INSURE THIS!

You may have read the news reports that an increase in insurance rates was coming and that it could be as high as 39%. My cousin, Richard - this is my weekly golf guru - informs me that he just received a rate increase from Blue Shield of exactly 39%. He got the full Monty. His monthly rate will rise from $700 to $1,000. In addition, he has - are you sitting down? - a $7,000 deductible. So Richard, his wife and two insured children will have to spend $19,000 before Blue Shield coughs up a dime.

I'm not sure if this is the "change" we were promised. I was hoping for better.