1188 Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Access Care II community rated group rate increase; filing no. 464-ACII-CR10/1/2000

INSURANCE DEPARTMENT

Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Access Care II Community Rated Group Rate Increase; Filing No. 464-ACII-CR-10/1/2000

[30 Pa.B. 3538]

   Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield submitted a filing requesting the Insurance Department's (Department) approval to increase rates for the Community Rated Group Access Care II program to be effective October 1, 2000. The requested rate increases for the fourth quarter, 2000 are 9.4% (Hospital Portion), 41.5% (Drug Rider) and 41.8% (Medical/Surgical Portion). The other quarterly rate increases will vary based on quarterly indexes. The rate increase will affect approximately 4,100 policyholders and will produce additional annual income of $5.1 million. To adequately keep pace with the emerging medical care cost trends, which are significantly higher than those projected in last year's approved filing, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Blue Shield are also requesting the Department's approval of revised rates for September 1, 2000 groups with 2-50 eligible contracts. The new proposed September 1, 2000 rates were developed by indexing backward one quarter from the proposed October 1, 2000 rates using the quarterly trend factors identified in the rate filing.

   Copies of the filing are available for public inspection during normal working hours, by appointment, at the Department's office in Harrisburg.

   Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections to Bharat Patel, Actuary, Insurance Department, Accident and Health Bureau, Office of Rate and Policy Regulation, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

M. DIANE KOKEN,   
Insurance Commissioner

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-1188. Filed for public inspection July 7, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]