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Congress is scrutinizing Health Insurance for California by challenging the reasons that prevent many people from obtaining health care coverage. When the largest health insurance company in the U.S. (WellPoint, Inc.) proposed raising monthly premiums by up to 39 percent in California, Congress summoned WellPoint chief executives. WellPoint postponed its premium increases until May 1st 2010, and California’s insurance commissioner will decide whether to allow the increases.

In short order, Congress expanded investigation of Health Insurance in California to look at coverage being refused and medical claims being denied as “preexisting conditions.” Chief executives from three more of the country’s largest for-profit health insurers (Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group) were summoned to appear before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and its investigations subcommittee on March 23rd.