Anthem plan for rate hike denied by state

AUGUSTA – The superintendent of Maine’s Bureau of Insurance on Friday denied rate increases sought by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine.

Anthem’s proposal would have increased rates in January by an average of 7.1 percent for the 28,000 consumers of its HealthChoice program, which covers individuals. The request also called for a 25.2 percent hike for about 200 Individual HMO policyholders.

“After a thorough review of the filing and information presented at the three-day public hearing, we determined that a lower rate increase is more appropriate,” Superintendent Alessandro Iuppa said.

The agency said an average increase of 3.3 percent for HealthChoice and 11.5 percent for the HMO products was likely under a revised filing by Anthem.

Iuppa said he does not have the authority to approve a rate different from the one requested by Anthem. The insurer would have to revise its request by Nov. 18 in order to raise rates by Jan. 1.

Anthem’s request followed two consecutive years of double-digit rate increases for the two plans.

Anthem is the state’s largest private health insurer, with 302,000 members.

Anthem Insurance Cos., a for-profit company based in Indianapolis, acquired the nonprofit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine in 2000.