California insurance chief expands inquiry into healthcare rate hikes

[cal04]

Source: Los Angeles Times

Dave Jones says he's reviewing planned premium increases on individual policies by Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross and PacifiCare in addition to Blue Shield of California.

California's new insurance commissioner has expanded his inquiry into rate hikes by major insurers, calling on them to delay pending increases for 60 days while he examines paperwork submitted to his office.

(snip)
On Tuesday, Jones notified Aetna Inc., Anthem Blue Cross and PacifiCare that he also was focusing on them. The insurers said they could not comment because they had not seen letters sent by the commissioner.

(snip)
"The state's largest health insurers have submitted multiple premium increases for early 2011, and I am very concerned about the impact these increases will have on policyholders, especially since I have not had sufficient time to review these filings," Jones said in a statement. He took office last week.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-insure-rate-probe-20110112,0,2582395.story

[tularetom]

1. How long before Commissioner Jones is caught with a dead girl

or a live boy?

He's fucking with some serious players.

But I support him 100% (which is only twice as much as the rate increases requested by some of these insurers.)

[Tribalceltic]

2. What about other states

... like NY. and FL.

Another attack on the poor by the Corporations. That's ok though, I do not even have the $65 co-pay to see my cardiologist.

[PSPS]

3. "while he examines paperwork submitted to his office"

California's new insurance commissioner has expanded his inquiry into rate hikes by major insurers, calling on them to delay pending increases for 60 days while he examines paperwork submitted to his office.

What's with this twit? Shouldn't he have something in his job description that says he shall "examine paperwork submitted to his office?" Or is that just round filed or stamped with a rubber stamp by his bimbo secretary while he's out on the party circuit?

It says he "took office last week." Is this an elected position? Is he a republican? Can he be recalled? What an asshole.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

4. Bill Jones was part of the total Democratic sweep

from last November. He's a Democrat elected by a huge margin and will be a great commissioner. He is trying to put the brakes on insurance companies here raising their premium rates by outrageous amounts like Anthem tried to do last year. We definitely don't need him to be recalled - he's going to ride herd on these greedy bastards. I'm glad my family and I voted for him and glad he won.

[KeepItReal]

5. Calm down. Dave Jones is one of the good guys and just got the job.

BTW, he doesn't have the legal authority to deny the rate increases AT ALL. That's how much the system is messed up.

He's going to review the paperwork and try to bring attention to the Insurance Companies "justification" for these atrocious rate increase requests.