1302 Direct Pay Security 65 Hospital Medicare Supplement Plans: B, C and H; filing no. 1-65S-99HBCBS

Highmark, Inc.; Requesting Approval to Increase Rates for Direct Pay Security 65 Hospital Medicare Supplement Plans: B, C and H; Filing No. 1-65S-99-HBCBS

[29 Pa.B. 4324]

   By Filing No. 1-65S-99-HBCBS, Highmark, Inc., d/b/a Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, requests approval to increase its premium rates for its Direct Pay Security 65 Hospital Medicare Supplement plans B, C and H. The filing requests an average increase of about 3.4% of current premium. Increases will vary by plan. This will affect about 122,300 contract holders and produce additional premium income of about $3.9 million. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2000.

   The requested First Eligible Security 65 Hospital Rates are as follows:

Plan	Requested Rate	% Increase
Plan B	$66.80	3.4%
Plan C	$83.20	1.2%
Plan H	$137.90	12.2%

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

   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. 99-1302. Filed for public inspection August 6, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]