Insurance carriers have submitted proposed rates to the Department of Insurance (DOI) for 2018 in Kentucky’s individual and small group markets.
In a continuing trend tied to market forces, an aging population, and systemic instability and uncertainty injected by the failure of Obamacare, the proposed rates reflect substantial year-over-year increases ranging from 6.5 percent to 47.7 percent, depending on the plan.
In addition to increased rates, preliminary filings suggest Kentuckians will have limited options on the healthcare exchange. In some counties, there will be only one option for individual coverage and no exchange offerings will be available in the small group market.
“The health insurance marketplace has been ripe with uncertainty and instability since the implementation of Obamacare,” said DOI Commissioner Nancy Atkins. “Year-after-year, Kentuckians are experiencing the fallout from bad policy, and the rate increases reflected in this year’s filings are, unfortunately, commonplace for most states.”
Anthem and CareSource Kentucky are the only insurance companies offering plans to individuals. CareSource submitted an increase of 20.8 percent while Anthem requested an additional 34.1 percent.
Small group insurance requests ranged from four percent to 22 percent.
In an effort to reduce the magnitude of these proposed rate increases, DOI exercised its available flexibility within federal mandates to extend the submission date for initial rate filings on two separate occasions. These extensions permitted carriers additional time to fully evaluate the 2018 market.
In addition, DOI proactively provided insurers with marketplace information specific to Kentucky.
“DOI has emphasized to carriers that the best possible outcomes for Kentucky consumers must be achieved,” added Atkins. “Obamacare’s failure at the federal level combined with the collapse of the Kentucky Health Cooperative under the Beshear Administration placed a substantial strain on the state’s entire healthcare matrix, which continues to impact the current stability of the marketplace.”
DOI cautions the filings are preliminary and subject to change. Experienced DOI health analysts and actuaries will closely evaluate the rate request applications before rates are finalized on or before Aug. 16, 2017.
Although rate requests are generally indicative of rate increases for consumers, individual premiums will depend on a variety of factors, including age, smoking habits, and geographic location. Open enrollment for plan year 2018 begins November 1, 2017.
The preliminary 2018 rate filings are available online on the Kentucky Department of Insurance website at http://insurance.ky.gov/ratefil/default.aspx.
The Kentucky Department of Insurance regulates the Commonwealth’s insurance market, licenses agents and other insurance professionals, monitors the financial condition of companies, educates consumers to make wise choices, and ensures Kentuckians are treated fairly in the marketplace. To learn more about DOI, visit http://insurance.ky.gov/.
From Kentucky Department of Insurance Communications
DOI over the years has done nothing to help
Kentuckians. It should be despanded and
use the savings from the high salaries to help
lower the cost of ins. in Ky. They blame our
former Governor when it was him that
expanded Medicare. Don’t even tell me that
insurance companies are losing money, look
at their profits, they just are not making an enough. Amy insurance company who does
sell health insurance should be kicked out.
One payer system will solve the problem. But
we a Republican governor. Go figure.
We already have Single Payer in the US… the Veterans Administration. It’s a colossal failure and far too expensive to broaden into the Democrat “holy grail” that is single payer. A new report jut came out last month regarding 100 veterans who died in california waiting for the VA to provide care. No thanks! I’ll take free market for my healthcare, allowing me to pick who, when, and where I receive my care.