The leading provider of California health insurance, Anthem Blue Cross is threatening a 39% premium hike on individual health insurance policies. This premium increase is catching a lot of intention. This includes the President, Congress, Senate, and of course California health insurance regulators. The government wants to know why such a large increase in premiums and wants Anthem Blue Cross to justify this rate action.
Anthem Blue Cross blames the rate action on increased medical costs and a loss of members due to the recession. There is a thought that because of Obama Care a.ka. health care reform that Anthem is trying to squeeze as much profits out of California health insurance members in case the health care reform bill does pass. If the bill were to pass their profits will drop significantly.