After Years Of Eye-Popping Rate Increases, Insurers’ Requests Are Starting To Level Off
In some places, insurers are even seeking small decreases to some of their rates as the health law marketplace stabilizes. But there are still some areas that will be hit with double-digit spikes, such as New York, where Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing back against the requests.
The Wall Street Journal:
Insurers Seek Smaller Rate Increases On ACA Plans
After years of big rate increases on Affordable Care Act plans, insurers in many states are seeking smaller hikes and even some reductions, according to new federal data that provide the broadest view so far of next year’s health-law markets. Major insurers in states including Mississippi and Florida are seeking single-digit increases, according to preliminary rate requests published on Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Big marketplace players in states including Texas, Illinois, Arizona and North Carolina have proposed to cut some premiums for 2019. (Wilde Mathews and Walker, 8/1)
The Wall Street Journal:
New York Pushes Back Against Insurance Premium Increases
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is pushing back against health insurers that want to raise premiums after the federal repeal of financial penalties for those who lack insurance, while New Jersey officials said they avoided such hikes by making the coverage mandate state law. On Monday, Mr. Cuomo directed the state Department of Financial Services to reject the portion of insurers’ proposed rate increases that are tied to the federal changes, saying the companies are seeking to “gain windfall profits” from changes to the Affordable Care Act under President Donald Trump. (King, 8/1)
St. Louis Post Dispatch:
No Double-Digit Increases In Missouri Obamacare Rates Despite Efforts To Undermine The Law
On average, there will be no double-digit rate hikes for consumers who buy individual health insurance online for 2019 despite efforts by the administrationof President Donald Trump to undermine the Affordable Care Act by expanding short-term health plans and scaling back marketing. Rates for Missourians are increasing by an average of 4 percent to 7 percent. Some advocates fear that even this relatively minor uptick in rates will lead some to forgo coverage. (Liss, 8/1)
Kansas City Star:
Obamacare In Missouri: Cigna Hikes, Centene Reductions
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. requested rate hikes that average out to 7.3 percent across all its individual plans, but are three times higher than that for some, according to documents filed with the Missouri Department of Insurance.Cigna officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. (Marso, 8/1)
In other health law news —
The Hill:
GOP Attempt To Block Funding For DC's Individual Mandate Fails In Senate
A Republican attempt to include a provision in a government funding bill that would block the District of Columbia from using money to implement its own individual health-care mandate failed in the Senate on Wednesday. Senators voted 54-44 to table the amendment from GOP Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas). The vote effectively pigeonholes the proposal with the Senate poised to pass the larger funding bill on Wednesday. (Carney, 8/1)
Kaiser Health News:
Listen: Why Red States Challenging ACA Tread Precariously On A Popular Protection
States seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act must do a delicate dance. That’s because most of them have higher-than-average rates of residents with preexisting conditions — a group specifically protected under the ACA. The 2010 health law prohibits insurers from charging more or denying coverage for such conditions, and that provision remains popular across the country and party lines. Twenty GOP state attorneys general and governors filed a challenge to the constitutionality of the ACA in February. Last month, the Department of Justice under Attorney General Jeff Sessions sided with them and decided not to defend key portions of the ACA, including the preexisting conditions provision. (8/2)
