1500 Highmark Inc.; requested rate increase for the direct pay Medicare supplemental medical surgical portion of security 65 programs; filing no. 200219

Highmark Inc.; Requested Rate Increase for the Direct Pay Medicare Supplemental Medical Surgical Portion of Security 65 Programs; Filing No. 200219

[32 Pa.B. 4213]

   Highmark, Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield requests approval to increase premium rates for its Direct Pay Medicare Supplement (Security 65) Programs in the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross plan areas. The filing requests an average increase of 5.2% of current premium, an average of $3.69 per contract per month. This will affect approximately 108,000 contract holders and produce additional premium income of approximately $4.8 million per year. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2003.

   The actual requested rates for medical surgical portion effective January 1, 2003, are as follows:

Security 65	Independence	Blue Cross of
Plans A, B, H	Blue Cross	Northeastern PA
First Eligibility	$ 79.85	$56.75
Late Entry:    65--69	$ 79.85	$56.75
Late Entry:    70--79	$ 92.45	$66.00
Late Entry:    80 and over	$103.60	$73.95
Security 65 Plan C
First Eligibility	$ 87.80	$64.40
Late Entry:    65--69	$ 87.80	$64.40
Late Entry:    70--79	$100.40	$73.65
Late Entry:    80 and over	$111.55	$81.60

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

   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. 02-1500. Filed for public inspection August 23, 2002, 9:00 a.m.]