Obamacare News Blog

Anthem Agrees to Price Review; Alerts Members of Rate Action Delay

Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company of California has contacted Medicoverage to confirm that they agreed to a request by the California Department of Insurance to postpone our March 1, 2010 rates to May 1, 2010, pending an additional third-party review. The review will be conducted by Axene Health Partners, LLC, retained by the California Department of Insurance. According to Anthem, they “have already conducted an independent third-party review, we welcome the additional scrutiny by the commissioner and are confident that our rates will continue to reflect anticipated medical costs and are established consistent with actuarial principles and state law.”

In addition to the email that we sent directly to our clients, Anthem will also be contacting policy holders to inform they of the delay.  They will be sending pre-recorded messages to clients beginning Tuesday, February 16th, with details about how the rate action postponement of our March 1, 2010 rates will affect them and their insurance premiums. They will also be mailing letters to members this week, with details about how the postponement of our March 1, 2010 rates will affect them.