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State Releases Ratings On Health Insurers, HMOs

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) — A state advocate says that most health maintenance organizations in California compare well with plans nationwide, but too often new policyholders are confused about costs and getting their claims paid.

California Office of the Patient Advocate Director Sandra Perez says her office's annual report card shows that not all health plans are the same and the report card incentivizes the health care industry to improve care.

No HMO received an excellent rating from its members, but Kaiser Permanente's branches in Northern and Southern California were the only plans to receive excellent ratings from the patient advocate for meeting national standards of care.

Aetna Health of California got the poorest rating from its members.

The report rates the state's nine largest HMOs, six largest preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, and other medical providers.

To see how your health insurance company, HMO or medical group rated, go to www.opa.ca.gov.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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