NEW: Blue Cross Fined $250k for Engaging in Improper Rating and Underwriting Practices
Friday, September 28, 2012
Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller issued an order finding that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island (“Blue Cross”) engaged in unfairly discriminatory rating practices in group markets during the period of 2007 to 2009, and imposed a penalty of $250,000.
The Order concludes a market conduct examination that commenced as a result of complaints that Blue Cross had engaged in improper rating and underwriting practices. The Order states that during the examination period, Blue Cross did not fully fund administrative costs in the large group market, and improperly discounted rates without regard to actuarially sound underwriting standards.
These practices constituted unfair discrimination, in violation of Rhode Island law. These practices resulted in arbitrarily lower rates for some subscribers, and arbitrarily higher rates for other subscribers. Depending on the circumstances, these practices may constitute unfair competition and might destabilize the market by encouraging other health insurance issuers to engage in similar unlawful behavior.
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The Order notes that Blue Cross cooperated fully with the examination, and revised many of its relevant policies and procedures before the examination was completed. Nevertheless, the Commissioner has imposed a significant penalty reflecting the serious nature of the violations, and Blue Cross' knowledge that the Commissioner considered Blue Cross' practices to be unlawful.
