insurance
Health Insurance Exchange Board meeting update
Today’s Access Health CT Board meeting was largely uneventful; despite that, the room was packed. The highly anticipated report from Wakely’s actuaries on their meetings with the plans to give premium proposals a “second look” was not ready. This is in lieu of negotiating premiums – a bill directing the exchange to do that…
Read MoreMedicaid Council update
Today’s Medicaid Council focused on the SIM planning process working to reform CT’s health system across payers. The project is planning a large public input solicitation over the next few months through the Health Care Cabinet. The project is working to engage consumers and develop a person-centered lens for policymaking. We’ll have more on…
Read MoreBill directing exchange to negotiate premiums died on House calendar
SB-596, a bill that would have implemented active purchasing in Connecticut’s health insurance exchange, died yesterday without action by the House on the last day of the session. The bill passed the Senate last week. The bill directed exchange staff to negotiate premiums with insurers. Negotiations in California and Massachusetts’s exchanges have kept costs…
Read MoreAnthem proposed rates for inside and outside exchange filed
Yesterday, Anthem’s proposed 2014 rates were posted on the insurance department’s website. Proposed base rates (costs for an average 21 year old in an average plan before adjustment for age, geography and benefit plan) average $296.49 and $440.30 per month for individualsand small businesses respectively. Rates reflect an 8.6% increase over 2013. These averages…
Read MoreAetna exchange premiums lower than competitors; all higher than CA rates
Wednesday, Aetna submitted proposed rates for Access Health CT, the state health insurance exchange. Averaging $364 per month for individual coverage. By tier premiums average $177 for Catastrophic coverage, $356 for Bronze, $487 for Silver and $477 for Gold. (Yeah, I don’t get that either). Aetna follows HealthyCT and ConnectiCare proposals averaging $427 and $397…
Read MoreOther state exchange premiums better than expected, Connecticut needs to act
Premiums for next year in other state exchanges are coming in and they are getting better news than Connecticut. Vermont and Rhode Island exchanges are seeing no rate increases and improved benefit packages. Maryland’s and California’s increases are far less than expected. Rates for Oregon and Washington actually dropped, in some cases significantly. In…
Read MoreConnectiCare joins health insurance exchange
Yesterday ConnectiCare filed individual and small group 2014 rates for Connecticut’s health insurance exchange. ConnectiCare joins HealthyCT, the new nonprofit co-op, in participating in the exchange. ConnectiCare plans to charge average premiums of $397 per member per month for individuals and $716 pmpm for small groups. HealthyCT’s proposed rates average $427 pmpm for individuals and…
Read MoreInsurance exchange rate proposals in for HealthyCT
Insurance premiums for HealthyCT, the new nonprofit health insurer co-op, have been posted on the insurance dept.’s website. HealthyCT is the only insurer that has submitted rate proposals for 2014 so far, despite an April 30th due date. Average monthly premiums for individuals will be $427/month and for small groups $445/month. While the benefit plans…
Read MoreStill waiting for insurance exchange rates, UnitedHealthcare is out
Rate proposals by insurers planning to participate in CT’s health insurance exchange were due to the Insurance Dept. last Tuesday, but none have been filed according to the Hartford Courant. However HealthyCT says they filed with the department on Friday. The exchange is blaming federal regulations and delays. UnitedHealthcare notified the exchange last week that…
Read MoreHealth Insurance Rate Shock: What Connecticut Can Do
All indications are that Connecticut health insurance costs will rise significantly next year. Fortunately there are several tools available to policymakers to mitigate that trend for Connecticut consumers and small businesses who will be mandated to secure coverage as of January 1st. A new brief outlines state affordability options including a stronger state MLR limit, active…
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