1553 Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Direct Pay ClassicBlue Hospital Plan (Western region); rate filing

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Direct Pay ClassicBlue Hospital Plan (Western Region); Rate Filing

[38 Pa.B. 4701]
[Saturday, August 23, 2008]

   By filing No. 1A-CPE-08-HBCBS, Highmark, Inc., d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, requests approval to increase the premium rates for its Direct Pay ClassicBlue Hospital Plan (Western Region). The filing requests an average increase of about 8.9% or $31.12 per contract per month. This will affect about 1,200 contract-holders and produce additional premium income of about $444,000 annually. For HIPAA and HCTC eligibles, the filing requests an average increase of about 3.2% or $13.07 per contract per month. This will affect an estimated 700 contract-holders and produce additional premium income of about $108,000 annually. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2009.

   Unless formal administrative action is taken prior to November 6, 2008, the subject filing may be deemed approved by operation of law.

   A copy of the filing is available on the Insurance Department's (Department) web site at www.ins. state.pa.us. To access the filing, under ''Quick Links'' click on ''Rate Filings Published in the PA Bulletin.''

   A copy of the filing is also available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal working hours at the Department's Harrisburg Regional office.

   Interested parties are invited to submit written or email comments, suggestions or objections to Cherri Sanders-Jones, Insurance Department, Insurance Product Regulation, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [e-mail] within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

JOEL SCOTT ARIO,   
Insurance Commissioner

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-1553. Filed for public inspection August 22, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]