Health Care Premium Hike | featured news

Non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans stockpiled billions of dollars during the past decade, yet continued to hit consumers with double-digit premium increases, Consumers Union found in an analysis of 10 of the plans' finances.

Angela F. Braly, president of WellPoint, told a House panel that higher premiums were justified by soaring costs.

The proposal would give the Health and Human Services secretary power to block premium increases that were deemed excessive, an official says.

President Obama's new healthcare overhaul plan would give the federal government greater authority to stop rate increases imposed by health insurers, an administration official said late Sunday.

While lawmakers and President Barack Obama are lamenting premium hikes of up to 39% that Anthem Blue Cross of California plans to charge policy-holders, Lori Creasey says that's nothing. Try 69%.