lowest-cost plan that my group offers. I cannot continue to pay for 13% annual increases in premiums, when my average annual raise is only 3%! I am already paying $188.84 out-of-pocket every month, which represents 6% of my monthly income. If this increase is approved, I'll be paying close to 7% of my income in healthcare premiums. On top of that, this year my co-pays for PCP visits went up 25% and co-pays for specialist visits increased by 60%, from $25 to $40. These increases have already caused a financial burden, since I suffer from several chronic conditions. Oxford's increasing premiums and co-pays while not providing any additional services to its customers is rapidly making it harder for me to access the healthcare I need. Please do not approve a 13% increase in premiums for Oxford's insurance plans.

I strongly oppose the approval of the recent rate increase sought by my insurer. The rates are already extremely high even with a high deductible and co-insurance, and the pricing is unreasonable for a small business owner.

Dear Sir or Madam, The insurer's application for a 17.6% increase of the premium is unreasonable and should be disapproved in full. The insurer's purported reason for the increase is rising medical expenses. Medical expenses may be rising but they are certainly not rising at anywhere near 17% per year. My individual (no dependents) premium is approximately $650 per month for this High Deductible Health Plan with a $2000 deductible and a $6,550 out of pocket maximum (the highest allowable by HDHP/HSA law) with 30% coinsurance. In the previous year, the insurer paid out less than $10 on this policy. The purpose of an HDHP plan is for the consumer to control his or her medical costs. The insurer benefits from this arrangement in that most HDHP insureds never reach their deductible and insurers pay out nothing on many such policies. Considering this, the insurer should reduce the premium, not request increases. In sum, the insurer should be forced to reduce its administrative overhead and/or profit and its application should be disapproved. Thank you for your consideration.

17.5% is a whole lot of percent


Last year our rate went up by 9% with less coverage offered. Our deductible went up and our % of coverage went down. This year the proposed rate plan increase is 15.4% and I am sure that UHC/Oxford will offer less coverage for more monthly premiums. Researching the United Health Group public report results for their financials for 2016. ( UHC/Oxford are part of the same company). This is a public document published each year for stock holders. • Revenues grew 18% to over $185 BILLION DOLLARS • Operating Earnings exceeded $13 BILLION, up to 20% YEAR -OVER-YEAR UnitedHealthcare Employer Individual Plans • Full year revenues of $53.1 billion grew $5.9 billion or 12.5 percent year-over-year, including growth of 11.9 percent to $13.5 billion in the fourth quarter. When will the federal government AND New York State finally stop these proposed increases due to “ rising medical expenses.” As a small business owner that runs a private practice in I don’t raise my rates by 15-20% every year and then offer less services. We must finally take action to stop these insurance companies from doing whatever they want because no one is regulating what they do. New York State needs to finally take a stand and STOP this. Thank you



Insurer is united medical health Care p plus (Oxford).I have coverage for My hios identification number is 85629NY00131000.

I object to increases to my insurance price by more than 15 percent for 2018. The cost of living adjustment for 2017 is 0.3 percent. Your proposed rate increase is more than fifty times more than the COLA. Even wishful economists without credibility in the real world are only projecting 3 percent growth in the economy over the next ten years. This is to much of an increase. It's purpose can only be profiting form the sick rather than providing them care.

Best


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Hi, We would like to express our concern over UnitedHeathcare Oxford's notification to increase our group?s premium by 12.3% next year. Please let us know what actions can be taken. 1. Name of Insurer: UnitedHealthcare Oxford 2. plan name: PPO Gold 3. Small group coverage 4. HIOS id number which is 85629NY005004400 Best,



Hi,

I'm under the 85529NY005013000 plan. I received a letter in the mail that you are requesting to increase the insurance by 9.2%. How much extra will I have to pay and do I have to accept this rate increase on my insurance payment?

Thanks,




I'm writing as an insuree of Oxford Health Insurance's Bronze PPO plan to oppose OHI's pending application for a rate increase in 2018. Not only is the increase requested far beyond what could be justified by changes in the insurance market, it comes on top of a history of aggressive rate increases that contribute to the rising cost of health care in New York state.

After receiving approval for a 10.5 percent premium increase on its Bronze group plans last year, Oxford Health Insurance is seeking an additional 12.9 percent increase in premiums for 2018. Their justification for this increase centers on "rising medical costs and increases in the amount of services used."

While it is true that, as in prior years, medical expenses continue to outstrip the rate of inflation, OHI's proposed premium increase is nearly double the expected rise in medical expenses for 2018, according to an analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers. In fact, the growth rate in medical expenditures in the US has fallen significantly in the past decade, from a high of 11.9 percent in 2007 to a low of 6.5 percent in 2017. OHI's proposed increase would have been unjustified by the underlying economics ten years ago, and it is certainly unjustified today.

Moreover, OHI's claim that rate increases are needed to account for "increases in the amount of services used" is belied by the fact that PwC's Healthcare Utilization Index has shown negative or near-zero growth for the past five years. Thus, it is ludicrous to claim that increased utilization requires a rate increase, if market-wide utilization rates have been stable or decreasing.

In addition to the above, one must take into account OHI's history of rate increases that outstrip cost growth in the healthcare market. OHI's rate increase of 10.5 percent in 2017 exceeded the inflation rate for medical expenses by 4 percentage points, allowing them to accumulate surplus profits on top of their already formidable net income of $110 million in 2016. Bottom line: they don't need more money to be profitable; they are already one of the most profitable companies in their sector (which is itself one of the most profitable sectors in our economy). The proposed rate increase stems from greed, not from a need to keep up with the rising costs of healthcare.

The New York State Department of Financial Services Health Bureau is charged with protecting the healthcare consumers of New York from unjustified and unsustainable cost increases in health insurance. In a market that's already shaken by uncertainty over the fate of the Affordable Care Act in Washington, consumers need intervention by state officials to restore their confidence in their ability to afford healthcare. For this reason, I urge you to reject any increase in premium rates for 2018, especially rate increases like OHI's that bear only a tenuous relation to the underlying economics of the healthcare market.

Sincerely,




Oxford increases its rates yearly -- and delivers LESS coverage for MORE money.

Oxford enjoys 350% yearly profits, per top newspapers. It doesn't need rate increases.This is the long con -- claiming "rising medical expenses" every year -- then arbitrarily demanding higher rates. This year it's an astounding 9/1%.

Equally alarming; Oxford has arbitrarily moved medications to higher Tier -- what once cost me $75 is now $270! The company isn't interested in quality health care; it is lusting after profits at the cost of customer's lives.

NYS should do the right thing: Protect its citizens, not enrich a greedy corporation.

Plan: Oxford LibertyGroup CoverageHIOS # 85629NY001051900


I just rec'd my new insure for . Due to increased rates on my previous plan i changed to a Metro plan with a higher family deductible 13,100/13,100. Its extremely unreasonable that the day before my policy is going into affect that the insurance company is requesting a 12.9% increase in the premium.

We are a small business that provides health insurance for employees, and the proposed premium rate change of 17.6% is unreasonable and would negatively impact our ability to provide health insurance for these New Yorker workers (and voters). Since 2013, our group premium for these employees has already risen 18%, from $1,939.97 per month in 2013 to $2,382.38 per month in 2017. And while the insurance company has been raising our rates, it has simultaneously increased the deductibles and copays for these employees, and reduced prescription coverage and other benefits. From our experience and that of other small companies, it appears that insurance companies use the relatively weak bargaining power of small employers to offer worse and worse plans every year at higher and higher costs, knowing how limited our options are. UnitedHealthcare Oxford cites rising medical expenses as the main reason for the requested increase, specifically increases in the cost of medical services and increases in the amount of services used. We are aware of increases in the cost of medical services, as the insurance company has *already* passed these costs on to its members through increased deductibles and copays and reduced coverage. We as individuals are already paying these costs. And with respect to increases in the amount of services used, for our employees, the opposite is true. Because of the increased copays and deductibles, individuals already are choosing to use fewer services. This has an overall negative impact on the health of New Yorkers, as individuals more and more tend to avoid seeking medical care due to the high costs that are passed on to them. Our small business works hard to provide quality services to our clients at reasonable rates, operate efficiently, and contribute to the local economy in New York. It's time for large insurance companies like Unitedhealthcare Oxford to be held to the same standards. If the New York State Department of Financial Services is going to regulate insurance companies and seek to protect the hard-working taxpayers of New York, we ask that the Department not allow them to profit at the expense of small businesses like ours.

We received the letter that Oxford is requesting with DFS to approve a 10.1% rate increase, we ask that you please deny the request as its getting too extreme for small businesses such as ours to absorb such high premiums every year, as we can not raise our business rates like the insurance companies do, it is not be fair financially to us or to our customers. Thank you for understanding the small businesses of America :)


I am writing to indicate disagreement and opposition to the premium rate increase in the amount of 11.1% I disapprove mainly because the cost of living in our area has not even gone up by half of that amount. There needs to be a cap on the percentage increase request that is at least equivalent to the increase in the cost of living in our area. This way rising medical costs and abuse of insurance can be somewhat curbed. There also should be a consideration for small groups health insurance to help mitigate these rising costs. The last increase was very modest and for this one to be more than twice the amount is preposterous. I vehemently object!

I am writing to oppose the outrageous 10.4% group premium rate increase for my health insurance coverage, inasmuch as it would be greatly burdensome. I am a earn a modest salary, and receive an approximate 2% salary increase each year, which goes directly towards my 35% contribution of my health insurance premium. In other words, I do not see a penny of my salary increase each year and struggle to meet my daily cost of living expenses. The cost of healthcare in our Country is appalling, and any increase would be detrimental to those of us who live paycheck to paycheck and can barely make ends meet. Thank you for your consideration herein.

I received notification from Oxford that they have filed for an 11.8% premium increase for our particular health insurance product, identified above, and are proposing a number of changes to the health insurance coverage we currently receive. One particular modification they intend to change relates to surgical services. Specifically, they indicate: Surgical Services: The payment rule for multiple surgical procedures performed during the same operating session will change. When more than one procedure is done through the same incision, only the procedure with the highest allowed amount is eligible for payment. The payment rule used when there are multiple incisions will not change. The proposed change to eliminate coverage for all but the most expensive procedure within a single incision seems to be counter to the promotion of good health care protocols; for example, if it is medically feasible and safer to conduct multiple procedures through a single incision (thereby promoting the patient's health and reducing the recovery period) why would Oxford not cover all of these procedures? Why would a patient have to bear the financial responsibility of covering some of them? Good logic suggests that health care providers should be incentivized (through health insurance reimbursement) to provide care in minimally invasive ways. This proposed change by Oxford seems completely contradictory to the goals of more comprehensive, patient-centered care. I respectfully urge your office to carefully understand and consider Oxford's proposal to modify their reimbursement policy in this area and would ask you to consider rejecting a proposal that counteracts efforts to provide good health policy promotion. Moreover, I would ask your office to consider whether an 11.8% increase is justified if the company is in effect reducing payment for services in this area.

Please disapprove Oxford United Healthcare's request to increase the premium rate by 14.6%. We are a small business and the premiums for health insurance in New York are already prohibitively expensive.


please do not allow this legalized stealing to continue every year the rates go up and as of now me and my co workers are contemplating cancelling the ins we just cant afford it any longer!!!

The rates are going up by 14.6%, this is outrageous. Neither inflation nor the income goes up nearly as much, how are we expected to pay for this? And this is not the first year. Please protect the consumers and do not allow price gouging by the insurance companies.

I'm the director at . Oxford Health Plans is our insurance of choice for our employees. We are customers and at the same time. Receiving a letter from Oxford announcing a 12.9% increase in our premium was shock today. For several reasons, but I will just mention the two most important ones: 1) We are a small business and such increase has a dramatic impact in our chance of staying in business and provide great care not only to but also to our employees

2) We, as providers, have not received a raise in compensation from Oxford Health Plans ever. SO my question is: if Oxford explains (as per letter) that 'Rising medical expenses are main reason for the requested increase', then are my going to receive a 12.9% raise in their 2018 compensation? This all sounds like bad plan if the true goal here is to care for the health of citizens. Feel free to reach out to converse more in details.

17% increase is outrageous and no doubt they are bundling in uncertainties about the insurance marketplace which have not yet materialized. This is a perpetual game to guarantee profits and they certainly have profited on us.




To New York State Department of Financial:

Insurer: United HealthCare/Oxford.

Plan: EPO Gold

Group coverage

HIOS ID #: 85629NY001008400

I am writing to ask that you DO NOT grant Oxford the increase they are asking for.

My husband and I are self-employed. Our medical plan payment if $1,595.22 per month,

which costs us $19,142.64 per year. We are trying to hold onto our health insurance, but

if they are granted this increase, it will be extremely difficult for us to do that.

Please, I ask that you DO NOT grant this increase and make Oxford hold the line on

their premiums.

Thank you.

Sincerely,




To New York State Department of Financial:

Insurer: United HealthCare/Oxford.

