Here's something else the Dems might well consider when they return from August recess.

[flpoljunkie]

(Pass the Feinstein and Schakowsky bills to regulate insurance rates. Emphasis mine.)

Healthcare overhaul won't stop premium increases

The new law doesn't prevent rate hikes such as Anthem Blue Cross' double-digit increase last year. 'It is a very big loophole,' says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is pushing regulatory legislation.

April 13, 2010
By Noam N. Levey

Reporting from Washington — Public outrage over double-digit rate hikes for health insurance may have helped push President Obama's healthcare overhaul across the finish line, but the new law does not give regulators the power to block similar increases in the future.

And now, with some major companies already moving to boost premiums and others poised to follow suit, millions of Americans may feel an unexpected jolt in the pocketbook.

Although Democrats promised greater consumer protection, the overhaul does not give the federal government broad regulatory power to prevent increases.

Many state governments -- which traditionally had responsibility for regulating insurance companies -- also do not have such authority. And several that do are now being sued by insurance companies.

"It is a very big loophole in health reform," Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said. Feinstein and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) are pushing legislation to expand federal and state authority to prevent insurance companies from boosting rates excessively.

At least in the short term, regulators will be able to do little more than require insurers to publicly explain why they want to raise rates. Consumer advocates think that will not be an effective deterrent against premium increases such as the 39% hike that Anthem Blue Cross sent some California customers last year.

more...

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/13/nation/la-na-health-premiums13-2010apr13

A very big and unacceptable loophole. Bill were introduced on March 4, 2010, and sit in committee. Feinstein introduced the companion bill in the Senate.

H.R.4757

Title: Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010
Sponsor: Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (27)
Related Bills: S.3078
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

[babylonsister]

1. Looks like an interim solution might have been found-grants

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=388&topic_id=24855&mesg_id=24855

HCR Update: Grants Provided to States to Slow Large Health Insurance Premium Increases

Grants Provided to States to Slow Large Health Insurance Premium Increases

All Americans should have access to high-quality, affordable health care. We can’t let the rising cost of health care continue to bankrupt our families, businesses and government. We have to take steps to make health care more affordable, and enhance the quality of care our families are receiving.

I am pleased to report that the Affordable Care Act is helping to do this for Washingtonians in a very important way. Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced new resources aimed at ensuring that Washington and other States have the tools they need to hold insurance companies accountable and put a halt to unreasonable premium increases. The announcement of $46 million in grants to the States to help conduct rate reviews, a process that requires insurers to submit their proposed health insurance premium increases to State Insurance Departments for review before they go into effect, is an incredibly important step forward in reforming the health insurance marketplace.

Rate review has worked here in Washington State – rates for some individual health plans in Washington increased by up to 40 percent until we stepped in to impose stiffer premium oversight. The new resources provided through these grants will enhance our ability to crack down on unjustified rate hikes by insurance companies.

more...

[flpoljunkie]

2. Will this do 'little more than require insurers to publicly explain why they want to raise rates?'

The program sounds promising. Yet, healthcare premiums have increased all over the country this year. Are these increases being reviewed? And, can they be rolled back? Diane Feinstein is still signing up cosponsors for her bill to regulate insurance rates.

S.3078
Title: Health Insurance Rate Authority Act of 2010
Sponsor: Sen Feinstein, Dianne (introduced 3/4/2010) Cosponsors (12)
Related Bills: H.R.4757
Latest Major Action: 3/4/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
COSPONSORS(12), BY DATE : (Sort: alphabetical order)

Sen Boxer, Barbara - 3/4/2010
Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon - 3/4/2010
Sen Reed, Jack - 3/4/2010
Sen Sanders, Bernard - 3/4/2010
Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - 4/21/2010
Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. - 5/5/2010
Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. - 5/13/2010
Sen Burris, Roland - 5/18/2010
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. - 5/24/2010
Sen Kaufman, Edward E. - 7/12/2010
Sen Inouye, Daniel K. - 7/12/2010
Sen Menendez, Robert - 7/27/2010