The insurance company providing long-term care insurance for federal workers warned Congress Wednesday that premiums for that program may rise again, after this year's 83 percent average increase.

John Hancock Insurance administers the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program, which helps federal employees pay for their daily living costs due to old age or other impairments. This year, the company said premiums on this coverage would jump an average of 83 percent.

At a Wednesday subcommittee hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the company said more increases could be coming.

"John Hancock cannot guarantee that rates will not have to be increased in the future," said Michael Doughty, president and general manager of the company, in his prepared testimony.

Doughty said the increase was required under federal law, which says premiums under the program must "reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided." He said the increase was needed for several reasons related to how the program is being used.

"We found that new claims were increasing, particularly at older attained ages, claims are lasting longer than expected and that policies with higher daily benefit amounts were exhibiting disproportionately higher claims," he said.

Doughty also stressed that by law, John Hancock Insurance cannot profit any more through the increases, and that the hike can only go toward covering people.