MERCER COUNTY

Highmark eyes huge rate hike

Seniors who have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare HMO insurance will have to prepare for a monthly premium hike by as much as 42 percent with fewer benefits.

Even with the increase, Highmark said it is earmarking a $168 per person annual annual subsidy for policy holders in Mercer, Crawford and Erie counties. That compares to a $100 subsidy the non-profit insurer said it had on SecurityBlue members in the three-county area last year.

Highmark filed the rate hike request today with the federal Health Care Finance Administration. If approved the increase would be effective Jan. 1.

As western Pennsylvania’s No. 1 health care insurer, when Highmark moves it often has far reaching effects. Three out of every four western Pennsylvanians who have joined a Medicare HMO are in SecurityBlue, according to Highmark. In Mercer County alone, 5,389 people have a SecurityBlue product.

If the hike is approved in full, those with the SecurityBlue Basic plan in the three county area will see their rates rise from $54 to $77 a month. Standard plan policy holders will see their monthly rates jump from $79 to $102 a month.

Prescription drug co-pays would rise from $8 to $10 for the Standard plan. Brand name drug co-pays will stay the same at $15. Top tier prescriptions, which Highmark describes as "hi-technology brand name drugs,’’ would see co-pays rise from $25 to $30. Highmark said less than 3 percent of all drugs prescribed fall in this category.

The prescription quarterly limit would remain the same at $125.