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Our Opinion: Our successful lawsuit versus state’s Public Utility Commission will help to keep you in the know

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Letter to the Editor: Pave way for multi-family housing in Sugar Notch

<p>On March 9, representatives from Put People First PA met with the head of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and members of her staff in Harrisburg. The purpose was to ask the state to hold open hearings on the upcoming rate increases on Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, as is done with electricity and phone rates.</p><p>The only answer was &#8220;maybe,&#8221; which we know means &#8220;no.&#8221;</p><p>Put People First was given a rough timeline of the process: The insurance companies already have filed their requests to increase premiums. Starting June 13, the opportunity to submit written comments on the rate proposals opened. As is planned now, there will be no opportunity for the Insurance Department to hear, in-person, from the people who will have to pay these increased rates before officials make the final decisions on rate increases on Oct. 27.</p><p>The state Insurance Department helps the insurance companies make a profit so they do not go broke, but it also is supposed to represent the recipients of medical care. This represents a conflict of interest. How can the office tasked with protecting companies&#8217; profits also have the best interests of the people of Pennsylvania in mind, especially when they don&#8217;t hear directly from us? For this reason, there should be a separate body &#8211; such as there is for electricity and phone monopolies &#8211; whose only job is to advocate for the interests of the people.</p><p>If you agree, please sign Put People First&#8217;s petition for public, in-person hearings on insurance rate increases. The online petition can be found at putpeoplefirstpa.org/petition.</p><p>We deserve transparency in this process, and we will fight to make our voices heard.</p><p><strong>Kim J. Altland</strong></p><p>York</p><style>
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Letter to the Editor: Schedule public hearings in Pennsylvania on proposed Affordable Care Act rate increases