Officials question Anthem 39% insurance rate hikes

The Obama administration and state insurance officials pressured Anthem Blue Cross on Monday to justify its decision to raise rates by as much as 39 percent for thousands of outraged and frustrated California customers.
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The Obama administration and Poizner's office were prompted to act after Anthem members with individual policies - those who are not covered through employer-sponsored or group plans - were told last week that they would have to pay premiums up to 39 percent higher than their current rates. The Woodland Hills (Los Angeles County) company would not say how many people will be affected, but Anthem has as many as 800,000 individual policyholders - more than any other for-profit insurer - in the state.