Plan: EPO Gold

Group coverage

HIOS ID #: 85629NY001008400

I am writing to ask that you DO NOT grant Oxford the increase they are asking for.

I am self-employed, with my wife and I running our business. Our medical plan

payment if $1,595.22 per month, which is an astronomical amount to pay for

health insurance. If they are granted this increase, I will either have to severely

decrease my coverage, or drop it all together. If I decrease my coverage, it would

necessitate me having to pay a larger deductible, which will put me in the same

position if I have to pay an increase.

Please, I ask that you DO NOT grant this increase and make Oxford hold the line on

their premiums.

Thank you.

Sincerely,




Healthcare costs are killing this middle-class family!

With , our costs for medical coverage is too high! Deductibles are astronomical and I am not sure how I am going to afford insurance if you continually allow rate increases!

How about putting a hold on any premium increases for a few years and ask the hospitals and medical professionals tighten their belts?!

Sincerely.

UnitedHealthcareOxford FreedomGroup CoverageHIOS 85629NY001029400




To Whom it May Concern: I am writing in protest of a Proposed Premium Rate Change from my Health Insurance company Oxford Health Insurance, Inc (United Healthcare). They are proposing a 12.2% increase with the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). They stated in a notice I received they are planning the increase for 2018, and that I could send my comments regarding the proposed change to the above email address. I personally feel this is an Expensive increase, and the reasons for the change are baseless and they are just trying to make a profit in the competive Healthcare Insurance Industry. As laws are changing due to new elected officials, changes to Obamacare, The affordable healthcare act, Health Insurance Companies are trying to think of ways to make money. By doing this to the working class people, they are taking more money out of our paycheck that is sorely needed for housing, food, transportation, and daily living expenses, etc. The proposed rate would increase my monthly premium of $370 to $416 a month. That is NOT including the high Deductibles and copays for physician visits, and copays on medication. I have been paying a lot of money out of pocket due to visits and copays. It's coming to the point where I have to choose whether I can get my medication or see the Dr, OR buy myself Lunch/Dinner. An increase would make it so much harder to pay my regular bills. As it is, I commute hours into NYC, hours round trip, and I cannot Afford to Marry my Fianc? due to the rising costs of Healthcare Insurance, and my Annual Salary at the job I just secured.

I implore you to keep in mind All the Hard working individuals who are in the $25,000-$75,000 income bracket, who commute, pay federal, state, and city taxes. As well as Real estate taxes. Utility bills, etc. I am 100% Against this increase. It is just a way for Oxford/United Healthcare to profit off of the American People. They state rising medical expenses are a factor. We all know that each insurance company usually bases their payments on Medicare (CMS) guidelines, and Dr's, Hospitals, and Pharmacies will only receive payment based on whatever Rate they have within their contracts with these entities. Please think of the Working middle class people that this is going to hurt. As people grow as families, their policies are going to take up half of their salary. It's not fair to the American people to have to be punished because of a company that wants to Profit off of People being sick.

Sincerely,

My HIOS ID # is 85629NY001034100




Dear Department of Financial services,

I am writing to you regarding a letter I received about premium rate increases from my insurer, Oxford Health plans, For my small business Group coverage EPO GOLD, , HIOS # 85629NY001024600.

They want to increase our rates by 11%. Please note that our plan has increased year over year and used to be $2,500 and somehow now 5 years later it has managed its way up t $4500 per month.

We are a small business, consisting of . We run a small and our costs are very high and insurance is one of the largest after rent (which by the way only increase 2% per year). Having these costs continue to grow because of insurance increases puts a strain on our finances and livelihoods. Between the the cost is almost $60,000 per year or $15000 per person per year, far more than if I didn't have insurance I would be spending on doctors and medication.

Addittionally, Year after year as the increases mount the benefits have seen to dwindle and coverage has been less and less. I recently got a prescription for which my insurance would not cover because there was no generic brand, on 2 visits to the emergency room ), I was sent a largebill after from the hospital that Oxford wouldn't cover a lot of the bill, then I wanted to go to a special Doctor of my choice to get a prescription for and the doctor told me he couldn't help me because I was out of network and the costs would be to high. For my , they would not pay for the

and I was faced with thousands of dollars to pay and eventually had to return the to avoid further

charges or my credit score going down. Even a recent visit to my primary care physician for checkup yielded a $25 dollar bill (in addition to the Copay) because my insurance didn't pay that portion. This is not about $25. its about that as we keep having to pay more and more, the coverage is less and less.

The Irony is many of the examples above like the are for me to prevent disease and stay healthy, one would think Oxford would be happy I am doing that preventing future medical expenses, but in our messed up system this is punished not rewarded.

While I do not fully understand the nuances and crazy politics of our healthcare system, I do understand how it impacts my life. Every time I have called Oxford to question why I am being charged, the explanation is always something I don't understand or that makes no sense or is some (pardon my french) BS about coverage or deductibles or huge hassle to correct.


It is not right or fair for the insurers to keep raising the prices of premiums while lowering services. I would be ok paying more if I actually got decent service or fair coverage or answers or help instead of the red tape and more hassles. I do understand this problem is with the system and how things work, but if they were prevented from raising rates, then the system would have to change and it would. Maybe hospitals would stop charging exorbitant amounts, or My sleep apnea machine could actually be purchased once for the $800 it sells for online rather them being allowed to bill Oxford the $120 a month they wanted. Its silliness like that that breaks the system. Rather than keep allowing rate increases, let them fight with their rich suppliers for better prices and more rational billing, rather than going after their hardworking customers money who doesn't really have a choice for other coverages (because all insurers are the same thing basically in my experience)

You guys are the only ones with the power to make a change and to make a difference. I urge you to not allow the rate increase and to keep our rates the same or lower. Enough is enough. Please help and please do right by a real person, and not a messed up corporation in an an even more messed up system.

Thank you




To whom this may concern within NY State Department of Financial Services:

I want to submit following details and my comments about proposed rate increase for our health plan:

1. United Healthcare Oxford Health Plan2. Oxford EPO - Silver 3. Group Coverage4. HIOS id # : 85629NY001043700

Oxford Health insurance is proposing an increase of 8.7% to my group premiums while providing less services than ever before, charging higher deductibles and raising cost of insurance year after year. This is not the first letter we have received and the coverage has only been getting worse. To give you an example of how bad the coverage is, the closest covered hospital I could go to is more than 30 miles away while one of the biggest hospitals in my area only 5 miles away is NOT covered under this insurance. I can?t even tell you how unbelievable and frustrating that is.

While the company claims that the increase is due to rising costs of medical services, etc., if that was true then they would be reporting losses in their balance sheets, not profits - and record high profits I should say, in the ?struggling? healthcare industry.

This is an excerpt from a news release about United Health Group results for 2016:

⦁ "Revenues Grew 18% Year-Over-Year to $185 Billion

⦁ Operating Earnings Exceeded $13 Billion, Up 20% Year-Over-Year

⦁ Full Year Net Earnings were $7.48 Per Share, Up 24% Year-Over-Year,

⦁ and $1.96 Per Share in the Fourth Quarter

⦁ Adjusted Net Earnings were $8.05 Per Share for the Full Year, Up 25% Year-Over-Year,

⦁ and $2.11 Per Share in the Fourth Quarter⦁ Cash Flows from Operations were $9.8 Billion, 134% of Net Earnings?⦁

⦁

⦁ Does this look like a company that needs more money?

⦁

⦁

⦁ An increase of any kind is absolutely unacceptable from my family?s point of view.

⦁


⦁

⦁ I hope you consider my comments and will not allow for this increase.

⦁

Thank you.

Best,




To whom this may concern within NY State Department of Financial Services:

I want to submit following details and my comments about proposed rate increase for our health plan:

1. United Healthcare Oxford Health Plan2. Oxford EPO - Silver 3. Group Coverage4. HIOS id # : 85629NY001043700

Oxford Health insurance is proposing an increase of 8.7% to my group premiums while providing less services than ever before, charging higher deductibles and raising cost of insurance year after year. This is not the first letter we have received and the coverage has only been getting worse. To give you an example of how bad the coverage is, the closest covered hospital I could go to is more than 30 miles away while one of the biggest hospitals in my area only 5 miles away is NOT covered under this insurance. I can?t even tell you how unbelievable and frustrating that is.

While the company claims that the increase is due to rising costs of medical services, etc., if that was true then they would be reporting losses in their balance sheets, not profits - and record high profits I should say, in the ?struggling? healthcare industry.

This is an excerpt from a news release about United Health Group results for 2016:

⦁ "Revenues Grew 18% Year-Over-Year to $185 Billion

⦁ Operating Earnings Exceeded $13 Billion, Up 20% Year-Over-Year

⦁ Full Year Net Earnings were $7.48 Per Share, Up 24% Year-Over-Year,

⦁ and $1.96 Per Share in the Fourth Quarter

⦁ Adjusted Net Earnings were $8.05 Per Share for the Full Year, Up 25% Year-Over-Year,

⦁ and $2.11 Per Share in the Fourth Quarter⦁ Cash Flows from Operations were $9.8 Billion, 134% of Net Earnings?⦁

⦁

⦁ Does this look like a company that needs more money?

⦁

⦁

⦁ An increase of any kind is absolutely unacceptable from my family's point of view.

⦁


⦁

⦁ I hope you consider my comments and will not allow for this increase.

⦁

Thank you.

Best,

rates are out of control. We are paying approx. 36K PER YEAR. With yet another increase it will be very close to 40K per year for a family plan. Please DO NOT APPROVE another increase.




I write this e-mail to voice my strong opposition to Oxford?s request for a staggering 16% increase in its p[remium.If any increase is allowed, it should limited to the national rate of inflation which is likely 2-3% this year?and given the financial health of Oxford and its burgeoning profits I cannot see why any increase should be countenanced.

First, I am a member of a small group with coverage under Oxford?s HAS Direct Freedom Network. My HIOS number is 85629NY005010800.As an individual I am already paying over $8,700 per year in premiums not including co-pays of $60 and a $2,000 deductible (which Oxford does not calculate on a dollar for dollar basis).The upshot is that more than $11,000 needs to be spent solely on in-network coverage before there is any insurance.The out of network deductible is far higher and UCR rates are shockingly low such that that deductible is impossible to reach.Moreover, I am sure that DFS recalls that Oxford paid handsomely in a Class Action suit several years ago for unfairly manipulating UCR rates although they likely did not admit to wrongdoing in the settlement as is customary).

The cumulative effect is that right now I no longer have health insurance. I am simply paying for hospitalization coverage (and I only receive 90% of that after deductible limits are exhausted). Maybe this is desirable from a societal standpoint but I doubt it. Our small group is struggling to pay for coverage.

Additionally, Oxford?s parent, UHC is a Dow member that has reported record profits in the past year.I ask that DFS scrutinize Oxfords? full direct or indirect compensation to its top layer of executives as well as its profitsand marketing and lobbying budgets.I realize asking for 16% is a ploy and a high bar to start a dialogue but realistically no increase is appropriate. Oxford will not leave the New York market?its own service providers would protest (and ironically some would have to lower their own fees). Its profits here are immense.

The company should be denied any increase. Thank you.




1. Oxford Health Insurance (United Healthcare Affiliate)

3. Group Coverage4. 85629NY001003600 I received the notice of proposed premium rate change requesting a 12.7% increase. After reviewing the financials for United Healthcare I am appalled that a company with trailing earnings of $8.61 per share would feel the need for a rate increase. In addition, the fact the annual salaries including bonuses etc for the key executives run $2.7M to $6.35M, I would hope you disapprove this requested rate increase.


Oxford Health Insurance, Inc EPO Gold 85629NY001006000 This year after year after year 10%+ rate increase is unconscionable and MUST BE ADDRESSED!!! No other business would ever be able to justify charging a customer continual increases of this magnitude and expect to stay in business!!! Sent from my iPhone



Our Insurer is: Oxford Health Insurance Our Plan is: Freedom plan (R) PPO We have Group Insurance Coverage Our HIOS ID's are -85629NY005002800, 85629NY0050028, 85629NY0010501 We already pay a ridiculous amount for our health insurance with very high premiums and high deductibles. None of our medical information and nothing in our health history has changed. We are extremely health conscience people who do everything by the book. We eat well, exorcize daily , are , live moderate careful lives. We see our Dr's yearly as recommended and take our medications as directed. I do not know what more you can ask for in a patient! There is absolutely no excuse in our case for a large rate increase! Our yearly cost to you is absolutely nothing and we pay a high cost every year just for the security of having good insurance. This rate increase it totally unacceptable and I would like it to be on record that we are fighting this increase! Sincerely,

Sent from my iPad




, EPO Platinum, 85629NY001003600

We do not appreciate the proposed rate increase for 2018 by 12.8%. Health insurance is a lot to begin with and the medical industry needs to internally get a handle on this between insurance agencies, physicians and the government. We work hard and pay a lot of money to be insured adequately and such increases are not fair nor appreciated.

I would like to be in the loop to decisions around this via email and again I DO NOT find it fair to have this proposed increase.


