Mass. Health Connector Promises A Better Insurance Shopping Experience For Consumers
The Connector says changes will make plan selection easier, even though premiums will increase between 2.2 percent and 9.3 percent. News outlets report on other related developments in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Kansas.
The Boston Globe:
Health Connector Customers To See Changes For 2016 Enrollment
Consumers buying health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector this fall can expect a different shopping experience than existed a year ago, Connector officials promised Thursday. When open enrollment starts Nov. 1, there will be a smaller roster of plans to choose from, with higher premiums for some plans and lower premiums for others. And there will be higher deductibles in one category of plans. (Freyer, 9/11)
WBUR:
Health Connector Sees Rate Hikes For Some, Reductions For Others
Health insurance premiums for Massachusetts residents who purchase unsubsidized health insurance through the Health Connector Authority will see average increases next year of between 2.2 percent and 9.3 percent, according to rates approved by a state board Thursday. (Young, 9/10)
The Connecticut Mirror:
Buy Your Own Health Insurance? Here’s How Your Premiums Will Change Next Year
Insurance prices will change in 2016 for the nearly 170,000 Connecticut residents who buy their own health plans. So what will people be paying? Here's a look, broken down in two ways. First, you can see some sample premiums and how they're changing from 2015 to 2016. Second, you can see how a specific plan's premium will change next year. (Levin Becker, 9/10)
The Associated Press:
Rhode Island Uninsured Rate Drops By Over Half Since 2012
The number of uninsured people in Rhode Island has dropped by more than half since 2012, according to a survey released Thursday by the state's health insurance exchange. Fewer than 50,000 people in Rhode Island now lack health insurance, compared with 113,000 in 2012, said Anya Rader Wallack, director of HealthSource RI. The rate of uninsured people dropped from 11 percent in 2012 to 5 percent in 2015, the survey found. (McDermott, 9/10)
The Kansas Health Institute News Service:
Surcharge Means Higher Insurance Costs For Some Kansans Who Smoke
The federal health reform law known as the Affordable Care Act prevents insurers from considering pre-existing health conditions when setting premiums for consumers. But they are able to consider age, location and tobacco use. And that means some Kansans who smoke are charged higher insurance rates, which may discourage low-income smokers from getting health coverage, according to a new issue brief from the Kansas Health Institute. (9/10)
