As Mandatory Health Insurance Looms, Consumers Balk at Rising Costs

Sticker shock

Hundreds of thousands of Californians covered by the state's largest health insurers are facing double-digit premium hikes, and regulators and consumers are pushing back.

On Thursday, the state insurance commissioner said Blue Shield of California's proposed health premium increases - averaging 11.7 percent for most policyholders, but nearing 20 percent for some - were unreasonable.

"California's health insurers are proposing double-digit increases in spite of the fact the data doesn't support them," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. He said the department's review of the March 1 increases for 268,000 individual policyholders showed Blue Shield overestimated how much medical care its consumers would use.

(H/T Sevo)