We have received notice that Oxford Health a division of United Health Care is proposing a 17.9% rate increase for our health insurance for next year. Please accept this as my formal request that you deny such an increase. They note the increase is for a rise in health care costs, yet they continue to show record profits, and continue to pay their CEO one the most lucrative salaries in the country. This rate increase is nothing but a sham to increase their bottom line and provide the profit to their share holders!!!

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom it may concern, ! am outraged that yet again Oxford is raising it?s rates to such an exorbitant extent. They are requesting 17.5 % increase. No other business would be able to do that and I insist that the bleeding be stopped! We pay premium prices for health care insurance and each year the rate goes up with addition changes that now require deductibles, co-insurance, co-pays, and higher out of pocket expenses ON TOP OF THE PREMIUM INCREASE. They are more than getting increases in profit just by these addition expenses now part of the policy. It?s time for the DFS to say NO. Someone needs to take on reducing medical costs that are way out of balance and stop expecting the public to continue choking on the cost of health insurance. It is your responsibility to protect the public. PLEASE DO IT! Respectfully, Oxford Freedom Group Coverage HIOS # 85629NY001027100



Oxford increases its rates yearly -- and delivers LESS coverage for MORE money.Oxford enjoys 350% yearly profits, per top newspapers. It doesn't need rate increases.This is the long con -- claiming "rising medical expenses" -- then arbitrarily demanding higher rates. This year it's an astounding 9/1%.

Equally alarming; Oxford has arbitrarily moved medications to higher Tier -- what once cost me $75 is now $270! The company isn't interested in quality care; it is lusting after profits at the cost of customer's lives.

NYS should do the right thing: Protect its citizens, not enrich a greedy corporation.




United Healthcare

group coverage

85629NY001023800

I can not believe you would allow any additional increase in the health insurance premiums for any company insuring person(s) in NY State, currently our insurance plan is very, very expensive.

Everyone should be working to lower the costs for health insurance.

--





I am insured by UnitedHealthcare Oxford through my employer, as part of their group plan. I am currently covered by their Silver EPO HSA 2000 25-50 Non-Gated - Liberty plan but am switching to the more expensive Gold EPO 50 Non-Gated - Freedom plan next month because the Silver plan offered for renewal is far worse and simultaneously more expensive than my current plan. My HIOS identification number is 85629NY001013800.

As a I can afford to pay more for decent insurance; most New Yorkers cannot. The idea of raising premiums by more than 10% while benefits continue to decrease in quality is absurd at best and downright cruel at the worst. National politics are moving in a dangerous direction, towards denying millions of Americans health care in a show of incredible short-sightedness. Time and again, we have seen that preventative care saves money. There is no justification for driving up the price of insurance and directly harming one's fellow human beings for the pursuit of "financial gain" which will reverse itself over the long term.

This reprehensible behavior on the part of insurers must be stopped. If federal regulations will not do it, then it is up to the state. As a New Yorker, I call upon you to protect your constituents, whose very lives are put in jeopardy by proposals like this one.

Thank you for your time and attention.




Insurer: Oxford/United HealthcareName: Liberty FreedomGroup coverage

We have received a notice of proposed increase for our plan. This plan has been increasing every year. An individual on our plan is $900 and a couple is $1700 per month. These are outrageous fees and if you look at our plan, we have extremely low medical expenses. One of our employees almost never uses her plan.

Please deny this increase. Thank you.--


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Name of Insurer = United Healthcare, Oxford Name of Plan = EPO Platinum Type = Group HIOS # = 85629NY001033600 To Whom It May Concern, We recently received notification from our insurer of the proposed 12.6% increase in monthly premiums. Albeit, we understand that annual increases are necessary; in this case however, we are debating the quantum of that increase. In as much as the medical insurance company has documented their plight, risks and associated fees in administering the plans, the reality is that this increase appears to be totally out of kilter with where the markets are at, where inflation is at and certainly questions whether this increase will be used to cross-subsidise other lesser plans where the volume of usage is much more. As a small business we have a good plan with Oxford. In addition to this plan, we also have the Oxford Benefit Management plan for dental and optical insurance. Currently we're paying in excess of $2200 pm on medical insurance. An additional 12.6%, will certainly not sit well with us as it begins to eat into our monthly operational expenditure which was not budgeted for. How does Oxford even begin to justify an increase of this magnitude? Currently, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is hovering around the 2.5% mark (2.2.% to be exact), but this changes as macro-economic factors influences the pricing of goods. How does a medical insurance company justify an increase of 500% based on CPI? I believe this proposed increase is totally out of kilter with what is already being charged and speaks to cross-subsidisation of services and payments of good and loyal customers in favour of customers who abuse the system. It also raises the question of margin maintenance and how the fund is being administered to be begin with. In conclusion, we are not in favour of such an exorbitant increase. We appreciate that Oxford needs to make money. We would like Oxford to make money and remain in business. They offer a good service and their plans are readily accepted. However, their profitability should not come at the expense at those who prefer the premium tiered plans. We cannot and should not be cross-subsidising members who are abusing the system. Yours sincerely,




Please see attached.

--

_________________________________




Name of Insured: Name of Insurer: Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (OHI)Name of Plan Liberty Plan (SM) Gated EPO

Group Coverage HIOS ID #: 85629NY001043100

Good Afternoon:

I write this comment to address the letter I received dated May 30, 2017, describing a proposed premium rate increase of 10.1% for 2018 and the requisite comment period the NYSDFS (?DFS?) allows for. I urge DFS to deny, or at least modify and/or decrease the proposed premium increase.

In the age of the ACA, ?The rising cost of healthcare? is a talking point that is thrown around quite liberally by the media and the health insurance industry as a justification for constant and substantial premium increases passed onto the public. I work at a New York based company, and I am insured through a New York health insurance plan, however my satellite office is based in .

As a healthy young-adult grappled with student loans, my health insurance premium is my second highest monthly expense behind my student loan payment, and eats up a sizeable portion of my paycheck. I disagree with the contention that significant premium increases year-after-year are the new normal that we should just accept in an age of rising health care costs. I recognize that our current health care system is one that is driven for-profit, however I do not believe that the rising costs for doing business should always be passed onto the consumer by raising our premiums by significant amounts. Health insurance companies, through government regulators should be forced to find alternative solutions for minimizing costs before a minimal premium increase is considered as a last resort.

At some level costs should attempted to be maintained, if not cut on the health insurer?s side in order to pass savings onto the consumer. DFS has a unique opportunity as a government regulator to modify or disapprove of OHI?s proposed increase. While the proposed 10.1% increase, may sound minimal compared to policy holders in other parts of the country that have seen their premiums double due to the ACA, this proposed increase on a someone like me, as young-adult on a limited income still will have substantial ramifications on my monthly and yearly expenses.

I strongly urge DFS to modify or disapprove of OHI?s proposed premium increase.

Sincerely,


The proposed premium rate change will negatively increase the financial burden for my healthcare. My recent medical bills already include: Hospital bill, physician bill, . These bills are not fully covered by health insurance company, thus i have to pay monthly installments on all my medical expenses. These out of pocket costs each month for my medical care are burdensome. With everyday cost of living, financially supporting my parents and paying my medical expenses; having an increase in premium rate change will negatively impact my financial responsibilities. I humbly request the DFS not to approve the increase in premium change. Please feel free to contact me for any further details or documents.

A request has been made for 3 years and approved with a steady 10% increase for the last 3 years! We as employee's have NOT! It's just not fair that the insurance companies' inability and miss management of funds received cause them to have the liberty to pass on inefficiencies to us! If you ran a business and you were doing a poor job and losing money should that be rewarded? WE continue to be squeezed year after year. Who finally says sorry get your house in order FIRST! I strongly and respectfully request that United Healthcare's request for another 10% increase is DENIED. Thank you.

I received a letter dated 5.30.17 stating that there is an application for increase. The letter states that I can find and review the application on dfs.ny.gov/consumer/health_ins.prem.htm. I used the link and there is no application on file. Also, I would like to state that the premiums are very high as they are and increasing them by 11% would be an enormous burden. Please reconsider.

I received a letter dated 5.30.17 stating that there is an application for increase. The letter states that I can find and review the application on dfs.ny.gov/consumer/health_ins.prem.htm. I used the link and there is no application on file. Also, I would like to state that the premiums are very high as they are and increasing them by 11% would be an enormous burden. Please reconsider.

If I raised my prices as much as my health care provider I would be out of business. I am a small employer who is paying $685+/month per person and have members in my family with a high deductible, $4,000. When are you politician going to STOP approving increases and start hold the insurance companies accountable! It is becoming very cost prohibitive to protect my family and provide for my employees. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! VOTE NO!


We are vehemently opposed to the 14% proposed premium increase requested by Oxford. They have been continually receiving yearly increases, while the quality of coverage continues to decline. We used to have prescription coverage but the premiums have skyrocketed and we are no longer able to afford such coverage. Please do not rubber stamp another rate increase. Do the right thing for the consumer.

To get right to the point, the cost of healthcare, and healthcare insurance has gotten way out of control. The talking points are nothing more than excuses from the providers, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Us people in private sector industries and businesses cannot continue to be taken advantage of by these three entities in our economy. Last year everybody in my range of communication took at least a 37% increase in healthcare insurance premiums. United Healthcare Oxford is asking for another 12.4%, ridiculous. I live in the area. We are building hospitals and clinics for , and as fast as we can get them up. It is the healthiest sector of the community in and I'm guessing across the country. I am intimately acquainted with doctors, nurses and real estate professionals that operate in the market for healthcare. None of these are suffering. I'm most acquainted with due to being in the , and due to my wife's condition. Both of these areas are currently in their glory. The entire health care business needs to live on what they have and concentrate on taking better care of the citizens in this country. Being a person of modest means and performing important duties for a company, it's impossible for me to drop what I'm doing and campaign a cause. The American public depend upon the civil servants to do their jobs so we can do ours. That's what the system is. I hope that your thinking is not to bend under the pressure and do the right thing for the people who make this country a nice place to live. Should you wish to continue this conversation you have my contact information. Very best regards

The premiums for this plan are set to increase to 12-1/2%. We have very high in-network deductibles, even higher out of network deductibles and now we have a prescription deductible. They are raising our prescription copays and changing the Tiers of the groups of medication but no one there can explain to me how the drugs get moved from one Tier to another and why the formulary is changing. Some of us take generic prescriptions and those copays are rising to $35 - $75 per month. This is too expensive and we can no longer afford it. We currently pay over $135,000.00 per year in premiums for our employees and staff to have this coverage and many of the employees still cannot afford to go to the doctor because of the very high in network deductibles. Isn't there any politician who is willing to see that these costs are rising out of control and do something about it?


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I would like to express my disapproval for the rate increase of my Oxford Group Health insurance. The premiums are already exorbitant and a hardship to our small businesses. A 10.9% increase is extreme and any increase will be damaging to our ability to provide health insurance to our employees. The proposed increase is for groups 85629NY001008400. We urge you to deny this request from Oxford. Sincerely,




Oxford United Health CareGroup coverage85629NY001029400

Good day

I 10000000000000000000% disapprove this 10.4% increase! I do not have any preexisting conditions, I see a physician once a year if that much unless I was pregnant. My children see their physician the most 3 times a year. The insurance doesn't reimburse the physicians half of what I pay into the insurance a year for those visits. It doesn't make sense for me to keep paying money into an insurance that I hardly use and when they do cover me I have HIGH co-payments and/or a bill balance. The Government needs to take a good look at how insurances are being used according to each family and not have individuals such as myself pay for something I don't use. This increase proposal is absurd and is a burden to families such as mine. I work in and I provide yet I have to pay high fees for

How is this fair? I am not sick with any existing conditions. Other countries around the WORLD have better healthcare policies then we do, Yet this is how you "make america great again"? smh. You are robbing the middle class, I might as well stop working and get medicaid and pay nothing at all. Wise up, this is foolishness put yourself in someone else shoes who's income is NOT 6, 7, 8 figures or better or is that too hard for your company to do? How much more money could you possibly need you can only wear 1 pair of shoes at a time. Stop this madness and greed, give back to the people because wealth saves no one from death.

Put God First and All things afterHave a blessed Day



Oxford Health has sent a letter of intent to increase the premium rates by 17% for my group healthcare plan. I am emailing this address to formally complain about this attempt as I believe it is baseless and an outright absurd level of increase in premium rates. I find it hard to believe that an insurance company has such a sudden massive volatility in their services cost to justify such a sizable increase. There has been no significant change in healthcare demand of the population of New York- and given health insurance companies are negotiate pricing of care with providers, this is nothing more than a shakedown of the individual to supplement poor negotiating skills if the insurance company (especially one that refuses to cover even the most basic of expenses). I respectfully request their demand be rejected (of course I am the small fly in the face of a massively funded corporation). HIOS ID 85629NY005006600 Respectfully,




Insurer name: United Health CarePlan Name: OxfordI have group coverageHIOS # 85629NY005001000

Dear DFS,I find the United Health Care rate increase of 11.6% outrageous. My coverage is very good, but the premium is already bordering unaffordable. Is United Health Care trying to cater to the NY billionaires only? I see their stock price has been steadily rising over the past 5 years, so they?re not losing money. Perhaps they could cut some corners in-house and not gouge their customers.

