Health Consumers Pay

While The Times praised Blue Cross for allowing doctors to stress care and not costs (editorial, July 11), it failed to mention that it is the consumer who will pay for this new “enlightened attitude” of the company. My premiums are going up by one-third in August! Now I must choose between other basics or a lesser plan. Maybe The Times should have figured out who was footing the bill before praising Blue Cross so highly. It’s just another excuse to raise premiums. And they are already saying that if the patients’ bill of rights is passed, the premiums will skyrocket. Pretty soon consumers will get everything we’ve always wanted from a health plan, except we won’t be able to afford it.

Ellen Violette

Studio City