Sebelius warns states to check WellPoint hikes

[cal04]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100505/ap_on_bi_ge/us_sebelius_wellpoint_letter

The Obama administration threw another jab at the country's largest health insurer on Wednesday by asking state regulators to double-check WellPoint Inc. premium hikes after an audit found problems with proposed California increases.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said in a letter to state governors and insurance commissioners they should re-examine any WellPoint rate increases in their states "to the extent you have authority to do so."

"Even small errors can mean unaffordable premiums for policyholders," said the letter, which was released by the secretary's office Wednesday.

An HHS statement that accompanied the letter said auditors found "unreasonable assumptions" behind plans by WellPoint's California subsidiary, Anthem Blue Cross, to raise individual insurance rates as much as 39 percent for some customers.

[DURHAM D]

1. "Warned". The only tool in the Feds tool box. How damn sad. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

2. Kicking