1304 Highmark, Inc.; request to increase rates for Direct Pay Security 65 Medical Medicare Supplement; filing no. 1-DPCM-99-HI

Highmark, Inc.; Request to Increase Rates for Direct Pay Security 65 Medical Medicare Supplement; Filing No. 1-DPCM-99-HI

[29 Pa.B. 4325]

   Highmark, Inc., d/b/a/ Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and d/b/a/ Pennsylvania Blue Shield, requests approval to increase its premium rates for its Direct Pay Security 65 Medical Medicare Supplement. The filing requests an average increase of 5.9% of current premium. Increases will vary by Blue Cross region. This increase will impact about 325,000 contract holders and produce additional annual income of approximately $11.9 million. The requested effective date is January 1, 2000.

   The rate increase by Blue Cross Plan are shown as follows:

	Percentage	Average Increase
Plan Area	Increase	Per Subscriber Month
Blue Cross of Northeastern PA	14.7%	$7.10
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield	7%	$ .32
Capital Blue Cross	7.2%	$3.23
Independence Blue Cross	7.2%	$5.06
Overall	5.9%	$3.06

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

   Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, suggestions or objections to Carol Slack, 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. 99-1304. Filed for public inspection August 6, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]