Albertans who rely on Blue Cross for medical coverage are about to be hit with a big increase to their premiums.
Starting July 1, 2009, premiums for a single person will jump from $20.50/month to $41/month.
Premiums for a family will jump from $41/month to $82/month.
There is also another big increase on the way in July 2010 when single premiums will rise to $63.50/month and family premiums will hit $118/month.
Blue Cross premiums have been the same since 1993 and the government said its fallen well behind with health care costs, and what insurance companies charge.
"Quite honestly the tax payer, you and I are subsidizing that none group plan and I believe that we should not be subsidizing that none group plan," said Health Minister Ron Liepert.
Friends of Medicare started petitioning against the changes, which also include a new model for seniors drug coverage.
"It determines a person coverage based on how much money they have or else they have to shell out the difference," said Dave Eggen with Friends of Medicare.
Starting next year, seniors will pay according to how much their annual income is, and if a seniors' income is just over $36,000 they will pay $1,000 for drugs before the government picks up any cost.
More than 4000 seniors have signed the petition asking for the government to cancel the changes and keep the current system in place.
Liepert said that while many have expressed their concerns, there is no guarantee that every government plan that exists today will exist forever.
The public can access the petition by clicking here.
It's estimated that 100,000 Albertan utilize Blue Cross services.
With files from Kevin Armstrong and CTV Calgary
