1433 Highmark Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Non-Group Direct Pay Medical/Surgical Plans; filing no. 200136

Highmark Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Non-Group Direct Pay Medical/Surgical Plans; Filing No. 200136

[31 Pa.B. 4351]

   Highmark Inc., d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield, requests approval to increase its base rates for Non-Group Direct Pay Medical/Surgical Plans in the Capital Blue Cross, Independence Blue Cross and Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania regions. Increases will vary as shown.

	Percentage	Increase
Region	Increase	PCPM
Capital Blue Cross	12.45%	$14.29
Independence Blue Cross	6.12%	$5.01
Blue Cross of Northeast PA	6.79%	$5.76

   The filing requests an overall average increase of about 7.53% of developed premium. This will affect about 17,220 contract holders and produce additional annual base premium income of about $1.4 million. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2002.

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

   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. 01-1433. Filed for public inspection August 3, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]