A personal blog of NC Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin for folks interested in his work as state Commissioner of Insurance, North Carolina politics, history & current events, and the occasional literary reference.
For Wayne Goodwin Cutting Insurance Rates, Ordering Refunds
Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina's elected Commissioner of Insurance, has reached another cultural, personal and political milestone: He found himself referenced this week on the highly-acclaimed national news/comedy program, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. (Covered in greater written detail, inter alia, on The Progressive Pulse and here, here, and here.)
In front of many millions of TV viewers, it was said:
"We have empowered state insurance commissioners to review the rate hikes that are taking place in states. And in some states like North Carolina, they have already used it and rolled back premium increases by 25 percent."
For further context, go to prior coverage at other news and blog links here and here.
Goodwin has received further high praise and recognition for cutting health insurance rates by approximately 25% from what was filed by the insurance carrier and for ordering a return of $156 million back to 215,000+ North Carolina consumers. This is a capstone to the plethora of positive feedback the Tar Heel insurance regulator has received over the last five weeks.
And if one were to include other lines of insurance such as automobile and workers compensation, Goodwin has cut rates and saved more than $650 million and ordered refunds totalling $265+ million, plus recovered more than $25 million more for victims of insurance fraud, all for North Carolina consumers, families and small businesses in less than two years in office.
Though Not on Ballot in 2010, Statewide Elected Official Barnstorms All Over
Wayne Goodwin says he doesn't just meet consumers and voters during his election year, but each and every day.
To that end, he has picked up the pace of criss-crossing North Carolina from east to west, back and forth over the last several months.
Sometimes he's speaking to a group of 15 members of a civic club.
Another day he's bringing down the house in front of 1,000 senior citizens or small business owners at a conference.
Then there are the political events where he gets hundreds of people to respond back and engage with him as if they were in church.
And all in-between Goodwin informs, implores, cajoles, and makes his audiences laugh while proving each time that what makes him tick is good government, common sense leadership, consumer protection, transparency, doing what's right, and 21st century populism.
In the months of September and October alone, some of the Tar Heel places Insurance Commissioner Goodwin will have visited are:
*Carteret County Underwriters, Morehead City *IIANC of Charlotte/Mecklenburg *Roanoke Rapids Valley Chamber of Commerce *Southeast Raleigh *Anson County Democratic Party, Wadesboro *Piedmont Triad 2010 Aging Conference, Greensboro *Pharmacy Leaders' Forum, Greensboro *Ashe Co. Democratic Party, West Jefferson *Ashe County Homebuilders Association, Jefferson *Gibson Fire Dept, Scotland County *Employee Benefits Brokers Seminar, Charlotte *NC Retail Pharmacists Annual Mtg, Raleigh *Statewide Fire Drill/Fire Prevention Month, Cleveland Co. Fair, Shelby *Tri-Community Fire Dept., New Bern *Independent Insurance Agents of NC (IIANC) Annual Convention, Asheville *Western NC Fire Training Center, Woodfin *NC Assn of Health Underwriters - WNC (NCAHU), Asheville *Governor's Aging Conference, Research Triangle Park *NC State Fair (multiple times) *Morrison-Deane-Goodman Annual Dinner, Hamlet *East Carolina University (ECU), Greenville
Even more appearances and opportunities for citizens to meet him are slated in the coming months for coastal and eastern Carolina, as well as throughout the state.
Suffice it to say, this state insurance commissioner - heralded as the best insurance commissioner in the country in Hamlet last night by Lt. Governor Walter Dalton and one of the best state insurance regulators in the nation by the President of the United States last month - is one of the hardest working, most accessible, highest octane state officials you'll ever find.
The nation’s state insurance commissioners, meeting together today in Orlando, rejected attempts to weaken at the state level the federal health reform requirement that health insurers spend 80- 85% of the premium dollars they collect on actually providing medical care. Good for them and good for NC’s Insurance CommissionerWayne Goodwinfor supporting consumer advocates like the NC Justice Center and beating back industry efforts to weaken these standards.
