Delegation Lauds Rejection of Health Insurance Rate Increase Request

WASHINGTON—Today, the Connecticut delegation released the following joint statement applauding the Connecticut Department of Insurance’s decision to limit rate increases on individual and small group health insurance policies for 2015:

“Today’s decision is a victory for Connecticut consumers and a testament to the Affordable Care Act’s measures to empower state insurance departments to overturn unreasonable rate increases. Instead of an average 12.5 percent increase as Anthem requested or a 12.8 percent increase as Connecticare requested in 2015 rates, the increase will be limited to an average two percent and 3.1 percent, respectively. In addition, other carriers’ rate requests were dramatically curtailed. In particular, the decision cited the ACA reinsurance program as grounds for cutting the rate hike requests. The  program’s cushion and robust review by the Department indicate a new era of consumer protection in Connecticut’s health insurance marketplace. We applaud the vigorous advocacy of the Attorney General and the Health Care Advocate who did so much in the Anthem case to ensure that families will have access to quality, affordable coverage in 2015.”

Last November, the Connecticut House Delegation and others called on the Administration to utilize the reinsurance program to help ensure affordable rates. In June, the entire Connecticut delegation sent a letter to Connecticut Insurance Department Commissioner Thomas Leonardi encouraging a robust review process for rate increase requests for 2015. Click here to read the text of the June letter.

2015 rate decisions released today include:

Connecticare: Requested 12.8 percent increase, revised to 6.2 percent; Disapproved, reduced to 3.1 percent increase for individual plans

HealthyCT: 8.5 percent decrease for 2015 individual plans

HealthyCT: 13.4 percent decrease for 2015 small group plans

United Health Care: 2.5 percent increase for small group plans

Anthem: Requested 12.5 percent increase; Disapproved, reduced to 1 to 2 percent average increase for individual plans 

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