Kasunic wants more insured
State Sen. Richard A. Kasunic is recommending that some of the $4 billion-plus Blue Cross/Blue Shield surplus be used to make more low-income workers eligible for health insurance. Kasunic recently made the recommendation in public comments to Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken.
“I find it uncanny that supposedly non-profit health-care plans are hoarding massive surpluses while over a million low-income workers cannot afford any health-care coverage at all,” Kasunic said.
As chairman of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, Kasunic has spearheaded statewide hearings this summer on Pennsylvania’s growing health insurance crisis.
In his letter to Koken, he said that during Highmark’s merger in 1996, the company was required to provide 1.25 percent of all premiums to charitable purposes.
To date, Highmark has not produced any evidence to suggest that they are complying with that mandate, Kasunic said.
Kasunic also called upon the insurance commissioner to order the other three “Blue” plans to provide a portion of their premium revenue for charitable purposes, mainly helping insure more uninsured families.
“I trust that you will address this issue of non-compliance and see that any excess surplus is utilized as a remedy,” Kasunic wrote to Koken. “In light of the eight years of non-compliance with the Insurance Department order, I think it may be appropriate to reconsider the 1.25 percent and consider a sizable upward adjustment for Highmark and the three other plans in Pennsylvania.
“Their charitable obligations will undoubtedly help address the plight of the 1.4 million uninsured and the 100,000 currently on the adult basic waiting list.”
Kasunic added that providing health insurance coverage for more low-income workers and their families would “help bring uncompensated care and other health-care costs down.”