Conn. officials ask insurers what they're saying about health care reform

Oct 02, 2009 (Waterbury Republican-American - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- UNH | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- HARTFORD, Conn. -- State officials want to know what Connecticut insurers are telling customers about federal health care reform.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and state Healthcare Advocate Kevin P. Lembo are asking the five biggest insurers -- Aetna Inc., ConnectiCare Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Connecticut Inc., HealthNet of Connecticut, and UnitedHealth Group Inc. -- to voluntarily provide this information.

They want to ascertain whether health insurers are sending any misleading materials to Medicare recipients here, though they said they have no evidence that's happening.

"We have heard rumors about such mailings, but we don't have them, which is why we are requesting them -- and if the rumors prove unfounded we will take that information and deal with it accordingly in the individual cases," Blumenthal said.

The Obama administration warned insurance companies Monday they face possible legal action if they are trying to scare seniors with misleading information about the potential for lost benefits under health care legislation in Congress.

Blumenthal and Lembo said such actions in Connecticut might also violate state insurance laws and regulations.

Federal officials are investigating whether Humana Inc. sent policyholders deceptive materials seeking to enlist them to oppose changes to the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug programs. The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid have ordered the company to halt mailing the materials.

Lembo and Blumenthal said the Humana investigation prompted their inquiries of the state's largest Medicare insurers. They are entitled to the materials they requested the insurers to voluntarily submit to them, they said.

"We'll take additional steps to secure them, but certainly we are hoping for voluntary cooperation," Blumenthal said.

He declined to say what those other steps might be. He said the Department of Insurance could compel the companies to provide the requested information, but he would not comment on any consultations with insurance regulators.

There are 540,000 people in Connecticut on Medicare, according to the Connecticut Commission on the Aging.

Blumenthal and Lembo are also asking any Medicare recipients and others in the public to provide any mailings and other documents insurers have sent them.

"Consumers are our eyes and ears, particularly in this area where seniors are so vitally affected," Blumenthal said.

The Connecticut-based Center for Medicare Advocacy and the Connecticut AFL-CIO applauded the state inquiry.

The AFL-CIO asked insurance regulators last month to investigate whether what insurance companies spend on lobbying is increasing health insurance premiums.

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