LA insurer to levy 12 percent rate increase

The federal government has labeled a health insurer's proposed 12 percent rate increase "unreasonable," but Louisiana customers will still end up paying the higher rates. That's because Louisiana law does not give the state Department of Insurance the authority to regulate health insurance companies' rates. The proposed rate increase for John Alden Life Insurance Co., which has 221 Louisiana policyholders, is an average of 12 percent statewide, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. However, depending on the policy, the increase will range from 8 percent to 39 percent.