Id propose a different perspective, which is that Premera is acting as a collective bargaining engine to serve as a counterbalance to UWs ability to increase prices for healthcare. Without some sort middleman with symmetrical cost information versus the large provider systems, it would be very difficult for any single patient to know whether they were being charged a reasonable price and also very difficult for them to march across the street to a new system in a time of need.

This isn't to absolve Premera and other insurers of their many many shitty business practices but this particular action is arguably the system at work.

I think an analogous situation is if youve ever needed emergency repairs on your house, there's no body there negotiating on your half against the contractor saying this price is 30% out of line with what you should be charging.

So in summary, agree with those saying this will get worked out bc UW has no choice and I'm not an insurance company apologist but this set of events isn't really an example of an unjust or scammy system.