Double Talk and Price of Health Care

The facts and figures quoted in “Most California HMOs, Insurers Plan Rate Hikes” [June 5] speak to many of the problems found within the California health insurance marketplace. The premium on my policy with Blue Cross of California, a $2,000-deductible plan, will increase by 25.15% in July. This exceeds the inflationary costs described in the article by a significant margin. Why the discrepancy?

Doctors and their patients are becoming more and more upset with the major players in the health-care field. Most health insurance companies complain about all manner of things but dole out esoteric double talk when specificity of actual costs, losses and operating expenses are requested by the public. What ever happened to plain answers?

PETER N. KARP, Carlsbad