I find it very difficult to believe medical costs rise that much, and their rates rise annually. It seems to be part of theirbusiness plan.Please don?t allow this increase - actually, it would be better if they reduced the rates by 11.6%. Then it would just be expensive coverage.These prices are pushing people to go with no insurance at all.

Thank You.




I?m writing in response to a letter I received about ANOTHER rate increase.It?s disgraceful that every year the rates are increased without any real explanation or any added benefit to the insured.We pay more money, the deductible increases and the benefits decease. It?s disgusting!There isn?t a cost of living increase each year to our pay & most people don?t get a raise each year let alone a 15% increase!Yet somehow you are able to increase your fees every year with incident or conscience.How do you expect the insured to keep up with your increasing costs? Who benefits from the increase other than you ?? No one!Hopefully President Trump will be able to enact legislation that will end the increases.Regards,

HIOS ID#85629NY001031000Oxford Freedom Network (EPO H.S.A Plan - bronze)group coverage



Please see our attached letter protesting the 11.5% rate increase sought by UnitedHealthcare Oxford.




2. United Healthcare Oxford3. Individual Coverage4. 85629NY005004400

I recently received a letter disclosing an intended premium rate increase of 12.8% and would like to voice my concern that this is to high, which would further cause health insurance to be even more unaffordable to working Americans like myself and my coworkers. A high premium by itself causes enough of a dent in people's paychecks, but adding on the hidden costs of deductibles and copays, insurance is becoming a luxury and not a necessity. More and more Americans are forgoing their health insurance payments to keep up on basic needs, especially in cities like New York where the cost of living is so high. I personally believe healthcare is a human right and should be accessible to all, not just people who can afford prices that health insurance companies can't or won't prove are accurate to the cost of average medical needs.

Thank you

I would like to receive more info regarding 2018 rate increase. every year rates - premiums, co-pays, and Deductibles go up to find your paying more money, and not able to get the proper care that you need - because Dr. have to see more patients and spend less less time with the patients. What's most frustrating is having to change my doctors due to the changes in coverage in my insurance, especially when you have a medical issue. It seems the only companies making any money is the insurance companies no one is take peoples health into consideration.This is very upsetting what is happening with healthcare.

We have a small business, already pay too much in health insurance soon we will not be able to afford it. Every year an increase please we need a break. Stop the increase.


I am writing to comment on the Oxford Health Insurance company's requested rate change. The company is asking for an increase of 11.5%, citing rising medical expenses. I think it's common sense that insurance premiums are as high as they can and should get. The answer to the country's health insurance woes is not for individual companies to raise rates, forcing consumers and patients to pay more. In addition, as a New Yorker, I don't think raising rates--especially in a drastic way--is in line with Governer Cuomo's stated goal of protecting affordable insurance for all New Yorkers. Thank you.

Department of financial Services, There are no words to describe the overall sentiment about the health care system in general, and the lack of empathy of elected official in Washington DC toward people who do not have health care or do not have the money to pay for it because it is too expensive. I hope you can understand that in having a family with kids, the option of not having health insurance is extremely frightening. We pay a high price for health insurance, and on top of that we still have to pay out of pocket for the following: Copays PCP;Specialist;ER Rx CopaysTier 1:$15Tier 2:$35Tier 3:$75 Deductible Individual:$800 Family:$1,600 Out-of-Pocket Max Individual:$4,000 Family:$8,000 Coinsurance 10% We have a small business and we do not get the competitive rates that big companies get. So, we are asking you to think about us and be fair. Sincerely,

I would like to voice my protest against this annual increase. As the premiums keep on rising each year, co-pays increase, and coverage becomes less; it is harder than ever to visit a doctor. I think many times before I pay a visit to a doctor due to financial cost and I feel in the long run this will be more cost effective to the healthcare plan, the govt andof course, myself, but I feel I have no choice. Private doctors are finding it hard to maintain practice and most care is provided in clinics or urgent care centers. This is not beneficial to the patient or provider. 12.9% is a huge amount to goup in a year, this is on top of the huge increase last year and all for less services as mentioned above. The average rate of inflation is approximately 2%, why would United Health have to ask for over 6 times the rate of inflation for an increase?

It is appalling that the rate increases continue to get approved, please do not approve this rate increase. We have a small business and consider it a moral duty to help provide insurance to our hard working employees but it is financially killing us. PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS INCREASE.

I strongly oppose the proposed rate hike. As is, I have very high deductibles, and copayment amounts, in addition to the costly premiums




To whom it may concern,

Please see attached.



United HealthcareEPO BRONZE, 8562NY0010316

Please be advised that I am writing to oppose the 15.4% proposed rate increase. This is entirely unnecessary and purely driven by community rating (a terrible idea) the need to provide totally unnecessary coverage under Obamacare. As a

year old man I need things like pediatric dental care and obygyn coverage like I need a hole in the head. Let me thank you, the Governor and former (thankfully) President Obama for this continual ongoing shafting. But why should you care I am paying for your healthcare too.

Regards,




Dear People,

I am sick and tired of non stop HUGE YEARLY rate increases for health insurance!!!

The citizens are getting screwed but Congress dosent care as they are NOT on our plans and THEY SHOULD BE BECAUSE THEN THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEMS!!

We should all cancel our health insurance and just pay as we go to break the backs of the insurance companies and start all over from scratch. Donald Trump has to effect changes or no one will be able to afford insurance. Citizens cant afford premiums of $1,000 and 2,000 per month!!

Someone please WAKE UP!!

I AM GOING TO SEND THIS TO THE WHITE HOUSE AS WELL SO EXPECT A CALL FROM MR. TRUMP.

Thank you,




Dear State Representatives,

I beg and plead with you to NOT ALLOW the United Healthcare/Oxford companies to increase their charges to us consumers in NY State!

We are already burdened with year over year increases to our plans and now this one is adding another burden to our payrolls, leaving the middle class with another charge to absorb from our already decreasing paychecks.

This Rate change, RW5229,CSP01,EPO Silver-Non-CSR, 85629NY001051700 is a 9.2% increase, way above the cost of living standards and way, way above my 0% raise this year.

Please do not allow these healthcare companies to continue to profit off the backs of the hard-working people of NY. Say no to their request.

Sincerely,




Dear NYS Dept of Financial Services:

1. United Healthcare/Oxford2. Oxford Freedom Plan3. Group coverage4. HIOS 85629NY005001200

United Healthcare has proposed an 11.8% increase in my group premium.

I strongly object to this increase. My group premium has gone up EVERY YEAR SINCE 2013--including an increase of over 50% in 2014.

In 2016 I personally paid $26,215 for my insurance.

The health insurance premium is my family's largest expense, exceeding mortgage payments and college savings.

It is unthinkable that the insurance company asks for more, when the services they cover have also been shrinking each year.

Please do not allow this abuse of our already broken healthcare system.

Sincerely




UnitedHealthCare

EPO GoldHIOS ID# 85629NY001042900

This is the 3rd year in a row my rate has increased 10% or more. This is ridiculous. ObamaCare has ruined the health system for the middle class. My raise has been 3% for each of the past three years. Most of the people on ObamaCare chose not to work. I should not have to pay for the lazy class. Do something to fix this? Or next election I will vote for Trump.




Hi there, I want to make my voice heard on what is an appalling consistency of very high rate changes in insurance.

I have a group insurance through my company, United Healthcare and my HIOS ID is 85629NY001030000. My rate is proposed to go up another 10.3% this year. It is absolutely absurd that this is the case. At what point do these rate hikes stop? The hikes should be capped at a cost of living increase if at all.




We are in receipt of a notice regarding a proposed "Premium Rate change" of 16.8% by Oxford, a division of United Healthcare.

Stephen Hemsley, the CEO of United Health Care, the parent company of Oxford, was been compensated over $31 million dollars in 2016. If his leadership is so valuable, you would think they would be able to be more efficient than to require a nearly 17% increase from their customers. Perhaps his pay needs to be reduced ? There is a huge increase on the table that they will blame on health care costs when in fact it is the greed of the CEO and the other top executives who reward themselves for increased revenue. They also raised the dividend to stockholders in 2016. That is where this unjustified requested increase would be going. I am relying on you, our state, to say, no, they are forcing small business in NYS to suffer, stay in recession, or consider moving out of NY with their unreasonable increases. If we move to the healthcare network, this will be an increased strain on NY state. This past year's increase was the sole obstacle which prevented our hiring any new full-time staff.Oxford is single handedly bankrupting our future. Say no to anything above the CPI.Thank you.

Requested info:Oxford health PlansOxford health Freedom Standard

Group Coverage

HIOS indentifier: 85629NY005006800




Hello,I am in receipt of a notice regarding a proposed "Premium Rate change" of 16.8% by Oxford Health, part of United Healthcare.While United Healthcare stock and dividends are on the rise, their coverage is worse and worse every year with ever escalating premiums. Small businesses such as ours can no longer absorb the increases so now employees must contribute. Another expense burdening the working man.

There is not justification for any increase. Certainly not 16.8% or in my case $150 PER MONTH!!!!

I am relying on you, to say, no, they are forcing small business in NYS to suffer, avoid hiring full time workers, have residents with lower disposable income to spend in NY and why? So they can pay themselves millions of dollars. or consider moving out of NY with their unreasonable increases. Say no to anything above the CPI.Thank you.

Requested info:Oxford health PlansOxford health Freedom Standard

Group Coverage

HIOS indentifier: 85629NY005006800


I am a small business owner and have been with Oxford Health Insurance for several years now. My employees and I need health insurance in order to remain healthy and productive contributors to society, our families, as citizens and as part of our small business. This proposed rate increase of 9.4% will be a major hardship for me, my business and --hence -- anyone to whom we extend these health care benefits. I believe that my carrier’s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are put before the benefit of people and the state of New York. I urge you to require Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. to invest more premium dollars into its customer’s health, treatment, care and prevention. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services’ efforts to make health insurance more affordable and for providing information about rate increases that is more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you need more information about my situation, please feel free to contact me at:

HIOS identification number: 58629NY00134100

HIOS number: 85626NH001034100 A rate increase of 12% would have a significant negative impact on my take home pay. Without benefits also being increased, I do not see how this rate is justified, especially given the number of young and healthy individuals on our plan.

A 17.6% premium increase is excessive given the fact that no additional benefits are being provided and the quality of healthcare is going down, not up. I recently downgraded my insurance and still pay $954/mo to cover my wife and I. In addition, our deductible is upwards of $12,000, which is insane. Now it's going to go up by over $160/mo in the first year? How do the health insurance companies get away with this?

32

Dear Sir/Madam, I have just received a notice stating that OXFORD is applying for a premium rate increase of 14.6%, this is absolutely appalling! I am already paying a premium of $1200/month on a family plan where the employer is covering the ADDITIONAL $1100/month. I have already faced an almost 10% hike last year and now an additional 14.6% upon renewal? This is outrageous! Deductibles are getting higher and out of pocket costs are climbing at a ferocious rate. Insurance companies are deciding to pay Less, doctors are charging more and all of these expenses are passed on to the subscriber that is already paying a fortune. I am now in the a position where I have to fight the insurance companies and doctor visits because I do not have access to the billing codes to understand what the actual cost of say a lab test will be to me four months later? Now a rate increase? The insurance companies need to spend more time understanding their policies and billing practices and NOT have the consumer pay for what has become an industry that targets paying consumers that are utterly helpless. Has the state completely lost control and allowed this type of practice to happen? Who is sitting in a room signing off on all of this on the behalf of the hardworking citizens of NY? I have had enough and I look to the state to be not only my advocate but the advocate of all working New Yorkers. What will the state do to ensure that consumers are protected? Regards,

2

Sir: I am writing to strongly protest the 12.5% proposed rate increase to my health coverage by United HealthCare/Oxford. An increase of this size is outrageous and puts a tremendous financial strain on we who pay these premiums. I urge you to challenge United HealthCare on this proposal and please do not allow its approval. Thank you. Respectfully,





As a healthcare consumer who just enrolled in a new group plan for which my premiums just doubled, costing more out of pocket expenses, and now they want to tack on an additional 10.4% to my premiums? They offer less and charge more for services. As an older consumer I don't have the option of not having coverage since I am not old enough for medicare yet. The insurance provider makes it harder for the consumer to get correct information when needed, depending on who you get, and costs undo aggravation for their errors in their billing. My spouse spends most of her day trying to rectify their errors, as these problems take a lot of time on the phone to resolve.I don't think a 10.4% increase in premiums is justified.

