Rate Regulation

Oregon Regulators Stand Up to Insurers

It's a great day for consumers and small businesses, said State Sen. Chip Shields
February 16, 2010 -- Despite heated objections by health insurance companies, state regulators at the Oregon Insurance Division finalized rules on Tuesday (Feb. 16) making every part of their rate filing open to the public. Read More >>

Small Businesses Face Brunt of Insurance Hikes

State regulators approve rate requests for Regence and HealthNet, while other requests are pending
February 11, 2010 -- The Oregon Insurance Division approved a 16 percent rate increase on Regence individual health plans renewing after April and a 12.2 percent increase on HealthNet small group plans. Read More >>

Insurers Ready Another Round of Double-Digit Hikes

State actuaries say medical costs went up 12 to 13 percent last year
February 4, 2010 -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield is asking the Insurance Division to approve a 25.3 percent average premium increase on more than 73,000 individuals whose policies renew starting April 1. Read More >>

Insurers, Consumers Battle Over Public Disclosure

Under the proposed rule, financial information considered confidential by insurance companies would be made public when they request a rate increase
February 4, 2010 -- A tug of war is under way between health insurers and consumer advocates over disclosure, and the decision rests in the hands of Oregon’s Insurance Division. Read More >>

Regulators Offer Little Backstop for Premium Hikes

High paid executives and skyrocketing premiums from coast to coast
November 19, 2009 -- New information from a Senate investigation reveals CIGNA, one of the country's largest health insurers, failed to account for $5 billion in premium revenue reported to state regulators. Read More >>

Regulators Praised for Tough Stance on Insurers

The Oregon Insurance Division says no exemptions to public disclosure on rate filings
October 27, 2009 -- State regulators at the Oregon Insurance Division are getting the thumbs up from health insurance reform advocates who say they’ve drawn a firm line in the first draft of rules to tighten the way they regulate health insurance premiums. Read More >>

Industry Pressure Mounts on State Regulators

Lobbying to limit health insurance rate regulation extends beyond walls of the state capitol
September 3, 2009 – Armed with authority to peer deeper into health insurance balance sheets, the state agency that governs the industry faces intense lobbying pressure. Read More >>

Battle Against Regence Rate Increase Continues

Attorney files legal exception setting stage for battle in Court of Appeals
July 23, 2009 --  Advocates are just getting started on their year-long fight against state regulators who approved a 26 percent rate hike on individual policyholders of Regence BlueCross BlueShield last July.  Read More >>

Oregon Takes Lead in Insurance Cost Scrutiny

Health insurers will soon have to report every administrative cost from furniture to moving expenses
July 23, 2009 -- When Oregon regulators analyze insurance premiums next year, they’ll take a closer look at administrative costs than nearly any health insurance regulator in United States history. Read More >>

Greenlick Concedes Lawmakers Punted Tough Questions

Leading reformist gets praise yet disappointment for what legislature left out of critical reform
July 23, 2009 -- Oregon's Legislature "avoided all of the hard questions" when it dealt with healthcare reform, according to Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D-Portland), who spoke to a group of health reform advocates earlier in the week.  Read More >>
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