2015 Health Insurance Rates Vary by State

As health insurance companies begin establishing premium rates for the 2015 enrollment year, some insurers are pursuing substantial hikes while others are proposing modest increases and even some reductions.

Increases proposed by CareFirst in Washington, D.C. range from as little as four percent for higher-tier plans to more than 24 percent for a catastrophic plan. Other providers are also proposing mixed updates to increase certain plan premiums and reduce others. At the same time, UnitedHealthcare is proposing a reduction in all of their rates. Meanwhile, the average increase in New York is around 13 percent according to the state’s Financial Services Department.

Rate proposals in these and other states appear to be heavily tied to a number of factors, including the number of buyers who chose plans on different tiers during this year’s open enrollment period and the rising cost of medical care. Many insurers are attempting to compensate for larger populations of sick patients who use more care and for differences in health care markets.

However, some states’ proposals are more encouraging for consumers. Georgia, for example, has one statewide provider on their healthcare exchange but will welcome two more for the 2015 enrollment period. In addition, the current provider – Blue Cross and Blue Shield – has proposed statewide rate decreases.

Initial rate proposals are typically revised downward during pre-approval reviews by state regulators, so it is unlikely that the highest rates among those reported will go through as proposed. Also, patients who qualify for federal insurance subsidies through the healthcare marketplace will likely see those subsidies rise to match any rate increases.

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