Governor-elect Dan Malloy today asked the acting insurance commissioner, Barbara C. Spear, not to grant a rate increase for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
“While I, of course, understand that there is only one Governor at a time, I believe Connecticut families would be best served by a hiatus on insurance rate increases,” Malloy wrote in a letter. “The rising cost of healthcare is absolutely linked to our state’s ability to attract and keep jobs here in Connecticut, and I want to make sure that decisions made in the waning days of one administration do not negatively impact the next administration’s ability to do the job they were elected to.”
Malloy sent his letter after Hearing Officer Mark Franklin denied a motion by Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to postpone Wednesday’s hearing on the rate increase.
Blumenthal had sought to delay the hearing until the insurer provided evidence that he argued was critical in evaluating its proposal. The Office of the Healthcare Advocate also filed a motion seeking more information and a delay of the hearing, which was also denied.
Both Blumenthal and the Office of the Health Advocate will get a chance to question Anthem representatives during the hearing because they are intervenors in the case. The hearing will also include an hour of public comment.