Maryland’s top insurance regulator said Wednesday that most health insurers doing business in the state have not asked for premium rate increases as a result of the federal health care reform law. Read the Article>

The $1-million grants, which went to all but five states, will help many expand public access to information about rate hikes and hire experts to review proposed charges. Read the Article>

The Obama administration has awarded 45 states $1 million each to help them improve their oversight of health insurance premium increases. Read the Article>

Only 19 states have 'prior approval' authority over insurance rates. A review of campaign donations shows insurers funneling money to key lawmakers and squelching efforts to expand oversight of premiums. Read the Article>

Last month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters the total effect on premiums of all the insurance reforms under the new healthcare law "is likely to be less than 1 percent." Read the Article>

The report raises concerns with the law, notably the fact that premiums and other healthcare costs will continue to rise. Read the Article>

The new health law leaves it up to the states to control health insurance premiums. Historically, some states have done well with that, others haven't. Several U.S. senators want to take the burden from the state with a federal price board.

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Opinion by Eric Dahlberg

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A combination of rising health insurance premiums and falling wages has hit middle-income people especially hard, causing them to lose health insurance coverage faster than workers both poorer and richer than they are.

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The new law doesn't prevent rate hikes such as Anthem Blue Cross' double-digit increase last year. 'It is a very big loophole,' says Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who is pushing regulatory legislation.

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