New York State
Insurance Department
NEW YORK INSURANCE DEPARTMENT TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON HEALTHNOW’S PROPOSED RATE HEARING
June 2, 1999
The New York State Insurance Department has scheduled a public hearing June 16th to consider an application for subscriber rate change by HealthNow New York, doing business as Blue Shield of Northeastern New York and HealthNow, its HMO line of business.
The hearing will be held on June 16th at 11:00 a.m. at the Legislative Office Building, Room 104A Training Room, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY.
COMMUNITY-RATED CONTRACTS AND RIDERS AFFECTED:
Basic contracts and riders including Medicare Supplemental contracts, and prescription
drug riders
WEIGHTED AVERAGE PERCENTAGE CHANGE REQUESTED:
13.7% for Blue Shield of Northeastern New York
11.9% for HealthNow, HMO
MEMBERSHIP AFFECTED: 24,675 indemnity members and 56,000 HMO members.
COUNTIES AFFECTED: Blue Shield of Northeastern New York: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren and Washington.
HealthNow: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington.
The proposed effective date is July 1, 1999.
By law Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Health Service Corporations can not raise or lower subscriber rates more than 10% without the prior approval of the Insurance Department.
A summary of facts supporting the company’s application may be obtained from the company’s office at 187 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205 or from the Insurance Department. The complete subscriber rate increase application may be examined at the Plan’s offices or at the offices of the Insurance Department:
| New York City Office Health Bureau 25 Beaver Street New York, New York 10004 (By Appointment Only) 212-480-5215 |
Albany Office Agency Building One Empire State Plaza Albany, New York 12257 (By Appointment Only) 518-474-4567 |
Those wishing to speak at the hearing should notify Deborah Greer at the Department’s Albany Office.
Those unable to attend the hearing may submit written statements for inclusion in the official record within 10 days of the hearing date to the Public Affairs & Research Bureau at the Insurance Department’s New York City Office. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Department will provide a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, a qualified reader, etc., at no charge to any covered individual wishing to attend or testify at the hearing when such a request is made at least seven days before the hearing.