Anthem Blue Cross trying to rape Calfornia? HCR now!

<a href=”http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/anthem-blue-cross/”>

Will we get a bill?

Anthem Blue Cross’ proposed 39 percent rate increases in California have become a new rallying point for the Obama administration and Democrats eager to get health care reform across the finish line.

The issue gives President Obama and Democrats a new enemy that can help drive home the need to fix the health care system, and they won’t be letting up any time soon, administration and Congressional sources tell TPMDC.

There will be Congressional hearings this month and Obama has held it up as an example.

Already they have seen results, with Anthem agreeing to delay the hikes until May.

MoveOn.org and Americans United for Change have flagged the rate hikes for members and Democrats are trumpeting a Los Angeles Times editorial that says the increases are a new boost for reform efforts.

On a conference call Friday afternoon to announce major government funding for electronic medical workers, I asked Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius about WellPoint’s response to questions about the increases, which you can read here.

She told me she has “some degree of skepticism” about a company with profits of $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter alone needing to impose rate hikes on 800,000 customers “so they can keep their profit margins going.”

She added that WellPoint’s two top executives were paid just under $10 million each in salary.

“There are a number of underlying questions about what is going on,” Sebelius said.

read more at TPM…..

California Insurer’s Rate Hike Becomes Rallying Point For Health Care Reform | TPMDC.