Medical Expenses

[Alby]

I received an email from my provider in May wishing me a happy birthday, another a few minutes later advising of the normal 2ish% monthly premium increase and then, when I scrolled to the bottom, the new amount, which was not 2ish% but instead 70% higher. They do this when you complete a birthday ending in 0 or 5. (I'm not sure why your increase happened after a birthday ending in 4). I queried it with the provider, but there was no scope for negotiation. Indeed, they told me that even dropping down to the next lesser plan would barely change the premium. My (paid) AI told me the new rate was similar to that which the competitors would charge me. My AI tells me that once we have held our policies for 10 years, the provider can no longer hit us up with these massive age-related increases. So hang in there for another five years.