It may come as a surprise to those not familiar with Texas politics that Texas does not review most increases in health insurance premiums. Not unless the premium increase is for more than 50% annually. Everything else is fair game. An insurance company can increase premiums 49% per year every year and that would be fine with the State of Texas.
But now we have a health care proposal from the Obama administration that would allow the federal government to review “excessive” health insurance premium increases. The federal government would be able to stop a rate increase it considered unjustified. Whether this is government intervention or consumer protection depends on your point of view, and maybe on whether you’re a health insurance company executive.
