Tortola Capital Story: Tortola Analyzes Obama’s Limiting of Insurance Rate Hikes

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 23, 2010 - Tortola Capital news analysts report that President Obama is set to propose a bill that will grant federal authorities the power to limit insurance rate increases. The move is part of an overhaul plan he will unveil on Monday in an effort to salvage his health care agenda. The proposal would give the federal Health and Human Services Department -- in conjunction with state authorities -- the power to deny egregious premium increases, roll them back, or demand rebates for consumers, said a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity because details have not yet been officially released.

Recent premium hikes of as much as 39 percent sought by Anthem Blue Cross in California have given Obama a new argument for his sweeping health care remake, stalled in Congress since Democrats lost their 60th Senate seat in a special election last month in Massachusetts.

The proposal for tighter oversight of insurers, modeled on legislation proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., will be part of a sweeping overhaul plan which the White House plans to post on its Web site at 10 a.m. Monday, ahead of a health care summit with congressional leaders of both parties on Thursday.
The broader plan, likely to be opposed by the GOP, is expected to require most Americans to carry health insurance coverage, with federal subsidies to help many afford the premiums. Hewing close to a stalled Senate bill, it would bar insurance companies from denying coverage to people with medical problems or charging them more. The expected price tag is around $1 trillion over 10 years.