A new report reveals California's largest health insurers rejected an average of one in four claims in the second half of last year. The California Nurses Association says that's higher than it should be.
The Association's report shows some of California's biggest insurers rejected more than one out of four claims. That includes Kaiser Permanente and Cigna. PacifiCare denied payment on 41 percent of its claims.
Chuck Idelson is with the California Nurses Association. He says the insurance market is plagued by both steep price increases and a high rate of claims denials.
"Profits and revenues are the bigger determining factor than assuring the patients get the care they need, when they need and they're paying for, and that they don't go broke trying to get access to health care," said Idelson.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown has launched an investigation into the state's seven largest health insurers. Brown is exploring whether companies are unfairly raising premiums.