1.Healthpass/OXFORD2. EPO GOLD3. group4. 85629NY0010238

Thank You,




Name of Insurer: OxfordGroup CoverageHIOS ID # 85629NY001044500

I have received a notice for a 7.7% increase and would like to contest it.This plan has continued to spike by 7-10% per year and with the hike they have also increased deductibles and co pay. These rate hikes are outrageous and they are not offering any additional services for said hikes. In fact they are offering less.They are unjustified and outright wrong.


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. > Dear Sir/Madam, > > I have just received a notice stating that OXFORD is applying for a premium rate increase of 14.6%, this is absolutely appalling! I am already paying a premium of $1200/month on a family plan where the employer is covering the ADDITIONAL $1100/month. I have already faced an almost 10% hike last year and now an additional 14.6% upon renewal? This is outrageous! > > Deductibles are getting higher and out of pocket costs are climbing at a ferocious rate. > > Insurance companies are deciding to pay less, doctors are charging more and all of these expenses are passed on to the subscriber that is already paying a fortune. > > The insurance companies need to spend more time understanding their policies and billing practices and NOT have the consumer pay for what has become an industry that targets paying working consumers who inheritantly, do no have choice. > Has the state completely lost control and allowed this type of practice to happen? Who is sitting in a room signing off on all of this on the behalf of the hardworking citizens of NY? > > I have had enough and I look to the state to be not only my advocate but the advocate of all hard working New Yorkers. Another increase of 14.6% is not acceptable. > What will the state do to ensure that consumers are protected? > > Regards, >




Please see attached correspondence.




Dear Madame or Sir,

I am writing to ask that you please consider carefully and refuse/modify the outrageous increase to my premiumpurposed by Oxford Health Insurance. (As it stands with the high deductible they are not providing any helpful coverage except in the case of something catastrophic). An increase of 3-6% would be understandable, but my premium is increasing by 17.6%!!

Name of insurer: UnitedHealthcare OxfordName of plan: CSP04 - Oxford EPO HSA (Silver) $2,000.00Group PlanHIOS id number is: 85629NY0010270

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Regards,




Dear Sir/Madam,As a small Group Employer, covering 50 % of our employee?s health premiums?.please note that we are vehemently opposed to this proposed increase in plan rate of 15.8%. As the plan exists, the costs are prohibitive, any further increases would be criminal!Please do not grant this increase to the Provider, Oxford ? United Health Care.

Thank you,

DisclaimerThe information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be


unlawful.



Name of Insurer: Oxford / United Health CarePlan Name: FC18575, CSP12, EPO Bronze, 85629NY0010156Coverage: GroupHIOS Identification Number: 85629NY0001015600

To whom it may concern

I am covered by the above named policy and protest strongly against the proposed 14.1% increase. Oxford has raised rates approximately 60% since Obamacare was enacted, and the policy benefits reduced. These increases are both unfair and unaffordable.

Please decline Oxford?s request.

Thank you.

_______________________________________________________________




NYS Department of Financial Services,

Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (OHI) is filing a request with you to approve a change in our premium rates for 2018. The requested percentage change to our group's premium is 12.7%.

I am writing to urge you to reject the premium increase. Already, our premiums are astronomical, and an increase of almost 13% is outrageous and will cause financial stress.

Thank you for your consideration,





Is there anyone who is concerned about those that are struggling to meet there everyday bills?? It seems not when the healthcare costs seems to be getting out of hand. Every year this happens and the company changes to try to keep the cost reasonable. There is no reasonable anymore?As we get older it is more frightening, not something to look forward to as we approach those golden years.

Please someone has to care enough to stop this escalation.

These are my thoughts on the matter ?..Thank youUnited HealthcareFreedom NetworkGroup coverageHIOS# 85629NY001027200

Sincerely,




Our health insurance provider has requested an increase close to 11%. We believe this is too high and should be denied. Attached is a letter with this protest.



Please see attached letter.

Thank you very much,




RE: HIOS ID #85629NY0010310


The is in receipt of the Proposed Premium Rate Change from Oxford / United Healthcare for the following group plan:EC16973, CSP07, EPO Bronze, 85629NY0010310

A 10.1% premium has been proposed for this plan. As a small business owner, we find an increase at this level to be unacceptable. Typical cost of living increases range from 2-3% annually. Health insurance premiums should not be increased at a level higher than cost of living. Our employees can not absorb this cost, nor can our business.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.





I am writing this email regarding the proposed premium rate increase for UnitedHealthcare/Oxford premiums. The name of my plans are the EPO Gold plan (10.1% increase) and PPO Platinum Plan (11.5% increase) and I have group coverage. The HIOS ID numbers are 85629NY0010240 and 85629NY0050012 respectively. I am currently a 3 full time staff members and 2 part times staff members. Receiving notices last year that the premiums were going up ~10% for this year was surprising. This year however, marks the second year in a row of double digit percentage increase in the premiums. This is unacceptable. What is concerning to me as a and small business owner, is that while Oxford/United claims "rising medical expenses" as the main reason they are raising the premium, they have dropped their reimbursements for many frequently used CPT codes and as a result I have seen their revenue drop. As a I have the unique perspective from both ends of the spectrum as one who gets paid by United Healthcare to provide a service to their insured members while also paying my premiums for my family and several employees. It does not all add up if they are paying me less for my services (and all while asking their members for more money in monthly premiums. I do not believe this amounts to rising medical expenses but more likely to greed from United Healthcare. I do not believe this rate increase should be approved by the Department of Financial Services of New York.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss further.

Sincerely,




To Whom It May Concern,

My husband and I, together with the other partner in our office, have an Oxford Plan ( Group Number NO11720, HIOS number 85629NY001024600). This email is in response to a letter from United Healthcare, informing us of a possible rate increase. I vehemently object to this proposed increase on many grounds. We are already paying a high monthly amount for this insurance, $2937.91, which includes a high deductible, as well as a high copayment of $70 per specialist. To increase our monthly rates would cause a huge financial burden on us. The insurance company states increases in medical costs to them as one reason for increasing our premium. As someone who works in the medical field, I find that reasoning impossible to believe. Insurance companies, including Oxford, are reimbursing doctors lower and lower amounts every year. Medical costs to insurance companies cannot possibly be going up when their reimbursements to doctors continue to go down.

I hope that you will consider denying the insurance company's request for a rate increase. It is time for the insurance companies to stop increasing their profits to the detriment of the patients and doctors.

Thank you,




June 28, 2017Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in reference to the ?Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change, AB30897, CSP01, PPO Gold, 85629NY005004200? dated May 30, 2017.UnitedHealthcare/Oxford

Group Coverage: AB30897HIOS Identification: 85629NY005004200

I am objecting to the requested 12.3% increase to the premium for the following reasons:? This coverage began January 1, 2017. There has not even been 6 months of coverage before discussion of a rate increase was proposed.? I am a healthy year old and have not made any claims to this plan yet, but I have paid monthly without any claims.? This amount is grossly higher than the estimated rate of inflation.

Thank you for your thorough consideration of this matter.

Respectfully,




June 29,2017NYS Department of Financial ServicesHealth Bureau- Premium Rate Adjustments

Dear DFS,We, , are writing to ask you to deny the proposed rate increase requested by United Healthcare, Oxford for 2018 of 9.2.%.Our Insurer is Oxford. Our We have Group Coverage. Our HIOS ID # is 85629NY001011400.We ask you to deny the proposed increase because:1)For all of 2016, UnitedHealth Group's profits totaled just under $7.24 billion, an increase over the $5.81 billion reported for 2015. (http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20170117/NEWS01/170119928/unitedhealth-profits-soar-at-end-of-2016)

Due to this, we cannot fathom why this United Healthcare needs to increase rates almost 10%.2)Recently, DOJ joined in two qui tam suits against United Healthcare alleging United Healthcare fraudulently inflated its Medicare Advantage risk scores resulting in overbilling Medicare by more than $1 billion. (http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/doj-s-new-healthcare-fraud-target-30285/)This is unacceptable for all taxpayers, regulators and customers of United Healthcare. They should not be rewarded for this behavior, and until and unless they are proven innocent, we urge you to freeze all rate increases for 2018.

Thank you for your time,Sincerely,




Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing in reference to the ?Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change, AB30897, CSP01, PPO Gold, 85629NY005004200? dated May 30, 2017.

UnitedHealthcare/Oxford

Group Coverage: AB30897HIOS Identification: 85629NY005004200

I am objecting to the requested 12.3% increase to the premium for the following reasons:? This coverage began January 1, 2017. There has not even been 6 months of coverage before discussion of a rate increase was proposed.? As a healthy, year old female, who doesn?t smoke, I have yet to take advantage of the covered services, yet have paid monthly without any claims.? This amount is grossly higher than the estimated rate of inflation.

Thank you for your thorough consideration of this matter.

Respectfully,




United Health Care - OxfordEPO - Silver - Non-CSRGroupHIOS - 85629NY001030000

A 10% increase is just unfair. There have been years when I did not use any service, so how does using services in a particular year justify a rate increase? That is why I pay continuously so that when a bad year comes I have insurance. Please don't raise my rate. I am at the maximum of what I can pay.




United Health Care - OxfordEPO - Silver - Non-CSRGroupHIOS - 85629NY001030000

I write in opposition to the requested healthcare Premium Rate Change increase. Oxford Health Insurance is requesting a group premium increase of 10.3%. We are a small group of employees and already premium payments represent the majority of our expenses. Yes, we have used more services this year but why should we be penalized when for many years we have not used services. Perhaps rates should go down when Oxford makes more than a certain amount of profit. It does not make sense to pay insurance for so long only to have rates dramatically increase when one actually uses the service. Why have insurance at all?

United Heathcare has proposed an annual premium rate change of more than 10% over the past so many years. Now my monthly premium has become $843 per person (compared to less than $300 about ten years ago) and will go up further to $929 with their proposed 10.2% increase in 2018. The company's rate increase is aggressive and the premium has gone up to a level which is not affordable.


To Whom it may concern, I started a new position in this past November and was insured by my employer (a small business) beginning I recently received a letter from the insurance company (United Healthcare/Oxford) informing me of a proposed rate increase of 12.7% I am writing this letter to protest this increase. Although this is the first year that I have been on this particular plan I have had to live through other plans from prior employers where the premiums have had a double digit percentage increase for the last 3 years. At some point this has to stop. My and the average employees salary is not increasing by double digit percentages so how can we reasonably be asked to afford this kind of hit year after year. This is not a sustainable solution I am grateful for the fact that I have health insurance at all and I do sympathize with the fact because of legislative changes their costs have gone up and the money to pay for those increased costs needs to come from somewhere. When then President Obama was campaigning to get the Affordable Care Act passed, he made a promise to the American people that we would not lose anything we currently had and that our costs would not increase. I have already mentioned how since the affordable care act costs have most definitely gone up. Now lets look into the first part of the promise. A doctor has prescribed a medication for me that I am supposed to take every month to keep me in good health. Until a few months ago, that medication was covered 100%. Now I have been told by my insurance company that not only is it not covered 100% but it is considered a Tier 2 medication and as such the copay I would have to pay is more than the medication actually costs. Basically, the insurance company is covering $0 towards paying for this medication when they used to cover 100% In addition, I recently developed and my doctor prescribed a . When I went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription I was told that I had to pay over $50 for the privilege of once again, my insurance plan is not covering me in a critical need. If we are making laws in the spirit of the fact that all Americans deserve healthcare then don't we have a stronger obligation to ensure that all Americans are given the tools that they need to

?? I am bringing up these examples because when I reviewed the specific issues that my insurance brought up to justify this double digit increase one of the reasons cited is due in significant part to rapidly increasing drug costs. If there are rapidly increasing drug costs, the insurance company is not incurring them because they have already passed them on to their customers. We should not have them passed on to us a second time through the premium increases. What has happened to the healthcare costs for the typical working New Yorker over the last few years is not right, it is not fair, and it is not sustainable. Please take this into consideration when you are making your rate approval decisions Thank you for your time and consideration

As I am very concerned about the request by Oxford for an 11.9% raise for our company's health insurance plan. We are a small non-profit company that provides information about to the affected community both locally and nation-wide. The additional cost of health insurance to that degree will seriously impact our ability to provide these needed services. Therefore, i am asking that this request be denied and that an increase (if needed) be considerably less. Thank you.


Dear sir/madam. I am writing to express our disagreement with the proposed increase rate of 12.7% for 2018 by Oxford Health Insurance for our company. Our group has seen substantial yearly increases since we became members in and in the past two years the actual increases have been over 6% (per year) - every year Oxford is proposing 10-15% increases. Since we became members years ago, our healthcare costs have increased by 15.5% compared to the original rate (even though our membership has remained entirely unchanged). Our company is committed to providing excellent healthcare plans to our employees, but with this new proposed increase we are being priced out. The narrative summary provided by the company was not only extremely difficult to obtain, but also entirely uninformative -there was much talk of rising medical costs but absolutely nothing in the way of particulars. The numerical summary was equally uninformative, as it is based on exhibits and calculations to which we as customers have no access. From what it looks like from our end, the message is We're raising your costs, deal with it. It really feels like a punishment for being in a small group. We communicate with associates in companies of 50+ employees, who are also clients of Oxford; many of their employees are certainly more expensive to insure than we are due to age, medical conditions, etc., however they are seeing lower proposed increases than we are. Please feel free to contact me for further information -

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

As an EPO Bronze member with $10,000 family deductibles, the premium is already significant to cover the cost of managing the claims that are submitted by physicians that we as Bronze members pay out of pocket. I believe the request to increase rates by 15.8% is unusually high and should be denied. A more reasonable rate increase given that their primary exposure is handling claims would be more appropriate.

