By Mina Kim, KQED
California's insurance commissioner Dave Jones says Anthem Blue Cross shouldn't be allowed to sell small business health plans on Covered California, the state's new health insurance marketplace being set up under the requirements of the federal health law. Jones says Anthem, the state's largest insurer, has been engaging in a "pattern" of "excessive" rate hikes.
"It simply cannot be the case that a health insurer can unreasonably gouge its small business customers and not face any consequences whatsoever," Jones said.
Under state law, Jones can review health plan rate hikes and declare them unreasonable, but he lacks authority to block them.
Covered California's Peter Lee says he's taking the Commissioner's request into consideration.