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)