With the "average premium increase" of about 10% over the past few years, I would rather pay now than later - I think the math would work better this way. However, I don't see how an insurer could do this without approval from the Insurance Commissioner. Perhaps the IC would welcome that to help alleviate "average premium increases" of 10% annually.

If I could pay 1-3% more now to ensure no rate increase for 2 years why not let me pay 5% more and lock my rate for 5 years?

2 years isn't enough for me to choose to do this unless I have some expectation of high rate increases in that time period. Offer to lock it in for 5 years and I'd choose to pay more now. As myvoice said, 5% now for 5 years locked would be great. Also, what exactly is the definition of "2 years" here? Rates typically increase each year and not mid-year. So, does 2 years mean that my rates won't go up next year (it's within the 2 years), but could increase the second year because that's technically the end of the 2 year time period? Or does it mean that I am guaranteed not to have increases for next year and the year after? If the first is the case, then you're really only getting a one year "break" instead of two. That can very easily be misunderstood and isn't far from false advertising.

If that doesn't make sense, this is just to explain it better. If it made sense, ignore this. :) Let's say my insurance year begins on January 1, just to make it easy. If this were something like cable tv, a two year rate lock would be in effect from Jan 1 2011 until Dec 31 2012. With cable tv, that's two years because they increase rates anytime of the year. With insurance, the rates would increase each year at the same time, so by Jan 1 2013, the 2 years would technically be over. That could mean that only the Jan 1 2012 rate increase is skipped. That's where the clarification would be necessary.

In any case, 2 years still isn't enough for me unless I expect a large increase in that time period regardless of the definition of "2 years". And 5 years would work for me regardless of whether that really means 4 years or if it really means 5 years.

Really people? Why would you pay 1 - 3% more for a few years only to have it jump 10 to 20% after 2 or 3 years?

I think you need to reconsider your answers.

I'm definitely not going to pay more so the answer is no for me.

I would rather have gradual increases, if they were to happen at all. But I don't trust that a for profit insurance company will fulfill such a guarantee. While the premium may stay the same I think that fees and copays would increase.

Funny, my premiums have gone up over $100 in the past 3 years, and now you want to charge more??? Like any of this matters, BCBS is going to do whatever they feel like, and raise your rates regardless.

No

I totally agree. Also, I don't trust you.

easy. NO

no

no because it will still go up and you have paid already. A bird in the hand is with 2 in the bush.