CT insurance exchange switch flips on — lots of interest, some glitches

  Yesterday’s opening of CT’s insurance exchange, Access Health CT,went about as well as expected. Despite the administration and exchange staff’s repeated lowering of expectations, there was a lot of interest – 123,000 visits to the website by 28,000 unique visitors by 4pm. 167 people got signed up for coverage, including 84 into the Medicaid…

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CT exchange premiums 4th highest in US

  A new analysis from the White House finds that CT’s insurance exchange premiums are among the highest in the nation – behind only Alaska, Mississippi, and Wyoming. CT residents and small businesses buying unsubsidized coverage through the exchange will pay 28 to 37% more than most Americans depending on which plan they choose. We…

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CID seeking comments on mental health parity enforcement

  The CT Insurance Department is seeking public comments on methods to monitor and ensure compliance with state and federal mental health parity laws. CID has chosen to move ahead with enforcement of the law, despite delays in getting federal regulations. Insurers have urged CID to wait for final federal rules. CID encourages anyone with…

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Exchange premiums up from this year, lots of variation

  Our analysis of the recently announced 2014 Access Health CT standard plan premiums finds that for five typical CT households covered by the two health insurers with premium history – Anthem and ConnectiCare – in all but one case, families will experience significant premium increases from this year.  Premiums will rise between 30 and 163%.…

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Aetna leaves CT insurance exchange

  Aetna has withdrawn their application to participate in Access Health CT, our state’s health insurance exchange. Aetna’s proposal was the least costly individual premium option for 14 of the 15 examples given at the last Board meeting. Unfortunately this reduces the affordability of options in the exchange and leaves only three plans each in…

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Access Health CT rates up sharply, CID review and competition helped

Today’s CT Health Insurance Exchange/Access Health CT board meeting included a report from Wakely actuaries hired by the exchange to review rate proposals from health plans applying to offer coverage in the exchange. According to Wakely, plans have filed numerous revisions lowering their rate proposals, largely in response to each other and questions from the…

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ConnectiCare withdraws SHOP exchange proposal

  ConnectiCare has notified Access Health CT, our state’s health insurance exchange, that they are withdrawing their proposal to participate in the SHOP exchange. This leaves only three insurers in the small business portion of the exchange – Anthem, United and HealthyCT. ConnectiCare still intends to participate in Access Health CT’s individual exchange along with…

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HealthyCT lowers rates in insurance exchange

  Healthy CT, the new co-op insurer created with federal support under the ACA, has revised their proposed premiums for the CT Health Insurance Exchange, Access Health CT. The new rates, much lower than their competitors, will average $271 per month for individuals and $408 for small businesses. Those individual rates will vary between $111…

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