DeLauro, Courtney oppose proposed Anthem rate hike

Opposition to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Connecticut's proposed rate increase grew today, with two Connecticut congressmen urging Anthem to withdraw its request affecting more than 55,000 state residents.

Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, (D.-3^rd District) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D.-2^nd District) said in a joint news release that they wrote a letter to WellPoint, Anthem's Indianapolis-based parent company, detailing their concerns. They also pointed out that WellPoint reported net income of $580.4 million in the first quarter of 2009 and recorded total assets of $49.4 billion

The state's health care advocate and Attorney General Richard Blumenthal also oppose the rate request.

The Connecticut Insurance Department has indicated it considers Anthem's request too high, and that it may move to approve a much smaller amount.

An Anthem spokesman did not immediately respond to calls today for comment.

As a result of the increase, they said, the Lumenos plan that has a $1,250 deductible would get a 32 percent increase, while the Century Preferred PPO plan with a $250 annual deductible for a 30-year-old man, would see his premium jump from $264.70 a month to $326.51 (23 percent). Over the past eight years (2000 through 2007), health care premiums on average for families rose by 80.7 percent while median earnings rose by only 9.9 percent.

"We strongly urge you to reconsider your proposal to dramatically increase rates, which will put health care out of reach for thousands of Connecticut residents," DeLauro and Courtney write in the letter. "The rate increases proposed by Anthem will only cause more Connecticut residents to lose coverage -- a problem that will be made worse by the fact that those with pre-existing conditions will be unable to find affordable coverage elsewhere.''

Reader response:

"Disgusting cretins! Still made a profit and trying for more! And the other morons in this country do not want a national plan? at least people would have coverage instead of none!'' -- Kurt