The Connecticut Insurance Department announced Thursday that premiums for individual and small group plans can rise only about 3 percent on average in 2019, lower than the increases approved in recent years.
Connecticut Insurance Department
Posted inHealth
Wade: State law bars sale of Trump’s ‘junk’ short-term health plans
The Connecticut Insurance Department has determined state law prohibits the sale of skimpy “short term” plans that are being promoted by President Donald Trump as a cheaper alternative to Affordable Care Act coverage. “Connecticut already has the necessary statutory consumer protections in place to prohibit ‘junk plans,’” said Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade.
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Blumenthal presses state for protections in ‘short-term’ health plans
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday said he’s talked with state officials about placing consumer protections on any new health insurance policies sold in Connecticut once the new Trump administration regulation on short-term plans takes effect in about 60 days.
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Drug-price transparency bill passes legislature with no dissent
A bill designed to help Connecticut officials peer into the black box of drug pricing won final approval from a unanimous state Senate early Wednesday, and will now go to the governor. Proponents of the measure called it a necessary first step toward curbing expensive prescription drug prices.
Posted inHealth
House unanimously passes bill to shine light on drug industry
The state House of Representatives unanimously approved a comprehensive bill that aims to shed light on the murky prescription drug industry, which state officials say is a necessary first step to lowering expensive drug costs.
Posted inHealth, Politics
White House moves to allow Obamacare rival
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday moved forward on allowing Americans to purchase short-term health plans that may be more affordable than what’s on the market right now but would not contain the Affordable Care Act’s consumer protections and would undermine the health care law.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT businesses, employees face hikes in health care premiums
WASHINGTON – When the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period for health insurance begins on Wednesday, many individuals who buy their own policies will suffer sticker shock because of a sharp increase in premiums. But the state’s large and small businesses are girding for higher premiums to cover their workers in 2018 too. And they and their employees will face tough choices.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Obamacare open enrollment to begin amid shaky insurance market
Open enrollment for health care coverage next year begins next week amid uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act and big increases in premiums for individuals and businesses that do not qualify for subsidies. Nevertheless, the health care law is still in effect and those required to enroll in a plan will face increasing penalties by the Internal Revenue Service if they fail to do so.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem, ConnectiCare say they will continue on Access Health CT
WASHINGTON – Anthem and ConnectiCare said on Wednesday they will continue to sell policies on the Access Health CT exchange next year, but charge a lot more for most policies.
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Insurers say they need big premium boost for ‘silver’ plans if ACA subsidy ends
WASHINGTON — ConnectiCare says it needs to hike the cost of popular “silver” plans sold on the Access Health CT for 2018 by more than 50 percent, and Anthem says it needs to increase premiums on its silver plans by more than 43 percent if the Trump administration ends a program that subsidizes out-of-pocket payments for low- and moderate-income Americans.
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Access Health again extends deadline for insurers to decide on 2018
The two remaining insurers on Connecticut’s health insurance exchange will have an extra week – until Sept. 15 – to decide whether to continue selling plans through the exchange’s individual marketplace next year.
Posted inHealth
State asks Anthem, ConnectiCare, to file new rates
WASHINGTON – The Connecticut Insurance Department on Wednesday asked Anthem and ConnectiCare to submit new rate filings for 2018 based on the possibility the federal government would stop “cost-sharing reduction” payments to the insurers that subsidize lower co-payment and deductibles for low-income Americans.
Posted inHealth
Wade may be fined for withholding records on Aetna-Humana merger
In a proposed ruling, a Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission hearing officer has determined the Insurance Department failed to prove the records were exempt from disclosure and has recommended a rare civil fine against Commissioner Katharine Wade. The commission is scheduled to consider the case June 28.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Health insurers seek big rate hikes, blame Obamacare’s uncertain future
WASHINGTON — The state’s health insurers are asking for sizeable rate increases for individual and small-business policies sold in 2018, led by Anthem, which is seeking an average 33.8 percent increase on plans covering individuals and their families.
Posted inHealth
Insurance Department will seek to liquidate HealthyCT
The Connecticut Insurance Department plans to seek a court order to liquidate insurer HealthyCT at the end of the year, after an appointed overseer’s report that the nonprofit company – created with federal funds made available through Obamacare – is insolvent.