More than 100 Dem lawmakers want answers on health insurance rates

[babylonsister]

Dem lawmakers want answers on health insurance rates
By Mike Soraghan - 11/18/09 02:58 PM ET


More than 100 Democratic lawmakers are demanding that the health insurance industry explain reports that companies are raising rates sharply in advance of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul.

The industry has already drawn the ire of Democratic legislators during the healthcare debate, most notably when its trade association, America's Health Insurance Plans, released a study critical of healthcare legislation the day before a key committee vote.

The letter is addressed to the trade group and its president and CEO, Karen Ignani. The letter says insurers are proposing to increase premiums for customers across the country by an alarming 15 percent, double the rate of increase from last year. It says such increases will stunt job creation and economic growth as the nation tries to dig itself out of a recession.

"Small businesses and hard-working Americans deserve to know why they will be subjected to such unusual and significant increases in health care premiums," the letter said, "and we ask that you submit to Congress a detailed explanation of the planned rate hikes."

The insurance group responded that the increases are in line with the rising costs of medical care, and say changes are needed in the system to bring down costs.

(babsis: :wtf: changes are needed to bring down costs, so you raise them first???)

more...

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/68411-dem-lawmakers-want-answers-on-health-insurance-rates