We've all heard the recent news regarding Anthem's premium hikes for California individual health insurance.

It's been all over that Anthem's parent company WellPoint Inc, has planned to raise rates by 39% this year, in an apparent effort to force people into less comprehensive coverage. President Obama has even seized on Anthem's move as proof that health care legislation must happen soon.

And now it appears that California individual health insurance has lost a large number of enrollees based on these high prices.

According to Reuters and a recent piece on California health care, the number of uninsured in California jumped 25% in the last year, far more than anywhere else in the country.

Why the rise in uninsured citizens? According to the article it's a combination of rising unemployment, and a corresponding drop in employers who offer coverage.

There are now 8.2 million uninsured Californians who could have turned to California individual health insurance...if the prices weren't too high.

It seems strange that Anthem would raise costs based on a lack of people enrolling in coverage, when there are so many people who should fit that bill.

Critics think that the push to exclude people with pre-existing conditions is behind it, as well as an attempt to keep people in plans that cover less, and therefore leave insurance companies with less liability.