Lawmakers Probe Spike in Health Insurance Premiums

Health insurance rates for as many as 800,000 policyholders will rise by as much as 39 percent under a plan announced by Anthem Blue Shield. California’s largest for-profit health insurer blamed rising healthcare costs for the hike, but lawmakers in Sacramento and Washington have called for hearings, and President Obama said this offers more evidence of the urgent need for healthcare reform. Duke Helfand is a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times.