HMSA rate hike less than proposed
HONOLULU - Hawaii's largest health insurer will raise rates by a lower amount than originally proposed.
On July 1, Hawaii Medical Service Association will raise rates by 2.6 percent for about 9,500 small businesses. HMSA had proposed a 3.9 percent increase.
HMSA lowered the rate request after the state questioned projected medical costs. It was approved this week by the state Insurance Division.
Small-business owners say they are worried about the costs, despite the lower rate increase.
HMSA had more than 692,000 members at the end of last year. The increase will apply to more than 110,000 employees at businesses with fewer than 200 workers.
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Hawaii wave energy project gets boost
HONOLULU - The U.S. Department of Energy is providing $500,000 to a project testing wave energy in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay.
Hawaii's congressional delegation said in a news release that the money will support a pilot project to deploy and test a device that will convert wave energy to electricity. The funds will test the technical readiness of the technology.
Sen. Daniel Akaka said wave energy has great potential to be a significant source of power.
The Navy has been testing wave energy technology in the waters off Maine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay for about 10 years.
The Navy hopes to provide wave-produced energy to the Marine base in 2014.
