Enough to efficiently operate and continue providing adequate coverage to members, but not an exorbitant amount of revenue, the price of which is passed on to members in higher annual rates.

I doesn't matter how much Insurance companies make. It's a business like any other business, which is to be profitable. My concern is fairness in rates. For example, why after 6 months in coverage, is my now 10-month-old son's rate increasing $7? BCBS justifies the increase because of the cost of obesity in America? That's right folks! BCBS stated that my son should pay for "fat" America. Is this justice?

Why isn't health insurance a non-profit? Call me a socialist, but I think we should take care of each other and not pay for business people to run this program at a profit that is not monitored by the community.

Health insurance companies don't provide the health care. They provide protection against the cost of health care. Maybe the real question should be "What is a reasonable profit margin for a health care provider?".

BCBSNC is a non-profit. There are other health insurance companies out there that are not non-profit but BCBSNC is.

I feel that the bonuses and pay given to BCBS employees was criminal this year. In a year with such a poor economic outlook and high unemployement, our rates increased. State employees did not get raises (not even cost of living), yet our health care benefits decreased in coverage, deductibles increased, and cost increased with fewer choices, and some how BCBS CEO received over 1 million dollars. I am not sure how the math works, but as a health care worker I know I did not see the money but insurance companies did.

A reasonable profit should be expected but when the CEOs, etc. are getting millions of dollars and their customers aren't able to pay for health care... is this reasonable?

You go, girl! I find it criminal and how do people live with themselves and their over-inflated egos that they "deserve" these bonuses!

I understand your frustration however some of your angry is being directed in the wrong direction. The State of NC makes all the plan decisions on the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees. They decide on the premiums, benefits offered, etc, not BCBSNC. The premiums that State employees pay for the dependents is not paid to BCBSNC, it is paid to the State of NC to be used by the State to pay claims. Any BCBSNC employees that received a bonus in 2010 did not receive it from profits made from the State Health Plan. I am sorry that State employees work so hard for so little money in a thankless job (all of them it seems) and you don't even get raises anymore. I appreciate what you all do for the State.

I don't mind a modest markup on services. That's just good economics. It's the $600 ibuprofen and $400 crutches (the same pair costs $60 at the local drugstore) that infuriate me. Stop gouging me to cover somen else's unpaid claims.

Nobody should get bonuses if the customers are getting rate hikes for "bad economics."

Stop punishing people who pay to cover illegal aliens

Let's be honest here...does it really make any difference to corporations what we think?? We are "punished" for those who don't have insurance..for turning a certain age...for items that Dr's order for us that can be purchased much cheaper through e-bay(this is so the dr. not only makes $$ off of the office visit, he/she also makes $$ from inflating the price of the item, and passes that on to the insurance company, and they pay it!!). And the dr's who charge for office procedures that are not necessary, but can make more money off of insurance companies as well as Medicare. It's enough to make you sick!

How is this any different than any other industry. The CEO of BP and Exxon Mobil are making millions and millions, but its expense for the rest of us to fill our tank of gas.

They are a non-profit, but that only means they're restricted in how they use their profits; it doesn't mean they can't turn a profit. In the past they've used profits to pay huge bonuses to their higher-ups while simultaneously raising premiums. (I don't have the reference in front of me, but it is known fact; they've been in trouble with the state.)