The Pennsylvania Insurance Department has had its authority over insurance rates for small employer health care policies expanded this week. On Thursday, Governor Tom Corbett signed Senate Bill 1336 into law, giving regulators the power to adjust the insurance rates in the small group market. For the first time, state insurance regulators will be able to review and disapprove new rate proposals coming from insurers. They will also be able to require insurers to justify their need for a rate increase and demand changes if necessary. Insurance Commissioner Mike Consedine…
Read MoreTag: Pennsylvania insurance
Senator Casey appeals to PA Insurance Commissioner Consedine for better sinkhole damage coverage for homeowners
United States Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), has addressed Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine, of Pennsylvania, and has asked for assistance for homeowners in covering themselves against the devastation that can be caused by sinkholes. What Senator Casey has called for is the help of the insurance industry to make homeowners more aware of what overage they have to protect them against the cost of sinkhole damages in the event that one should occur. In order to make this request, Senator Casey sent a letter to Commissioner Consedine, which said that all…
Read MoreNew legislation in Pennsylvania could give the state’s Insurance Commissioner new power
Pennsylvania’s Insurance Commissioner may soon be getting more authority to influence the terms of health insurance policies as a new bill gains approval from the state’s Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The bill would allow the commissioner to extend terms of contracts formed between Highmark Inc., one of the state’s largest insurance companies, and UPMC, a health care provider. The Commissioner would also gain the power to affect policies coming from Highmark, requiring the insurer to make changes if necessary. Both Highmark and UPMC have been unable to reach an…
Read MorePennsylvania insurance bill has consumer advocates on edge
A new bill passed in Pennsylvania has consumer advocacy groups a little worried about the state’s future health insurance program. The bill in question was passed by the state Senate on Wednesday requires all health insurers in the state to submit their rate proposals to regulators for review if they are seeking increases of 10% or higher. While legislators claim that more regulations will help ensure insurance companies do not enact excessive rate increased, consumer advocacy group Pennsylvania Health Access Network, says that the bill compromises the protections of small…
Read MoreFederal insurance regulators reject rate increase proposal from Everence Insurance of Pennsylvania
The Department of Health and Human Services has exercised one of the new authorities it has been granted under the Affordable Care Act this week. The agency has denied a rate proposal request from Everence Insurance of Pennsylvania. This marks the first time the agency has made use of its new authority over the nation’s insurance companies. Everence Insurance must now rework their rate proposal so that it aligns with what the HHS defines as reasonable. Earlier this year, Everence submitted a rate increase proposal to the Pennsylvanian Department of…
Read More
