With the WellPoint-subsidiary Anthem Blue Cross having increased the health insurance rates to a whopping 39 percent for California subscribers, a country-wide scrutiny by the Department of Health and Human Services has revealed that insurers in at least six other states have also sought an increase in health insurance rates.

The health insurance rate increase by Anthem will affect as many as 700,000 Anthem customers who purchase policies on their own rather than being covered via an employer plan.

Reacting to the announced rate hike by Anthem, the Department’s Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said: “Premium hikes in California and across the country are a wake-up call. It's time for Congress to pass reform and hand control over health care decisions back to American families and their doctors.”

Meanwhile, as per a report by the Department, UnitedHealth, Blue Cross, and Tufts have requested rate hikes of up to 16 percent in Rhode Island. Moreover, while Michigan’s Blue Cross Blue Shield has sought to increase rates by a mammoth 56 percent; increases were also reported in Maine, Connecticut, Oregon, and Washington.

The insurers seeking a rate increase will face state and federal reviews, including a Tuesday hearing before the state Assembly Health Committee. Furthermore, on Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will scrutinize the issue; and, Thursday, February 25, will mark the commencement of the president’s bipartisan White House health care summit.