Kaiser is asking for a 5% increase but the formula includes many variables, leaving us with much more than this single digit increase. We have endured 20% and 27% premium hikes just in the last two years. http://insurance.oregon.gov/health_report/3458-health_report-2012.pdf The January 2012 "Health Insurance in Oregon" report on page 56 shows Kaiser's surplus since 1998. In 2010 the Oregon Health Division stated Kaiser's minimum surplus as $84.7 million. Kaiser's actual surplus was $500 million. Why is it OK to give insured increases while Kaiser's surplus' are multiples of the minimum required? Kaiser's surplus for the year ending June 2011 was $530.8 million. Kaiser's surplus has increased each year since 1998. So how are they losing money? Kaiser has a three year depreciation schedule on equipment and computers. Isn't it reasonable to say that this is too short a period for depreciation? While small businesses can expense the full amount of some equipment the year it is placed in service there are limits. Many businesses would lose money on paper if most of their equipment was fully depreciated in three years. Every year we pay more in premiums. We accept more responsibility for our health care costs with increased co-pays, deductibles and out of pocket maximums which are mutually exclusive. We do 'not' have pharmaceutical coverage but do enjoy dental. There is much to be done on Kaiser's end to lower costs and I would appreciate you helping to make that happen by not allowing this increase. Soon there will be many of us uninsured. Can you afford to pay $1380 per month?

Please deny this rate increase. Common sense would denote understanding the profits earned by Kaiser has far surpassed that the average US worker income. We need affordable health care and reasonable business profits supported by the governmental agencies that exist for the people, by the people.

Kaiser got an unwaranted and outrageous increase in rates last year. They would only insure my wife under their Silver plan that had a $2,500 co-pay,a $7000 annual "maximum" and they still are asking for more from us even though my wifes bills satisified both of these "limits". Rediculeous!!! And tshen, this year her premium went from $233 two years ago, to $263 last year and then to $294 this year where the so-called "limits" "out of pocket and annual maximum" have been raised to a totalof $12500. And they want more??? I would tell them to cut the salaries of their actuaries and those that make up these rediculeous requests.I believe it is just another attempt to raise their rates as an answer to the Federal Insurance program and the Oregon program recently passed by the legislature.

A rate increase by Kaiser might be the straw that breaks my back.Insurance for myself & my wife is already $1100.00 a month and I'm on Soc. Sec.

Small employers have a tough enough time without the insurance industry balancing their budgets on the small employers backs. Please deny this request from Kaiser for a rate increase.