1434 Highmark Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Non-Group Security 65 Medicare Supplement rate increase (Medicare Part B); filing no. 200137

Highmark Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield; Non-Group Security 65 Medicare Supplement Rate Increase (Medicare Part B); Filing No. 200137

[31 Pa.B. 4351]

   Highmark Inc. d/b/a Pennsylvania Blue Shield requests approval to increase its base rates for its Direct Pay Non-Group Security 65 Medicare Supplement plans in the Capital Blue Cross, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, and Independence Blue Cross regions. Increase vary Security 65 plan, and are summarized as follows:

	Average	Average
	Percentage	Monthly
Region	Increase	Increase
Capital Blue Cross	12.6%	$5.83
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania	4.5%	$2.33
Independence Blue Cross	7.3%	$5.50

   The filing requests an overall increase of about 8.2% of developed premium. This will affect about 207,160 contract holders and produce additional premium income of about $11.9 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 offices in Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

   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. 01-1434. Filed for public inspection August 3, 2001, 9:00 a.m.]