Politics

Health Insurance Executive Defends Premiums

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WASHINGTON — Under fire from Congress for huge rate increases in California, a top health insurance executive said Wednesday that the higher premiums were justified by soaring medical costs, and she warned that pending legislation could make the problem worse, further driving up costs for young, healthy people.

The executive, Angela F. Braly, president of WellPoint, made the comments in testimony prepared for a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The hearing comes amid growing criticism of WellPoint and the health insurance industry by President Obama and Democrats in Congress, who say the proposed rate increases show the need for federal review and regulation of insurance premiums.

Full story: Health Insurance Executive Defends Premiums – NYTimes.com