AARP has just published an enlightening national article - at this link here - highlighting North Carolina's public financing of elections program, which currently involves three Council of State offices (including Insurance Commissioner) and statewide judicial races. The post focuses on two views of the program: one by Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, a proponent, and the other by State Senator Phil Berger, an opponent.(Photos by D.L. Anderson) The AARP bulletin piece, authored by Sue Price Johnson, is entitled "State Leads Trend Toward Publicly Financed Campaigns: More candidates are discovering the benefits of not relying on special interests."
Wayne Goodwin, North Carolina's Insurance Commissioner, had quite the adventure on September 22.
On the heels of his joint announcement with Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Brad Wilson two days ago, the state insurance chief responded to a request from the White House to travel to Washington, D.C., to discuss the $155.8 Million in refunds to 215,000 North Carolinians and the additional savings of $14 Million in health insurance rate reductions.
While heading into the neighboring Eisenhower Executive Office Building, he was surprised to be asked to participate in a press briefing with President Obama as a direct result of the refund news.
Further, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius - former Kansas insurance commissioner and Governor - praised Goodwin and North Carolina for such great news for Tar Heel consumers. For the occasion she asked him to sit near the front of the President's conference room.
Goodwin's most excellent adventure concluded as he was whisked to the West Wing of the White House, where he then proceeded to provide a press briefing to a bevy of national reporters and TV cameras. Coverage appeared in multiple national media outlets and various political pundit blogs, etc. The Raleigh News & Observer published an article about the day's activity. Entitled "Goodwin Basks in Spotlight of White House," reporter Alan Wolfe wrote:
Thanks to "providential" timing, N.C. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin was the center of attention at the White House today.
During a meeting of state insurance commissioners and Obama administration officials, the biggest buzz was Monday's news of Goodwin's agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. The health insurer plans to refund customers $155.8 million and raise rates less than expected.
President Obama mentioned it several times as an example of the federal health overhaul spurring positive results for consumers. He also thanked Goodwin for his work with Blue Cross and told the group: "Well done, Wayne."
"I've met presidents before, but I've never been singled out by first name at the White House," Goodwin said by phone from the Washington airport.
"It's been a pretty good week for a farm boy from Hamlet," he added. "It was thrilling, informative and surreal all at the same time."
Goodwin, who isn't up for reelection until 2012, said the timing of Monday's announcement with Blue Cross was coincidental with the White House event to mark the six months since the health reform law passed.
The Raleigh article continued:
"The timing was just providential. I'm just proud that North Carolina and Blue Cross both were recognized as leaders in protecting consumers."
Goodwin also held a press briefing on the steps outside the West Wing this afternoon. Insurance commissioners from other states continue to ask him how he orchestrated the deal with Blue Cross and whether they can negotiate similar agreements.
"This is a great win for consumers and for state-based regulation," Goodwin said.
"(Today) is the next major benchmark on health care reform implementation, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners was asked to meet with the president and his cabinet members to discuss it,” Goodwin said. “This was a bi-partisan effort, and I was able to voice some of my concerns about how important it is maintain the role of the states in regulating insurance for the consumers of America.”
Wednesday’s White House meeting came on the heels of an announcement Monday Goodwin and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina reached an agreement to refund $155.8 million to more than 215,000 individual policyholders in the state.
At Wednesday’s meeting, Goodwin said Obama lauded the effort and referred to Goodwin in a familiar tone.
... Some noted that meeting timelines for changes in the legislation would cost states significant resources, while the commissioner from North Carolina cited a benefit. Policies carrying excess contract reserves have been renegotiated at lower rates, bringing cost savings to participants, said the official, Wayne Goodwin.
The refund is a result of the White House’s health care reform, the Affordable Care Act of 2010, and is equivalent to more than 1.5 months of premiums. For the average policyholder, this means about $690.
That's not only quite a pleasant Christmas present and economic stimulus for North Carolinians, but significant enough to prompt an excellent White House adventure for this elected state insurance regulator!
North Carolina's state Commissioner of Insurance, Wayne Goodwin, today held a major press conference at his Raleigh office.
Joining him at the surprise press conference was Brad Wilson, CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.
