It Figures

1 million
Enrollment in insured HMO benefit plans declined again in 2005, dropping below 1 million, the lowest level since 1985. Premium revenue increases slowed and profitability for HMOs decreased from its peak in 2004. Part One of Minnesota Managed Care Review 2006 presents these and other key market trends. The Allan Baumgartner’s 17th annual report analyzing the Minnesota health care market. Baumgart-ner, an independent Minnesota-based analyst and consultant, also publishes annual reports analyzing health care markets in several other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

$9,000
An Indiana police dog handler who was attacked by his last canine will soon have a new dog. Officer Jeff Dunscomb’s dog was fatally shot by Tippecanoe County Sheriff Smokey Anderson in July after it bit the officer during a bank robbery investigation. Dunscomb suffered injuries to both hands. Police Chief Dan Marvin told the city’s Police Merit Commission that if the $9,000 insurance payment for Dunscomb’s previous dog was not enough to buy a replacement, the department would seek grants and donations.

52 Cents
Statewide averages for the price of gasoline in Illinois and northern Indiana have increased since last month. AAA Chicago’s most recent Fuel Gauge Report estimates that in Illinois regular unleaded gasoline has increased 2 cents during the past month, forecasting an average cost of $3.15 per gallon for the month of August, which is up 52 cents per gallon from last year In northern Indiana, gas prices average $3.06, which is up 3 cents from July and up 52 cents from August 2005. In Cook County, Ill., self-serve regular unleaded gasoline averages $3.30.

222 million
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, the state’s largest insurer, has more than $222 million in reserves, enough to offer its members a break, North Dakota Insurance Commission-er Jim Poolman says. The Blues’ reserves are enough to cover more than four months of claims. He suggests the company consider a one-month premium holiday. Blue Cross Blue Shield is considering the possibility of a premium holiday, but no decision has been made yet.

43,443
Traffic deaths in the U.S. reached their highest levels since 1990, the government reported. The spike in fatalities was attributed to an increase in motorcycle and pedestrian fatalities. NHTSA said 43,443 people were killed on the highways last year, up 1.4 percent from 42,836 in 2004.