Aetna Rate Increase Unreasonable, California Agency Says

California’s health plan regulator July 17 urged customers of Aetna Life Insurance Co. to find a new insurer because the company has once again imposed an unreasonable rate increase on small group members.

California Department of Managed Health Care Director Shelley Rouillard said Aetna’s unreasonable 21 percent premium increase for 13,000 small group members, which took effect July 1, is the fourth unreasonable increase since March 2013.

“Aetna’s pattern of unreasonable increases equates to price gouging in today’s market,” Rouillard said in a news release. “I strongly encourage small employers subjected to these unreasonable rate increases to explore more affordable ...