Herald & Uirtem 9 December 81

Blue Cross Rates

Up 26%

TRENTON - State Insurance Cocnmissioner Jama? J. Shecran has announced 'tits “reftrctant” approval of an average 26.6 percent increase in the premium rates for individual direct pay and, small group subscribers of «• Blue Cross (Hospital Service Plan of New Jereey.) The increase, which affects 1;9 million Plan participants, is effective Jan. 1 for the six-month -rating period ending June 30. Blue Cross had sought a 43.5 pei - cent increase for the entire' year. ••I AM APPROVING an inderim rate increase reluctantly” Sheeran said, “because I am aware of the heavy btirden being placed . on Blue Cross subscribers. But a rate increase at this time iq absolutely necessary if Blue Cross is to be spared insolvency. At the moment, there is no alternative.” \ Despite a rate increase of 15 per cent that took effect last June 1 Blue Cross experienced a |3 million monthly deficit in the Junc-through-October period and its surplus is projected at a minus $12.8 million by the end of the year. The Plan’s surplus at the beginning of Ififll was $52 million. THE INCREASE applies only to individual subscribers and members of small groups (fewer than 100 members). Not affected are the experience-

rated large groups, whose rates are adjusted annually to reflect their own loss experience. Aside from inflationary pressures on hospital costs, the commissioner said, Blue Cross has been affected by a recent law placing new obligations on it with . respect to totfcl hospital costs. Under the law, Blue Cross is required to share for the first time in suph hospital expenses as carts. o( the indigent and bad debts. As a result, the traditional Blue Cross differential is being sharply reduced. 1 THE DIFFERENTIAL had been 30 to 35 per cent but was reduced to 4.05 per cent by the Rate-Setting Commissioner with the gradual introduction, beginning in 1900, of a new method of hospital reimbursement known as the' Diagnosis-Related-Group (DRG) procedure in place of the traditional per diem method. Sheeran said that the 26.6 per cent increase would yield an additional $37 million in premuim in the six mdnths from Jan. 1 to June 30, 1982. Some typical increases under the new rate schedule: Comprehensive family coverage from $145.08 to $180.19 quarterly; Student basic coverage from $26.10 to $28.68 quarterly; Medicare Complementary from $22.38 to $33.10 quarterly.

Workshop On Tax Aid O'

COURT HOUffi - The County Library id sponsoring a workshop for professional tax preparers (lawyers, accountants, etc.) 9:30a.m. Dec. 16tointroduce a new reference service. The Federal Tax Coordinator 2d provides the text of federal tax law, recommends the most profitable solution, and supports the solutions with tax situation analysis that includes verbatim reprints from preand post-reform controlling authority.

THIS 28-VOLUME reference set, available at the library, is grouped by subject, pulling together source material usually scattered through hundreds of volumes of official statutory, administrative and judicial ttfx law with carefully substantiated citations to controlling authorities. A representative of the Research Institute o( America will conduct this workshop as an introduction to the newly acquired reference tool.

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LOCAL CHAMBER representatives named director^ of the County Chamber receive congratulations and directors pins from County Chamber president Dennis Curley, left. They Jndude incoming Lower Township Chamber president William Thomas (shaking hands) and Ruth McCormick and Joseph McTommoney of the Greater Wildwood Chamber. **

^ 'Mi' rinminTiumr iCTTEMHTeN mm sun's ELVES UEII TOWN * Oafniing Gifts to SacretKia aid Book * Making Panonal Appanrances at tta Office Pail, witti Cfnotmas Clwar * Giving Gifts of Lon to GmndcM^an, Gnndpaiants. Mom's BOatfs. * Taking Little Remamfnncas & Gel Wal Wishes to Loved Ones Confined to Hospitals ot Noising Homes * Giving Candy canes oi Special Ornaments to the TrsurimmiH> * Riding ^Ip Childmn's Wish Lists for Santa W Plesanting Gifts Inin Saciet Admens I ■. .* Defeating Surphsas fa the 1? days of Christmas ' Qlfl plck-ap — Craptiva Sift Wra|tpi*t ^ ssa-Tsas V * " ze )rs THE mourn WATC0UNTS° ' r ' a ‘

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