Goodwin announced that expert actuaries in his office had discovered and determined, in the course of their regulation of the insurance company, that the federal Affordable Care Act freed up $155.8 million in contract reserves for return to policyholders.
"I strongly encouraged Blue Cross to refund all of the money back to policyholders and, after very thorough and rigorous review and negotiations, the company agreed. I commend Mr. Wilson and the BCBSNC Board of Directors for agreeing with this outcome and also the Department's proposal to reduce the rate filing Blue Cross Blue Shield had made," said Insurance Commissioner Goodwin.
He and Wilson described the day's revelations a "win-win" for policyholders and all involved.
For more information, go to the official press release from North Carolina's Department of Insurance. In part, it said:
The refunds will be issued by the end of the year to policyholders who had Blue Advantage or Blue Options HSA for Individuals policies in force as of March 23, 2010, the date the federal law was enacted. Refunds will be proportional to premiums paid and will be equivalent to more than 1.5 months of premiums. Customers may receive lower or higher amounts depending on their specific premium rates. For example, for an average policyholder's monthly premium of about $380, the refund would be approximately $690.
"I'm pleased that the Department and Blue Cross were able to identify a way for $155.8 million to go back into consumers' wallets," said Commissioner Goodwin. "I'm also glad that we were able to negotiate a lower-than-requested rate adjustment that will save $14.5 million in future premiums for policyholders."
Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin later made it clear that but for this cooperation and decision reached by the insurer and the state agency, there would have been at least two court cases, the result of which would have certainly delayed by years any refund at all.
"Having this refund now is the right thing to do now. Policyholders and households need these significant refunds without any delay," said Goodwin. "I believe our work makes for quite an economic stimulus for the State - $155.8 million is nothing to sneeze at and will help families during the upcoming holiday season and end-of-year bills coming due for hundreds of thousands of Tar Heel consumers."
"I hope other state insurance regulators across the country look into whether these same excess contract reserves exist in the holdings of health insurance companies doing business in their states," he said. "Whether $1 or an historic amount like $155.8 million as in North Carolina, perhaps consumers and policyholders in other states are due refunds, too," Goodwin posited.
And as USA TODAY reported above, "Steve Larsen, who heads insurance oversight at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said there may be others. "I really do think there may be a bigger issue at work here," he said."
North Carolina's insurance chief will ask the 2011 General Assembly for greater regulatory authority regarding health insurance.
"As our elected state Insurance Commissioner,I will continue fighting for stronger consumer protections ... Having these additions tools reinforce the value of state-based insurance regulation over purely federal regulation," concluded Goodwin.
More than 1,800 North Carolina automobile drivers insured by Allstate will receive refunds totalling $680,000, announced state Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.
"My expert staff at the Department of Insurance received a complaint from an insured driver and, after digging into the problem very diligently, determined that she was due a refund. Then we pursued our investigation even further and discovered that Allstate had made the same mistake elsewhere. As a result, more than three-quarters of a million dollars will be distributed back to 1,803 drivers in rebates averaging $378 each. Having a state-based insurance regulator and a top-notch investigative team are the cause of this big win for consumers," said Commissioner of Insurance Goodwin.
During the first half of Goodwin's first term, North Carolina consumers have saved more than $645 million due to insurance cuts and refunds.
To contact the Department about your insurance policy questions or any other matter, then call toll-free 800-546-5664 or 919-733-3058 in the Raleigh area.
Wayne Goodwin, now Chairman of the NC Democratic Party, served two 4-year terms as the elected Insurance Commissioner of North Carolina, and the State Fire Marshal. He also served four terms in the NC House of Representatives. Further, Goodwin was President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina and held countless other official capacities on the local, state and national levels. Wayne also served in the past as Assistant Commissioner of Insurance for North Carolina.
Wayne has created four successful small businesses, including two law firms and a consulting firm.
His wife, former State Representative Melanie Wade Goodwin, succeeded him in the General Assembly for three terms of her own. They have one daughter, Madison, and a son, Jackson, named respectively after the 4th and 7th U.S. Presidents.
For Wayne Goodwin Cutting Insurance Rates, Ordering Refunds
