1717 Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; direct pay medical/surgical products rate increase for Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross plan areas; rate filing no. 200321

Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield; Direct Pay Medical/Surgical Products Rate Increase for Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross Plan Areas; Rate Filing No. 200321

[33 Pa.B. 4374]

   Highmark Inc. d/b/a Highmark Blue Shield requests approval to increase rates for Direct Pay Medical/Surgical programs in Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Independence Blue Cross plan areas. The filing requests an overall increase of approximately 11.2%. Increases will vary from 4.2% to 15.6% by plan area and program, reflecting differences in claim costs and expenses.

   These increases will affect about 14,086 contracts and produce additional annual premium income of about $1.9 million. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2004.

   Copies of the filing are available for public inspection during normal working hours, by appointment, at the Insurance Department's regional 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. 03-1717. Filed for public inspection August 29, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]