Rate review issue faces key vote in Calif.; veto in Conn.

State efforts to regulate insurance rate increases are examined.

The Associated Press: Calif. Bill Targets Excess Health Insurance Rates
A bill that would allow state officials to reject rate increases proposed by health insurers is under intense lobbying pressure as it faces a key committee vote this week. Groups representing insurers, doctors and hospitals are trying to have the California bill weakened or killed, although for different reasons (Weintraub, 7/5).

Connecticut Mirror: Malloy Vetoes Insurance Rate Review Bill
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy used one of his first vetoes on a controversial bill that would have created a new public review process for proposals to increase health or long-term care insurance rates. In his veto message, Malloy called the bill, which drew support from consumer advocates and fierce opposition from the insurance industry, "bad for the people of Connecticut" (Levin Becker, 7/5). 

Meanwhile, some experts are questioning whether states can effectively control premium increases.

Stateline: Will Health Insurance Ever Get Cheaper?
In fact, insurance premiums nationally have gone up more than 16 percent since the (federal health) law was enacted a little more than a year ago. In some parts of the country, increases have been as much as 30 percent. This year, states will start cracking down on double-digit rate hikes with the hope of containing premiums by 2014, when nearly everyone will be required to purchase insurance. But some experts question whether the new push will work (Vestal, 7/6).