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Letter To Scott Kipper, Commissioner, Nevada Division Of Insurance

Letter

Date: May 7, 2010
Issues: Health Insurance

Scott Kipper, Commissioner
Nevada Division of Insurance
Department of Business and Industry
788 Fairview Drive
Suite 300
Carson City, NV 89701

Commissioner Kipper,

As the head of the state agency tasked with reviewing health insurance rate adjustment requests, you, I know, take your responsibility of consumer protection seriously. Recent news reports, however, have highlighted the need for increased scrutiny of health insurance rate hikes.

Last week Anthem Blue Cross withdrew its plan for rate increases in California -- after initially proposing to raise some rates by 39 percent -- when the California Department of Insurance found that the proposed increase was based on unreasonably high assumptions about medical cost increases.

During these difficult economic times, keeping health insurance premiums affordable is more important than ever. No one should have to choose between paying for health insurance or putting food on the table; but as premiums rise, more people may be forced to make such a choice. That is why I urge you to do everything in your power to hold insurance companies accountable for their rate increases and to reexamine, with the highest level of oversight possible, proposed health insurance rate increases and the assumptions on which those increases are based.

Sincerely,

Dina Titus
Member of Congress


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