Highmark has filed a half dozen notices of premium increases for numerous insurance products used by tens of thousands of customers,according to announcements posted in the Pennsylvania Bulletin today.

Most of the premium hikes approach 10 percent.

The Direct Pay PPO Plan High Deductible Health Plans, Medically Underwritten Direct Pay Non-Qualified High Deductible Health Plans and Simply Blue Medically Underwritten Direct Pay PPO Plans, used by 24,500 Highmark customers in western Pennsylvania, would see 9.9 percent premium hikes, according to one filing.

Also going up by 9.9 percent would be the premiums for CompleteCare, with 12,000 contract holders; the Direct Pay PPO Plan, with 5,000 customers; and Individual Medically Underwritten and Guaranteed Issue Direct Pay HMO products, with 4,200 customers, other filings indicate.

Slated to rise by 7.5 percent are premiums for the Medically Underwritten Direct Pay PPO Plan, with 16,100 customers in western Pennsylvania. The proposed increase for the Medically Underwritten Direct Pay PPO High Deductible Health Plans, Medically Underwritten Direct Pay Non-Qualified HDHP and Simply Blue Medically Underwritten Direct Pay PPO average is 4.6 percent, affecting around 13,100 contract holders, according to the announcements.

The premium hikes would bring a total of $22.5 million in new revenue to Highmark annually, the filings indicate.

All of the increases would take effect Oct. 1, unless the Insurance Department takes contrary action by July 25.

People can comment by writing to Cherri Sanders-Jones, Insurance Department, Insurance Product Regulation, Room 1311, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, Pa. 17120, or csandersjo@pa.gov, within the next 30 days, according to the Pennsylvania Bulletin, which lists official state actions and applications.

Highmark spokesmen could not be immediately reached for comment.

First Published: May 12, 2012, 1:45 p.m.
Updated: May 12, 2012, 9:18 p.m.