Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a report highlighting premium increases requested by various health insurers across the country. "Over the last year, America's largest insurance companies have requested premium increases of 56% in Michigan, 24% in Connecticut, 23% in Maine, 20% in Oregon, and 16% in Rhode Island, to name just a few states," Sebelius said. "Premium increases have left thousands of families that are already struggling during the economic downturn with an unpleasant choice between fewer benefits, higher premiums or having no insurance at all.…It's time for Congress to pass reform and hand control over health care decisions back to American families and their doctors." Sebelius last week called on Anthem Blue Cross of California to publicly justify a proposed premium increase of up to 39% for individual coverage.