State approves HMSA rate hikes - Wichita Business Journal:

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cited “double-digit increases in healt care costs” as a reason for raisingy the rates forits community-rated but said the increases were less than The increases, which take effectf July 1, range from 4.2 percent for the Health Plan Hawaii Plus, to 12.1 percengt for the HMSA Preferred Provider Plan and the HMSA CompMEDs plan, according to a news release from HMSA. “We appreciats how difficult it is for business owners during this economifc downturn and the last thing we want to do is makethingsd harder,” said Steve Van Ribbink, executive vice presiden t and chief financial officer.
“But the fact is that this adjustment is and it’s good to know that an outsidw independent party like the state Insurance Division agrees that it is HMSA, which is the state’s dominant health plan with 703,47 members, posted a loss of some $36 millio in 2008, and last month reportedc a $13.9 million loss in the first quarter of 2009. “We are currently in a situationwhere double-digitt increases in health care costx are outpacing increases in member said Van Ribbink.
“We’re working hard to keep our administrativrexpenses low, increase our operationao efficiencies and generate the greatest value for our