The state insurance Commissioner Thomas Sullivan has been called upon by state representatives to investigate insurance rate hikes at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Anthem recently withdrew its request for a 39 percent rate increase for plans it operates in California after that state”™s regulators cited incorrect data and assumptions used and made by Anthem to justify its proposed rate hike.
That initial attempt to up premiums in the spring turned Anthem into a national target for outrage over insurance company profits and gave the Obama administration fuel for reason to pass health care legislation. The insurer backed down after an independent consultant for California’s insurance commissioner found numerous errors in its rate plan.
Connecticut U.S. Reps. Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, John Larson, Chris Murphy and Jim Himes sent a letter to Sullivan calling for his office to investigate insurance rate increases requested by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Anthem declined to comment on the issue of allegedly unjustified rate hikes.
Anthem, with its state location in North Haven, made similar requests in Connecticut, and although the largest requests were rejected, increases of as much as 20 percent were approved. The representatives”™ letter is essentially trying to make sure the same type of faulty rate hikes from California are not being made here. The audit was also recommended by federal Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.?“The landmark health reform law we passed will force health insurance companies to compete, increasing the likelihood that consumers will be able to avoid unjustified rate increases,” said DeLauro. “In the meantime, we must act to prevent insurance companies from taking advantage of our residents. It is essential that this review is conducted to determine if Anthem’s rate increases were fairly presented.”
Sullivan”™s office is currently reviewing the audit request.