Dear Hon. Commissioner, Assembly Members, Senators and Governor, Oxford United Healthcare has once again requested a double digit rate increase. Every year the insurance company requests more than a 10 percent raise. This year the request of for an increase of 10.3%. This percentage increase is artificially high - arguably arbitrary and capricious - given all relevant economic factors that may be reasonable applied to a rate increase. While the cost of health care is increasing to be sure, as is the cost of many other professional services in the greater NYC Metro area and through out the country, there are no contributing economic factors that show health care has increased by over 10% in the past year. Please, check the relevant factors and you will see that an increase of between 3.4 and 5.1 percent -depending on which factors you agree are relevant - would be an equitable and fair and rationally based to current economics. My pays for between half and full health insurance premiums for its employees and their families. And we have Oxford UnitedHealthcare ESO so that our employees have really good insurance. If we didn't pay most or all of the premiums and have really good insurance, we would not be able to attract or retain well-qualified

Health insurance premiums for my are already nearly $4,000 a month - that nearly $48,000 a year. After payroll and office rent, this is our largest expense by far. A 10.3 percent increase will mean approximately another $4,000 annual expense. For the New York State Assembly, Senate and Governor to approve a 10.3 % increase without connecting that increase to rationally related factors that warrant it, would, it seems to me, to be arbitrary and capricious and demonstrate that our elected officials are not looking out for NY State small business or the NY State residents who own and work in them. Respectfully submitted, and employer of hard working people in the NYC Metro area.


Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (OHI) notified me by mail that they are filing a request with the New York State Department of Financial Services to approve a change to my premium rates for 2018. My group number is ,

, and my HIOS identification number is 85629NY001034100. As a young professional working in and living on a low income, a 12.6% increase to my group's premium would be potentially devastating economically. I am strongly against this proposed rate change.

HI, I'D LIKE TO LODGE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A 10.1% INCREASE ON MY INSURANCE RATE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. THE CURRENT PREMIUM IS ALREADY SO HIGH, NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO AFFORD WHILE LIVING IN . I AM A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL PAYING CLOSE TO $800 A MONTH ON HEALTH INSURANCE AND THEY WANT TO INCREASE IT ANOTHER 10%???? THATS ALREADY CLOSE TO $10,000 A YEAR FOR A HEALTHY YOUNG INDIVIDUAL. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO YOUR CITIZENS. WE CANNOT KEEP UP A NORMAL STANDARD OF LIVING IN NEW YORK LIKE THIS!!! STOP THE GREED OF BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKING ADVANTAGE OF REGULAR PEOPLE! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.


COMMENT TO THE HEALTH BUREAU OF THE NYS DEP’T OF FINANCIAL SERVICES Submitted June 27, 2017, during public comment period, in response to a notice of proposed rate increase by Oxford Name of Insurer: United Healthcare –Oxford Group Plan name: Freedom Plan, PPO, Group Number: HIOS number: 85629NY0050026 We are writing to strongly protest the rate increase requested by Oxford for 2017. We are a small group plan. We have employees, and we are all enrolled in this plan. We each pay $1,028/month for this plan, and now Oxford is requesting an increase of 12.1%, which will bring our monthly premium to $1,152 each—almost $1,500 more for the year. This is absurd, and offensive. Oxford informs us that the main reason for the requested increase is rising medical costs, and they cite in particular increases in the amount of services used. In fact, we have not had ANY increase in services used. We have used only basic, standard preventive care this year and most of the past 6 or 7 years. We have seen our primary care physicians for regular check-ups and we have had colonoscopies and breast exams. That’s it, and that’s all it’s been for quite a few years. The sum total of all of our medical expenses for the past year probably does not even come to $2,000, if it even comes to $1,000, and that is what each of us is paying to Oxford each month. How can that be considered an increase in the amount of services used? Perhaps other groups and individuals are using more services, but not ours. If Oxford is basing our premiums on what is going on with other groups and individuals, then what is the point of our having our own group, for which we pay a great deal more than we would have to pay if we were employed by a big company with a large group of insureds? Based on our current premiums and our service usage, we should not warrant ANY increase at all. We are paying a huge amount per month for mediocre coverage and not using it in any significant or burdensome way. In addition, for 2016, Oxford raised our premiums, with your approval, almost 4.5%, even though we had no increase in usage, and certainly our primary care physicians did not get any increase in compensation as a result. It’s very hard for us to understand why you approved any rate increase for this year, and we believe no rate increase is justified for next year. It is important to understand the context for this increase (and frankly for the outrageous level of our current premiums). As we note above, we are paying $1,028/month each in premiums, and we have used very, very little services over the past few years. Oxford is making a great deal of money on us, and now wants to make more, without ANY increase in benefits to us or services for us—we get no benefit from this increase, like better coverage, better service, etc. This increase is totally one-sided, as it always is. The United Healthcare proxy statement for its 2017 annual meeting reports mind-blowing information about revenue, net profit, executive compensation and stockholder return for 2015. According to the proxy statement, during the period in which we will have paid over $37,000 to Oxford for services that cannot have amounted to more than a total of $1,000-$2,000— 1. The company’s revenue increased 17.7%. 2. The company’s earnings increased 17.3%. 3. The company’s earnings per share increased 24.8% (extraordinary!) 4. The company’s dividend rate increased 25%. But even more importantly, the five named officers made $17,765,612, $7,185,223 (he became an officer only this year), $12,316,446, $12,324,995 and $5,798,127, respectively. For Stephen Hemsley, the CEO of United Healthcare, that represents a 22.37% increase in compensation over 2015, and two others got increases of 6.35%, while one got an increase of 2%. Base salary decreased about $50,000 for each, but that made way for extraordinary increases in other components of compensation. In terms of cash incentive awards, two officers received 184% of their target awards, and the other three received between 152% and 156% of their target awards. In terms of long-term cash incentive awards, all four named officers who were eligible received 138% of their target awards, and all four also received 138% of their target awards of long-term performance shares. Mr. Hemsley also has a pension currently valued at $10,703,229. And to top it all off and highlight the absolute insanity of this requested increase, all five of the named officers have contractual rights to payments upon their departure from the company in the event of death, disability, retirement, discharge not for cause, and change in control. It would be too wordy to lay out exactly how much all of these departure payments would be, but here is the basic idea: one officer would get $58-$65 million, depending on the reason for departure; one officer would get $35-$39 million, depending on the reason for departure; one officer would get $5-$36 million, depending on the reason for departure; one officer would get $2-$21 million, depending on the reason for departure; and one officer would get $2-$20 million, depending on the reason for departure. DURING


THIS YEAR, AND IN FACT, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, NONE OF THE OF US HAS GOTTEN ANY INCREASE IN COMPENSATION AT ALL, DESPITE WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO RETAIN OUR CLIENTS AND SERVICE THEM WELL. WE ARE SUCCEEDING IN THAT, BUT WE ARE UNABLE TO GET OUR CLIENTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THEY PAY US. We have, however, been forced to pay more for health insurance every year. Why should we pay more for insurance in order to fund the kind of shocking compensation and compensation increases at the executive level at Oxford? Please recognize that these officers have been making this kind of money for many, many years, with increases over the years similar to this year. These people are not hurting, but we as consumers are. We also note that Mr. Hemsley is included in the New York Times rankings of CEO Pay (May 28, 2017, Business Section, pages 6-7) for the 200 highest paid CEOs of companies with at least $1 billion in revenue in 2016. The total compensation reported for him is $15,395,513. We do not judge Mr. Hemsley for getting a good job and negotiating a good salary for himself. But when he appears on a list of the highest paid CEOs and his company provides weaker and weaker insurance for higher and higher rates, that is not an appropriate time to demand further premium increases. Increases to premiums might be reasonable if the quality of the insurance were going up, or if the company were losing money, or if the company developed an innovative approach to healthcare that benefited insureds and healthcare providers—but NOT when the company is raking it in and paying their executives extraordinary and ever rising compensation. Here’s another shocking piece of information revealed in Oxford’s proxy statement and reported in the New York Times rankings mentioned above: the stockholders of United Healthcare earned a return of 38% on their investments in 2016, and a return of 120% on their investments over the period 2014-2016. That’s very nice for the stockholders, but again, why is it reasonable for us to fund that level of return, particularly when neither of us is enjoying any increase in compensation for all of our hard work? Wouldn’t a return more in the range of the inflation rate or slightly higher be more reasonable? If Oxford can generate that kind of return for its investors, that’s great, but it should not come from increased premiums from us. And please note—those levels of returns were generated during years before the rate increase that Oxford is requesting now. If Oxford were to get no rate increase at all from us now, how much would stockholder return and executive compensation be diminished? It’s hard to imagine very much. Oxford and all the other health insurance companies state repeatedly that medical costs are increasing, but it’s very unclear what the nature of that increase is, and Oxford does not specify it either in the notice they sent us or in the further information posted on their website and yours. To us and most other ordinary people, it appears that the increase in medical costs is more due to health insurance companies gouging their customers and beating down health providers than to any actual increase in the cost of medical services. At the current time, there is no reasonable justification for the health insurance industry to be a for-profit industry, but until Congress acts to eliminate any profit motive from private insurance, or establishes a single-payer system or public option, it is up to you to balance the legitimate needs of these companies with the needs of their customers. The system is seriously out of balance in favor of the insurance companies. You have the power to shift it a little bit back toward the consumer. We expect you to do that. Respectfully,

WE FEEL THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE RATE INCREASE WHICH WILL CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN OUR BEING ABLE TO OFFER HEALTH INSURANCE TO OUR EMPLOYEES. WE CURRENTLY PAY HIGH PREMIUMS DUE TO BEING A SMALL BUSINESS AND AN 11.3% RATE INCREASE WOULD CAUSE US TO LOOK AT OTHER POLICIES, PERHAPS THEREBY REDUCING THE PLAN COVERAGE TO OUR EMPLOYEES IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE COST.


Understanding the increase in costs for the industry, an already expensive premium, will change the company policy, to make employees pay for the premium, creating a severe damage in our family finances.

how could this be possible to allow this type of increase 10.9 % , this increase is in no way fare to any one we can not even offset such an increase, we can not even offer a cost of living increase to our employees and all understands at least we have a job , our income has been dropping each and every year and still dropping we just can not afford such a increase in business today , Thank You

Oxford justifies a premium rate increase in part because of what the insurer claims to be increased services, yet Oxford has significantly reduced the mental health services they will cover. Over the past year and a half, Oxford has covered less than half of the mental health of the mental health services (i.e., ) that I receive. Recent class action suits against United Behavioral Health, the entity through which Oxford manages mental health claims, for excessively denying coverage for mental health services, suggest that this cost-cutting practice is widespread. Until Oxford stops the practice of systematically denying mental health coverage, which, even if it does not reduce the number of services, reduces the number of services Oxford covers, the insurer has scant justification for a rate increase to cover an alleged increase in services.

I have rec'd notification (as I do every yr) that my ins. premium could be raised 12.6% for 2018. Every yr there is an increase, is there no cap for this? I do not received a 12.6% salary increase every yr! I would like to state that this notfair and I hope it is not approved. Please be considerate of us poor peasants. Life is getting very difficult with all the increases. Thank you.

I am hereby protesting the premium increase of 11.3%, citing rising costs and usage. When I look at my Explanation of Benefits at providers I've been seeing for in some cases more than 15 years I see the reimbursements to them for the same service go down - not up - so I doubt that costs of services are increasing. While I do not have data to counter their other other claim (increased usage), the plan provides little incentive to stay healthy. The gym reimbursement is menial compared the UCR of gym memberships here in the region and the mechanism for reimbursements are needlessly prohibitive. For those reasons, I object the increase.


Hi, I received a letter about increasing the insurance fee. The only reason the insurance company gives is that I cost too much, which totally does not make any sense for the following reasons: 1. Surgery is out of my control, is totally an unpleasant accident. I had last month that's the only medial expense that I had this year. I had

for no reason, who wants that disease!? I woke up in the 7:am because of pain, and I went to emergency room, I had a surgery after 7 hours checking, everything happened just naturally, is there anything I can do to stop the ? Obviously, NO! 2. Health insurance is supposed to reduces the patient's financial burden. The reason we chose health insurance because it offers us protection and help, it should not increase the prices when his clients had no choice but a surgery. 3. I am healthy person. Like I said, the surgery is only medical expenses for this year (so far), I am the person who rarely get sick, the is just an accident which no longer exists, so I don't know what the insurance company is afraid of. There is no second need to be cut. In a word, the insurance company doesn't have strong argument to increase the insurance premiums for this incidents. I sincerely appreciate your time and consideration. Here's my basic information: 1. the name of your insurer: Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (OHI) 2. the name of your plan: S PPO HSA $2000 30/60 F NG OHI 3. whether you have individual or group coverage Group Number: 4. HIOS identification number: 85629NY005010800 Best Regard,

It seems that insurance should be to cover people, not for business to make millions of dollars from it.that money is being sucked out of the system. Rates have gone up the past 20 years.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I participate in a group policy with oxford under its freedom plan through my employer

I object to the Oxford Rate increase. I recently required a . Oxford compensated me at the rate of approximately 2-3% on the dollar. Oxford should not be entitled to a rate increase if they do not pay their claims.


