Claiming it's losing money on individual policies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan was approved for a 22% rate hike on premiums a few days ago. In an example that shows how bizzare our health care system is in this nation, the rate hike was hailed as a victory by state officials since the company had originally requested hikes of 56 percent for nongroup rates and 41 percent for group-conversion rates.

Consumers who buy their own medical insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will see their monthly premiums rise in October by an average 22 percent.

State insurance regulators approved Blue Cross's request Thursday to hike rates for about 163,000 people who buy the insurer's nongroup or group conversion plans. The decision comes after the state's largest insurer struck a deal last week with Attorney General Mike Cox to seek lower increases than originally proposed in January.

Additionally, Blue Cross won approval from state regulators for an average 4.7 percent interim increase on its supplemental Medicare policies, known as Medigap, which are held by about 210,000 seniors.

Insurance commissioner Ken Ross ruled that Blue Cross had proved it needs the interim increase to stave off losses.

Blue Cross, however, will continue to seek its original request of an average 31 percent rate hike on three Medigap plan options. The insurance commission is expected to make a final decision on Nov. 6.

Here is the excuse Blue Cross gave for the hike request:

"Because of financial losses and the prospect of a lengthy rate-setting process, we determined new rates were needed sooner rather than later," said Blues spokesman Andrew Hetzel.

"We sympathize with our individual members -- particularly those who live on fixed incomes or who have lost jobs. Blue Cross wants to continue providing affordable coverage. But we need a regulatory system that works."

Blue Cross said it continues to lose money on its individual insurance business, a worrisome trend because state law requires each of its insurance lines to be "self-sustaining."

Meanwhile, commercial insurers, which aren't regulated as strictly as tax-exempt Blue Cross, are able to raise rates annually and in line with increasing costs.

And, to be clear, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is considered once of the "good" parasites being the non-profit insurer of last resort and thus heavily regulated by the state.

Can we please have single payer, now?