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Anthem Blue Cross Reduces, Delays Rate Hike

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthem Blue Cross, the largest health plan in California, is reducing and delaying rate hikes -- moves the state insurance commissioner says will save policyholders at least $40 million.

Anthem announced Monday that it will put off a planned April premium hike until July, and increases in deductibles and co-payments until next January.

Anthem also says it's reducing the planned premium increase from 9.8 percent to 9.1 percent.

State Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones says when the co-pays and other increases are added in, Anthem's 600,000 policyholders would have found themselves paying 16.4 percent more in the middle of the year -- and some might have been forced to put off treatment.

The commissioner can't deny rate hikes, but Jones says Blue Shield, Aetna and PacifiCare also have agreed to delays.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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