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Oxford Health Services is my insurer The name of my plan is UnitedHealthcare Oxford health plan Freedom Plan (R) PPO underwritten by oxford health insurance inc. My insurance is through a group My HIOS identification number is: 85629NY00500100 Dear Superintendent : I write to file an objection on the proposed premium rate increase of 11.5%, recently filed by Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. (OHI). I have been a customer for many years. I need health insurance because I am a I am diligent in my follow ups and screenings and do all that I can to remain healthy in order to continue my business and keep all of my employees gainfully employed and able to support the financial wellbeing of New York State. This proposed rate increase will be a major hardship for me. I believe that my carrier’s profits, administration, and executive compensations costs are too great and urge you to require it to invest more premium dollars into its customer’s health expenses. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services’ efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you need more information about my situation, please feel free to contact me at:

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Oxford/United is planning to raise our rates by 12.5%. Our plan is already so expensive and every year they increase our rates by such an extreme percentage. Please do not approve this increase so we can attempt to have an affordable plan! ·················································


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Name of the insurer: Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. Name of the insurance plan: EPO Platinum Group coverage HIOS ID number: 85629NY0010336 Dear Sir, Madam, I write to file an objection on the proposed premium rate increase of 12.6% recently filed by Oxford Health Insurance, Inc. Our company has been a customer since In the last 2 years we have already seen increases of 2.78% and 5.09%. This additional proposed rate increase of 12.6% will have a substantial impact on our budgets. I encourage the Department to carefully review our insurance company’s filing. I urge you to ensure that a maximum investment is made in consumer medical claims. I strongly support the Department of Financial Services’s efforts to make more insurance more affordable and information about rate increases more accessible. Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you need more information about our company, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Dear Sir/Madam, Our Insurer: Oxford Name of plan: freedom plan, PPO group coverage HIOS identification number: 85629NY005002800 Increase 12.3% That is a ridiculous increase! Your policy is encouraging NOT working, NOT to own a small business! Thanks for the increase!

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. 1. Insurer name: United Healthcare (Oxford) 2. Freedom Plan PPO 3. Group coverage (small business) 4. 85629NY005004400 Hello, I’m writing to ask for more information regarding the proposed rate increase by Oxford Health Insurance. What is the rationale for the proposed rate increase of 12.5%? In light of the already high cost of health insurance, what is United/Oxford’s justification for this exorbitant increase? On behalf of small businesses who already pay very high premiums, high deductibles for both families and individuals, and have limited coverage (no dental, no vision), I’m asking you to seriously consider the need for such a high rate increase. This is much higher than the rate of inflation and much higher than individual’s salary increases (if any) to keep up with the very high cost of living in NY. Please challenge United (Oxford) to provide substantial rationale for this high increase and advocate for the individuals who will be subjected to paying these increases. Is there another way for them to make up this increase (e.g., company cost savings or less profit) rather than making the cost of insurance unobtainable for many? Thank you for your attention to this most pressing matter.


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. My name is . My insurer is UnitedHealthcare Oxford. My plan is EPO Bronze. I have group coverage but pay it all on my own since I left my previous employer and pay it through COBRA so I pay full premiums individually. My HIOS # is 85629NY001031000. I've received notice of the proposed rate increase and am shocked by the amount they feel is necessary to increase my premiums. I currently have a plan with such high deductibles that I can't afford to pay my premiums AND pay my costs of health care. Therefore, I pay my premiums just to be safe in case an unexpected emergency takes place. I feel this is quite common for most individuals and I often question if these rate increases year after year have any significance to this behavior, not only for myself but for others. When are the brakes going to put to a screeching halt to stop insurance companies from controlling our health care issues? Not only do they decide what is best for us, giving a thumbs up or down to what prescriptions we are allowed to be prescribed, to what doctors we see and what procedures we are allowed to have performed, etc.? I want my trusted health care professionals to be the ones who with my input, are the ones who decide what is best for my health and body, not a company concerned about profit margins. UnitedHealthcare had a net income of $7 billion in 2016 with assets of $122 billion and were ranked #6 on the F500. This wasn't good enough for their stockholders? The CEO, Stephen Helmsley, had a 55% increase in his compensation in 2016 compared to 2015. I am , paying my full insurance premiums through COBRA and cannot take an almost 16% rate hike. This seriously has to stop and we have to fight against these yearly increases from insurance/health care organizations. I have dealt with rate increases every year for the past 5 or more years along with a decrease in benefits. UnitedHealthcare says they provide health care rather than health insurance. What are health care premiums versus health insurance premiums because the health care I am receiving from UnitedHealthcare is nonexistent. Thank you,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Re: Oxford Notice of Proposed Premium Rate Change "Well of course costs are going up, for everyone. But 9.2%? And perhaps more? What's to stop this from happening again next year? 10% a year? That's silly. And Oxford's quality of service is very mixed, I have to say. When they have consistently excellent service---and consistently excellent rates on their support of their patients--- I will be far more willing to 'ok' exorbitant rates such as this, until then, no. Perhaps 5%, at the most." United Health: Oxford Individual HIOS: 85629NY005013000 --

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing because I am adamantly opposed to the rate increase (17.5%) that Oxford Health Insurance is asking the DFS to approve. This is an outrageous amount, and this or any increase will come directly out of my paycheck. Not only do they to the continue to raise their rates, but they also decrease their reimbursements. I work in a , and not only do I have to pay for the increase, but I never receive a pay increase because of the reduced reimbursements. I hope that you take Oxford’s administrative costs into consideration when you make your decision. What does the CEO make? My insurance is- United Healthcare Oxford EPO HAS ( Freedom Network) HIOS # 85629NY001027000 Regards,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Dear Superintendent Vullo, I am writing to urge you to challenge the proposed 12.5% premium rate increase by United HealthCare/Oxford. It is an outrageously high increase and puts a severe financial burden on both policyholders and employers who pay these premiums. Please do not allow this increase to be approved. It will cause hardship and anxiety for many people. Respectfully,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom It May Concern, My name is and I am sending you this email regarding my high insurance premium from united Healthcare Oxford. My health plan is EPO and I have group coverage with

My HIOS identification number is 85629NY0010052. I have been with United Healthcare for more than 10 years and my monthly premium rate has gone up from less than $300 per person in the past to currently $843 per person due to their aggressive annual rate increases. Over the years, my coverage has gotten worse, but the premium has kept on going up. With their current proposal of 10.2% increase for 2018, I will be facing a monthly premium of $929 per person next year which will not be affordable. Please let me know if there is anything can be done to keep my premium from increasing too much. Is there any cap for the premium set by the insurance carrier? Thank you in advance for your help! Sincerely,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Insurer: Oxford Health Plan: Freedom Network EPO HSA Coverage: Group HIOS ID#: 85629NY001027000 Hello, I would like to reach out and address how high this 17% health insurance increase is. Because of the high deductibles i can't even use the benefits of the insurance. Its hard to go along and pay so much for this plan without even being able to use the benefits. I understand there is uncertainty in the healthcare market, but passing along the risk to the customers when we are legally required to have insurance is hard on us, the customers. I will try to vote for changes that benefit me and my family, but as long as your office is empowered to reduce these increases I hope you do what you can. Thank you,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I received a letter stating that Oxford is planning to increase the premiums by 15.7%. I strongly believe this increase is unreasonable and unfair for the public. I pay so much now that I actually think the cost should be reduced, rather than being raised. My husband and I currently have a plan for just the two of us through my employer's group. We pay a monthly premium of $1, 043.16 and we have a deductible of $10,000 per year. This amounts to out of pocket expenses of $22,517.92 for just two people for the year, before Oxford pays anything!! I find it hard to believe that they need to raise the cost. It seems that they feel they can just get away with it. This amount is many times higher than the rate of inflation. Plus, these raises have been far more than the inflation rate year over year. It appearsthat the system is taking advantage of the average citizen. I hope you take this issue seriously and deny this increase. Thank you,


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Please send me information regarding proposed rates Insured name is : Plan is united healthcare Oxford Group coverage Hios#85629ny001043700 Thanks,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. UNITED HEALTH CARE OXFORD EPO GOLD

HIOS# 85629NY001024700 An 11% increase in group premium is completely unacceptable. The level of care has not improved at all, much less enough to warrant 11%. The typical cost of living pay increase, which I have not gotten almost 10 years anyway, are only on the order of 2-3%. I and my employer both pay ungodly amounts to the insurance company, especially considering my own family’s low-risk, young and healthy living lifestyle. I’ve never come close to hitting my deductible, ever, and probably have used 1% of the money I have spent on insurance for what is basically catastrophic-type of plan with occasional clinic visits and prescriptions at ridiculously high co-pays. The public health care system in this country is a runaway train of spiraling quality and radically inflating costs, driven wholly by these insurance companies like United Health Care on one side and ambulance-chasing malpractice litigators on the other. Please New York State – Stop the Madness!! Just say NO to these crooks.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Good afternoon, My name is I am a consumer. The name of my Insurer is United Healthcare Oxford. I work for a This is for the purpose of commenting on the proposed rate change. Every single year the insurer is filing for a rate increase and gets it approved. I would like to complain and comment negatively on this matter, because to me, the rate that I am paying , which is $1500 for coverage for me and my wife, has always been too expensive. But every year, with no exception at all it keeps going up. All this is really frustrating and upsetting, and as a consumer who has been paying for years these insane rates, I put in this request, that the proposed rate change do not get approved because it is already too expensive and the service that I get from the plan is very far from being satisfactory, since I always have to pay for such high deductibles even though the monthly rate is already so expensive. Healthcare Insurance should be something that ordinary people like me, should be able to afford without ever struggling to make ends meet after paying for it. And the medical expenses as a reason why the Insurers filing for a rate change is not right. For me this is not right. I really hope that the opinion I have expressed here, together with the opinions of other consumers will make an impression, and that our voice will be heard somehow. Thank you very much for your attention, I can be reached in my office, by mail ,email or phone. Please find my contact details below:


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Oxford Health Insurance(OHI) EPO Bronze Group Coverage HIOS 85629NY001031000 Dear DFS, I am writing against the above mentioned insurer's request for a rate increase. Simply, low to middle class worker's salaries are NOT increasing, they have more than anything decreased if compared against the down turn of 2009. The economy, though it is trying to recover, & appears on the better side of a recovery, it is not at a point where the workers of this great Country's economy can bear any more cost of living burden to the gain to the high class earners/corporation share holders. The issue still remains that the cost of the pharmaceuticals are overpriced, including medical apparatus. I suggest a common sense approach of decreasing the cost of this area & thus the insurance company will find their gain & better yet can request for a 'decrease' (or maybe they can decrease without requesting, just think of those savings!); though as it is blatantly clear, from someone who lives & works in a higher earning area therefore has daily study cases in this area, the owners/shareholders of Insurance companies are already making extreme profits, of which they easily could give half of their earnings into programs to support/better this Country & it's Citizens, & they would not even notice, apart from maybe having to buy one less $500k sports car, which will sit in a garage with the other 5 cars for a 2 adult person family. I love to see people succeed, but fairly, not criminally. I hope as i've taken the time to write this, you would kindly please take the time to consider this brief synapse of a major problem in this Country. Thank you & keep up the good work. Thank you,

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Hello, I've been informed by the NY Dept of Financial Services that Oxford/United is going to raise insurance rates by 12.5%. This is absurd and uncalled for. I ask that you please force them to reconsider. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Thank you,

Unknown Insurer2018 Public Comments



Hello,

I'm infuriated I received a letter on Saturday, regarding an increase in my premium for 2018. THIS IS RIDICIOULOUS how much money does one person have to pay for health insurance. This is unacceptable I?m a single person and my rates were just raised this year $36.00 a paycheck.

THAT'S $36.00 every two weeks and now your raising them again. You received an increase this year of $936.00 a year.

What is going on??????????????????????????

I think this is unfair that ANYONE WHO HAS INSURANCE MUST PAY DEARLY FOR ALL THE LOSERS THAT HAVE NO INSURANCE!!!!!!!

I want someone to call me and explain the increase asap. I will be writing the governor on this as well.

