Press Release 11/18/99 - Department To Hold Two Public Hearings On Empire Blue Cross And Blue Shield Healthnet's Proposed Rate Increase

New York State Insurance Department
ISSUED: 11/18/99		FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEPARTMENT TO HOLD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON EMPIRE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD HEALTHNET’S PROPOSED RATE INCREASE The New York State Insurance Department has scheduled two public hearings November 29^th in Albany and December 3^rd in New York City to consider an application for subscriber rate changes by Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthnet. The hearings will be held on the following dates and times:
	November 29th in Albany Legislative Office Building Hearing Room B Empire State Plaza Albany, NY TIME: 11:00 AM		December 3rd in New York City New York State Insurance Department Hearing Room 510, 5^th Floor 25 Beaver Street New York, NY TIME: 10:00 AM
COMMUNITY-RATED CONTRACTS AND RIDERS AFFECTED: Prescription Drug Riders WEIGHTED AVERAGE PERCENTAGE CHANGE REQUESTED: 69.1% MEMBERSHIP AFFECTED: 159,100 members PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2000 Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) are not permitted to change subscribed rates more than 10% without the prior approval of the Insurance Department. As an aid to the public, the Plan is making available a summary of facts supporting its application available to the public. A copy may be obtained from the Plan’s office or from the Insurance Department. A copy of the complete subscriber rate increase application may be examined at the Plan’s offices at: One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10048; 11 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany; 63 Washington Street, Poughkeepsie; 157 Deer Park Avenue, Babylon and at the offices of the Insurance Department:
	New York Office Health Bureau 25 Beaver Street, 2^nd Floor New York, NY 10004 (By Appointment Only) (212) 480-5242		Albany Office Agency Building One Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12257 (By Appointment Only) (518) 474-4567
Those wishing to speak at the Albany hearing should notify Deborah Greer at (518) 474-4567 at the Insurance Department’s Albany Office. Those wishing to speak at the New York City hearing should notify Ellen Wenz at (212) 480-5262 at the Insurance Department’s New York City Office. Those unable to attend any of the hearings may submit written statements for inclusion in the official record to the Public Affairs & Research Bureau at the Insurance Department’s New York City address. COUNTIES AFFECTED: Albany Region: Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Saratoga, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Warren and Washington. New York City Region: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess and Putnam.