Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio v. Ratchford

On July 2, 1981, appellee Blue Cross of Northeast Ohio (“Blue Cross”) submitted an application to ap-pellee Robert L. Ratchford, Jr., Superintendent of Insurance (“superintendent”), for a rate increase for certain non-group subscriber contracts which included many contracts with senior citizens. A public hearing was held on the application, beginning on September 14, 1981. On October 13, 1981, the superintendent granted Blue Cross seventy percent of the requested rate increase.

The Senior Citizens Coalition, Fair-view Park Senior Citizens Club, and seven subscribers of Blue Cross of Northeast…