Warmest Regards,



Good Morning Thank you for the opportunity to chime in regarding the increase in our = insurance. We pay out of our own pockets each month - we do not have an employer = that pays our insurance.=20 We are the family that does not go to the doctor frequently so we pay = each month for services we do not use.=20 An increase in our plan will have a negative impact on our family. = Please do not raise the rates.=20 I feel the focus should be on the medical professionals who are using = the system for gains they are not earning.=20 Thank you

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Please do not increase my premium rate. I don't even use any of those features listed in the reasons for the increase. My premium rate is already too high and I get next to nothing with it. If you increase the premium I might have to skip on health insurance and just pay whatever fee because it will most likely be cheaper in the longer run. -

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Good Morning Thank you for the opportunity to chime in regarding the increase in our = insurance. We pay out of our own pockets each month - we do not have an employer = that pays our insurance.=20 We are the family that does not go to the doctor frequently so we pay = each month for services we do not use.=20 An increase in our plan will have a negative impact on our family. = Please do not raise the rates.=20 I feel the focus should be on the medical professionals who are using = the system for gains they are not earning.=20 Thank you


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I just received a letter in the mail from my family's health insurance company. This is an absolutely unacceptable rate increase. I am already paying over $25,000 for health insurance for 4 very healthy people. I can not accept this rate increase and if it goes through I will be forced to pay the penalty for no insurance and pray to god that no one in my family is hurt or gets sick. This is an extremely sad state of affairs when insurance companies can back us hard working tax paying citizens into a corner, force us to pay exorbitant rates to protect our family and then have the nerve to raise the rates 13.7% per year. There is no other industry that increases cost to their clients like this and I for one am really tired of being abused. The DFS is supposed to stand up for the people and protect our rights and family's well being. Well I can no longer afford health insurance so in 2018 i will not be renewing. I ask you to please keep these insurance premiums under control. The general public that does not work for the state or government are being asked to foot the bill for the other half of the country and it is wrong. I expect a response as this is an extremely important topic and negatively effects my family directly. I appreciate you having this address for people to offer their opinions. Please help.


I just received a letter in the mail from my family's health insurance company. This is an absolutely unacceptable rate increase. I am already paying over $25,000 for health insurance for 4 very healthy people. I can not accept this rate increase and if it goes through I will be forced to pay the penalty for no insurance and pray to god that no one in my family is hurt or gets sick. This is an extremely sad state of affairs when insurance companies can back us hard working tax paying citizens into a corner, force us to pay exorbitant rates to protect our family and then have the nerve to raise the rates 13.7% per year. There is no other industry that increases cost to their clients like this and I for one am really tired of being abused. The DFS is supposed to stand up for the people and protect our rights and family's well being. Well I can no longer afford health insurance so in 2018 i will not be renewing. I ask you to please keep these insurance premiums under control. The general public that does not work for the state or government are being asked to foot the bill for the other half of the country and it is wrong. I expect a response as this is an extremely important topic and negatively effects my family directly. I appreciate you having this address for people to offer their opinions. Please help.




I think any rate increase is an outrageous idea.

My family currently pays over 15,000 dollars a year for a family of 4.

My office contributes a portion to our coverage so the yearly total is even more than that. If you add the outrageous $4000.00 deductible that brings coverage for a small family to over 20,000 dollars, but that's not enough???

It would have made more sense for my family to save all that money yearly rather than contributing to this "insurance".

This NYS government office should be requiring the insurance companies to bring their rates down to reasonable prices rather than allowing them to get rich on the backs of New Yorkers, whom you should be representing.

Approving the increase would be a terrible hardship on hardworking middle class families who are being forced to carry the cost of healthcare for the entire state!

Don't allow this unjust increase to be approved!




Hello Could you possibly keep this increase to less then 2% ,0%would be more realistic .Really would that be too much to ask . I personally have a child in college and 1 working a full time job and I pay 335 a week now. Why can't you due your part to make America great again and let the working class actually catch our breath for this year. Hopefully you actually read this. If so thank you Middle class father of 2

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Are you kidding me?

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When does the insanity end? When businesses in NY can no longer afford to offer health insurance? When individuals and families in NY can no longer afford to carry health insurance? At some point someone has to have the balls to say no to these insurance companies. NY health insurers seek an average 17% rate increase

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I would like to take a minute of your time to express how disturbing the increase in my health care benefits is.10.73% is just not feasible for people on fixed incomes.

please stop these increases as we can not afford it. What if it was your mother?!

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We are outraged at our current proposed cost increase for our individual health plan, Proposed increases have been very close to actual the last 3 years and there are not a lot of options of going to other plans. Very few are offered. We are a family of 4, Small Business owners, making middle class wages (roughly $ 110,000 annually). Premiums are so high we will be paying more for health insurance than our mortgage come next year. As business owners we cannot raise our prices to keep in line with insurance prices, what are we supposed to do??????? Everyone talks about insuring the uninsured, what about those who WORK very hard for a living and cant afford insurance. Why is this matter never addressed? I would love to hear from you on this matter rather than on keeping "Obamacare Safe" (Newsday 6/7/2017)




To Whom it may concernI?m against a rate increase of almost 12% . This state is going to putHard ship on the small business. I can?t afford to stay in this state. It time for theState to think about it residents and not about politicians and insurance companies profits.Best regards

Small Business Owner

Sent from Mail for Windows 10



Hello, Increasing the premiums on my already overpriced inadequate insurance coverage is over the top. As a contractor, I have paid for my own individual health insurance coverage for the past 10 years and I have seen my premiums increase by over 40% and my coverage drop by 100%. The fact that hard working citizens have to pay increasingly more for less coverage is compete nonsense. Low life system suckers should be the ones getting my poor 4000 a year deductible insurance for free or 20 dollars a month. I'm actually paying for coverage while people who qualify and participate in NY state of health have much better coverage than me. How does this make any sense? It's literally socialism, the only difference being I'm not rich and paying 5000 a year for garbage insurance that I end up paying another 2000 out of pocket for to cover deductibles is flat out ridiculous. Cut off the welfare, health insurance isn't a right, it's a privilege you pay for.... just like driving a car. Stop punishing people who work to subsidize those who choose not to. Perhaps if all of the working Americans like myself decide to say no to subsidizing broke lazy people it will bankrupt and destroy the insurance companies, and force the change we really need. I suggest raising the rate for people who pay nothing to 20, and those who pay 20 to 60 a month... but instead you will charge those who pay to help those who don't. In conclusion, if my rate goes up, I will cancel my coverage and pay out of pocket, which I pretty much already do. Then you can figure out how to make a profit when no one pays in.




Please see enclosed letter from AARP indicating I have coverage elsewhere and no longer require your companies services.

Cancel my coverage effective immediately.

Confirm cancellation immediately to

Sent from my iPhone


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I think this is ridiculous, I'm a single male in his who rarely gets sick. I only use my health insurance in emergencies and for prevention. Now you might say, buy a smaller plan, the last time I did that I broke an ankle and my deductible was so high it make it a struggle to get by. My big gripe about the health care is that it focuses on getting people on drugs and not on preventative things, such as massage, acupuncture etc. The more people used prevention the less people would get sick, leading to a lower cost for everyone. FIX THE SYSTEM Thank you

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Dear Gentlepeople, Regarding the 17.14% rate increase for 2018... The 2017 increase was very reasonable but why such a large increase for 2018? This is a huge increase for me as I am on a very fixed income at this point in my life, and I will now need consider dropping health insurance all together. If there is room for any consideration, please do so. Best regards, --

-----Original Message----- From: ] Sent: Friday, June 16, 2017 3:55 PM To: Subject: NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit Inquiry Dear Your inquiry submitted to the NYS Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit has been received and will be reviewed promptly. The information you entered is as follows: Your Name: Address: Your Company/Organization: Daytime Telephone#: You are a(n): CONSUMER Type of Insurance question/comment: HEALTH Your Questions and/or Comments have been recorded as follows: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Received a notice of proposed premium rate change...very discouraged about another premium increase (2018 - 7.5%) Would like to understand justification for such an increase. Thanks, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sincerely, New York State Department of Financial Services Consumer Assistance Unit. email at: [email protected]

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To whom it may concern. I recently recived a letter letting me know about my health Insurance premium increase. It is kind of redicules, because price is going up, but my salary have not for many years! My premium will be $1130.51, deductible will be what? $16000?20000, it is basically no insurance at all, I am barely paying for mine and my wife health insurance.I don't understand how much do you want me to work to afford this? There is only 7 days a week. Stop this insanity with out of control premiums!!!!! Enough! You are increasing premiums by 16.92%, year after year. Which is way above common rate of inflation, mind you. What kind a racket is this? Also, where is a so-call “service”? I see that you’re using very expensive paper to send this notification to me. Stop the waist! I know that NON of you really care! I am not under any illusion and I know that this email will be ignored, maybe I will receive some kind of "standard bureaucratic answer", it is just a formality. Yes, I am very disappointed about this rate increase. Sincerely (Simple silver)


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. To Whom It May Concern: I, along with many others, have incurred premium rate increases every year since the "affordable care act" has begun. Your increases are both unsubstantiated and a burden on your subscribers. This has been a bait and switch from the beginning, and good tax paying Americans are being taken advantage of to feed the appetite of insurance companies. The increases are not normal low numbered increases to meet such things as inflation, but they are double digit percentage increases that make it more difficult to afford. So, yes I disagree with this increase and hope others express their views also. Sent from my iPhone

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I am really disturbed about the proposed rate increase. These insurances are meant to help the lower class that doesn't have money to afford private insurance. So raising the rates sort of defeats the whole purpose.

ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. Hello, I am writing in response to the letter I received dated 06/01/17 regarding a proposed rate hike for my insurance plan. My original premium is $367.04 and the proposed amount is $415.04. I have a high deductible plan of $6000. As of now, I would have to pay a total of $10,404.48 before having medical services covered without paying out of pocket. The proposed rate would mean that number goes up to $10,980.48 for out of pocket expenses per year. I am a healthy person so my medical expenses on average are less than $1,000 a year. Without insurance, I run the risk of a catastrophic injury putting me into bankruptcy, but at this rate, having insurance is doing that anyway. So if your rates do increase, I will be dropping coverage and taking the risk whilst paying the fine for not choosing insurance. It's not my first choice but enough is enough. Plus, if I'm thinking it, so will the other healthy 20and 30 year olds who and strapped with massive student loans, and can't afford to be squeezed for every penny we make. Please consider if you would like to keep me and those like me insured. Or else, you will be doomed to have ever increasing premiums and more and more of us will have to drop coverage. Regards, --


ATTENTION: This email came from an external source. Do not open attachments or click on links from unknown senders or unexpected emails. I don't know how much good this does because every year nothing changes....insurance companies get their increases and the executives get HUGE bonus's, HUGE salsries.... and the American People get higher rates...i just want to know when enough is enough....what is the number that will be the ceiling $ figure?? If you raised me 50%, would that change anything? I'm pretty sure I haven't had a pay increase in years...and people are working with less income due to these increases, yet you just get to raise our rates..... So tell me, what is the number? 25% increase? 30%? 70%? when will you have had enough? When will NY stop letting votes dictate what is right and wrong? When will someone actually care about all the fraud, enough to save the American people money? And it's fraud on all ends... I can recall speaking with someone on the phone about 5 years ago and the woman was originally from Texas who worked at an Insurance company. She said NY tells the employees NOT to ask questions .Hmmm.... She told me in Texas, you don't get away with the stuff NYS allows. Amazing how an hourly employee with no managerial training put together that the system is broken yet ALL THE BIG PEOPLE IN POWER CHOOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ESPECIALLY IN NYS!!!!!!!!!!! Being Democrat or Republican....Rich or Poor......Citizen or Non-Citizen.....these raises are WRONG on so many levels. Give me a break. You do your due diligence and send these "legal" letters out but it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. STOP KILLING TREES Just to make yourself feel good. The system is broken and your division that takes care of these letters is a waste of money.

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New York State health insurance companys are asking for a 31% hike in 2018. We are/will be carrying the equivalent of two mortgages ... what are you going to do about it?

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we have a crisis in this state and country with the cost of health insurance. It has been breaking my company and my competitors for many years. The insurance companies are asking you for even higher prices this year again. We cannot withstand this any longer. People being paid $30k per year are getting bills for $20k for just health insurance today that is not as good as the insurance was in the 1980's. We build some of the world's best heart monitors here at but are being strangled by this insane cost. Insurance rates continue to climb way beyond reasonableness and our product prices are dropped beyond survival. if you want low quality Chinese junk equipment used to diagnose your family's diseases, then continue what you are doing. If you want American made top quality, then stop this now. You must not only reject their request for high rates, but you must make their rates go down. The medical profession is being paid less and less and the insurance rates are going higher and higher. the money must go to the medical people, not the insurance companies. Please stop playing politics on this. you are destroying our state and country. Please fix this. we cannot last much longer at the current rates. We needed relief about 5 years ago. now it is literally killing us off wholesale. If your goal is to destroy us, then allow the rates to continue upward. if you want us to survive and actually thrive, then allow the market to set the prices again like in the 1980s. Much better insurance at 1/10th the price.

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