Health insurance execs plead case for rate hikes

July 27--HARRISBURG -- With Independence Blue Cross and other health insurers seeking significant rate hikes for individual plans for next year, company executives appeared Wednesday morning before the state regulators who have to sign off on their requests.

Blue Cross wants to raise rates from 19.9 to 22.5 percent, according to the state Insurance Department, and Highmark companies, 48.1 percent. Other requests include Aetna Health Inc.'s 17.2 percent, and UPMC, 0.9 to 16.2 percent.

The department estimates that about 5 percent of Pennsylvania health insurance customers have coverage through individual plans.

While describing the proposed increases as large, Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller said they are not unique to Pennsylvania.

Arthur Lucker, an actuary with INS Companies, said the consulting firm is seeing an average increase of about 22.5 percent in states where it is reviewing rates.

Regulators must approve rates before policies can be sold to consumers. The Insurance Department is scheduled to announce its determinations in October, ahead of the Nov. 1 start of the open enrollment period.

Antoinette Kraus, director of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, urged the department in a statement to ensure rates are fair.

Karen Langley: klangley@post-gazette.com, 717-787-2141, @karen_langley.

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