Quote:

---

The woman described only as “Bette in Spokane” during a nationally televised address by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said Wednesday she had no idea her frustrations over increasing insurance premiums would become part of the Republican attack on health care reform.

But the “nearly $700 per month” increase in her premium that McMorris Rodgers cited in Tuesday night’s GOP response to the State of the Union address was based on one of the pricier options, a $1,200-a-month replacement plan that was pitched by Asuris Northwest to Grenier and her husband, Don.

The carrier also offered a less expensive, $1,052-per-month option in lieu of their soon-to-be-discontinued catastrophic coverage plan. And, Grenier acknowledged the couple probably could have shaved another $100 a month off the replacement policy costs by purchasing them from the state’s online portal, the Health Plan Finder website, but they chose to avoid the government health exchanges.

In Olympia, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler didn’t dismiss the possibility but was skeptical that someone would have no choice but to pay $700 per month more for a policy that meets the Affordable Care Act’s coverage requirements.

Kreidler, interviewed before Grenier’s identity had been learned, said he hoped “Bette in Spokane” would contact his office so he could help make sure she’s aware of all of the options available to her.

McMorris Rodgers’ office provided no explanation Wednesday on what steps were taken to verify the figures.

Grenier, contacted Wednesday evening at her home, said she didn’t know McMorris Rodgers had mentioned her insurance travails during the GOP rebuttal. “That probably was me she was referring to,” Grenier said. “A guy from her office called me last week but I never called him back.” http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jan/30/bette-in-spokane-cited-in
-mcmorris-rodgers-speech/

---