Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Direct Pay ClassicBlue Hospital Plan (Western Region); Rate Filing [35 Pa.B. 2479] By Filing No. 1A-CPE-05-HBCBS, Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield requests approval to increase its premium rates for its Direct Pay ClassicBlue Hospital Plan (Western Region). The filing requests an average increase of about 9.9% or $32.12 per contract per month. This will affect about 4,100 contract holders and produce additional annual premium income of about $1.572 million. For HIPAA and HCTC eligibles, the filing requests an average increase of about 1.5% or $6.60 per contract per month. This will affect an estimated 900 contract holders and produce additional annual premium income of about $72,000. The filing also adjusts the relativities between contract types to be consistent with Highmark's other programs; thus some contract holders may receive rate adjustments that are less than or greater than the average. The requested effective date of the change is September 1, 2005.
A copy of the filing is available on the Insurance Department's (Department) website at www.ins. state.pa.us. Under the Quick Links section, click on the link ''Rate Filings Published in the PA Bulletin.''
Copies of the filing are also available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal working hours at the Department's regional office in Harrisburg.
Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections to Rashmi Mathur, Actuary, Bureau of Accident and Health Insurance, Insurance Department, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120 within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
M. DIANE KOKEN,
Insurance Commissioner[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-792. Filed for public inspection April 22, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]
