December 4th, 2008

The latest in the Philadephia Inquirer’s series on the health insurance crisis tells the story of Linda Carruthers, age 62, who was recently informed by Independence Blue Cross that her health insurance premium will increase by 45% in January.

Reports Michael Vitez:

Her husband of 37 years, a teacher, died four years ago. She is insured through a group HMO plan, for retired teachers and spouses ages 55 to 64, with the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System.

Carruthers lives on $15,360 a year in Social Security and $10,000 she withdraws from her IRA.

She said she believed strongly in paying for insurance but felt “the system is broken.”

Visit the Inquirer to read Carruther’s full story.