Obama official very disturbed by Anthem Blue Cross rate hikes

Los Angeles Times, February 9, 2010

California insurance regulators asked Anthem Blue Cross to delay controversial rate increases of as much as 39% for individual policies, hikes that have triggered widespread criticism. And in a rare step, the Obama administration called on Anthem to justify its rate hikes, saying the increases were alarming at a time when subscribers face skyrocketing healthcare costs. In a letter to Anthem's president, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius voiced serious concern over the higher premiums, which go into effect March 1 for many of the insurer's estimated 800,000 individual policyholders, the Los Angeles Times reports.