1643 Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Highmark Blue Shield BlueCare Major Medical Plan; rate filing
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Highmark Blue Shield BlueCare Major Medical Plan; Rate Filing [38 Pa.B. 4963]
[Saturday, September 6, 2008]On August 21, 2008, Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Highmark Blue Shield submitted a rate filing (No. 1427-MMNG-1/1/09) to increase the premium rates for the BlueCare Major Medical Plan by approximately 4.9%. This filing will affect approximately 4,800 subscribers and produce additional premium income of about $.46 million annually. The requested effective date of the change is January 1, 2009.
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and Highmark Blue Shield have also proposed the following benefit changes:
* Increase the pharmacy copayments from 3-tier $10 Generic/$20 Brand Formulary/$35 Nonformulary with $500 deductible to 4-tier $0 Selected Generic/$15 Generic/$30 Brand Formulary/$50 Nonformulary with $500 deductible;
* Change the benefit for outpatient Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Medicine providing for a combined benefit maximum of 45 visits per calendar year.
Unless formal administrative action is taken prior to November 20, 2008, the subject filing may be deemed approved by operation of law.
A copy of the filing is available on the Insurance Department's (Department) web site at www. ins.state.pa.us. To access the filing, under ''Quick Links'' click on ''Rate Filings Published in the PA Bulletin.''
A copy of the filing is also available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal working hours at the Department's Harrisburg Regional office.
Interested parties are invited to submit written or email comments, suggestions or objections to Cherri Sanders-Jones, Insurance Department, Insurance Product Regulation, 1311 Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120 at csandersjo@state.pa.us within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
JOEL SCOTT ARIO,
Insurance Commissioner[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-1643. Filed for public inspection September 5, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]
