MichiganRadio

Attorney General Challenges Blue Cross Rate Hike LANSING, MI (Associated Press) - Attorney General Mike Cox is challenging rate increases proposed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for health insurance plans covering about 400,000 people who buy their own policies.

Cox said Thursday he has filed petitions for hearings with state regulators related to individual, group conversion and Medicare supplemental plans. Blue Cross is seeking rate increases averaging between 31 percent and 56 percent in those categories.

Blue Cross says it doesn't like to ask for rate increases but has no choice because of financial losses on the policies and what it calls a broken regulatory system.

Some of the issues involved in the rate cases could be addressed by an ongoing debate in the Michigan Legislature over changes to health insurance law. © Copyright 2012, Associated Press