South Carolina Insurance News and Information

March 4th, 2010

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius met with executives on the Fourth of March at the White House in order to discuss the major concern that many people, including residents of South Carolina, will be priced out of the insurance market. Attendees included Aetna, CIGNA, United Health Group and WellPoint Inc. among other influential CEOs. 

Currently South Carolina, as well as all individual states, has the authority to review rate increase proposals. President Obama has suggested in his proposal that the power to stop insurers from raising rates on premiums be put in the hands of the federal government. The insurance commissioner for the state of Kansas disagrees, stating that the individual states should retain their role in reviewing insurance rates, though she did concur that a federal backstop is necessary.

Although the President was not officially in attendance of the meeting, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs stated on Twitter that President Obama made an appearance in order to bring attention to a letter that was received from a woman in Ohio, who was concerned after learning that her insurance will be increased by 40% in the coming year.

Ms. Sebelius, along with many other legislators, has condemned Wellpoint for talk of raising rates for Anthem Blue Cross of California members by 39% next year. The administration stated that increases similar to these are falling upon families as well as companies in South Carolina and across the United States. The current proposal aims to put a stop to such jumps and stabalize South Carolina health insurance rates.

President Barack Obama will continue to meet with leading lawmakers in the following days hoping to bring the health care debate to a close with a favorable outcome for residents in South Carolina and across the states.