A few hundred protesters, with some donned in pirate outfits, rallied Saturday outside Regence BlueShield's headquarters and called on the Seattle-based insurer to reverse course after raising individual rates an average 19 percent last month.

"We are here to demand an end to insurance piracy," said Maribel Peralez, a Lynnwood resident and one of the speakers during the 45-minute morning rally.

The co-called "Pirates of the Health Care-ibbean" protest began with a march from Seattle University, and it included churches, labor unions, health-care providers and advocates. Demonstrators also called for universal health care.

It was spurred by Regence's decision to increase individual plans in July, with some policyholders seeing rates increase more than 40 percent at the same time the company has $890 million in capital and surplus funds. The state Insurance Commissioner has no authority to review rates.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/326...

I wish I'd known about this rally. I have to pay for my own insurance and this increase is just horrible.