3rd RI Health Insurer Asks for Double Digit Rate Hike

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A third Rhode Island health insurer has announced that it is seeking double-digit rate hikes.

UnitedHealthCare late on Monday filed an application with the state asking to raise premiums for 2011 an average of 11.8 percent for companies with 50 or fewer employees and 15.5 percent for companies with more than 50 employees.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Tufts Health Plan earlier in the day had applied for double-digit rate hikes.

The Providence Journal reports that state Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher Koller expects to complete an analysis of the rate hike applications by the end of the week.

That will be followed by a public comment period before he rules with input from the attorney general's office.

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