CID: Health Insurance Rate Request for 2018


Health Insurance Rate Request for 2018

Public comment period: Begins May 8, 2017 and
will remain open until July 1, 2017


The Connecticut Insurance Department is reviewing initial rate filings for individual and small group plans marketed in Connecticut. These rates are proposed for the 2018 coverage year.  Companies had until May 15 to make any adjustment to their initial filings.

HEARING INFORMATION

Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Location: CT Insurance Department
153 Market Street, Hartford, 7th floor conference room



9:00 AM - Anthem Health Plans, Inc. : 33.8 percent average rate increase request, 35,000 policyholders

Company Representatives:
  • John M. Russo; Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Attorney)
  • Michael G. Durham; Donahue Durham & Noonan, P.C. (Attorney)
  • James Augur; Regional Vice President, Sales
  • Tu Nguyen; Director of Actuarial Services

1:00 PM - ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc. (CBI) : 17.5 percent average rate increase request, 50,907 policyholders

Company Representatives:
  • Bradford S. Babbitt; Robinson & Cole, LLP (Attorney)
  • Roberta Wachtelhausen; Senior Vice President & Chief Sales and Marketing Officer
  • Neil Kelsey; Chief Actuary
  • Mary van der Heijde, Principal and Consulting Actuary, Milliman

Insurance Department Participants:
  • Jared Kosky (Hearing Officer)
  • Paul Lombardo (Actuary)
  • Kristin Campanelli (Attorney)

Public Participation:

Commissioner Wade announced that the hearings will be held at the Department’s 7th floor hearing room on 153 Market Street, a public building that also houses the federal Social Security Office, Capital Community College, and the Hartford Board of Education. Parking tickets will be validated for those parking in the Morgan Street Garage to provide the public with free parking. The Department’s building is also on CT Transit bus lines.
  • Hearings - The public will have two opportunities during the hearings to comment – at the beginning and end of each hearing – limited to 3 minutes per person.
  • Online comment - The public can continue to provide online comment for each rate filing, which has been open since May 1 and the record will remain open through close of business July 1, 2017. The online comment section can be accessed by clicking on the individual rate filing.
  • Written comment - Written comments may be filed with the Insurance Department through the close of business July 1, 2017 by mailing or delivering the statements to the Connecticut Insurance Department, P.O. Box 816, Hartford, CT 06142. All of the written comments will be posted on the Department Web site.
The Insurance Department does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities, in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals requiring auxiliary aids for communication or other accommodation should contact Patty Tiberio at (860) 297-3932.

SCOPE OF FILING

A total of 10 health insurance companies have made 14 filings on individual and small group plans that provide coverage to approximately 270,000 people in the state.  The average rate requests range from 3.6 percent to 33.8 percent.




In their filings, companies have cited key cost drivers:

Trend: Trend is a factor that accounts for rising health care costs, including the cost of prescription drugs, and higher demand for medical services.

Risk Pool Experience: Carriers are seeing deteriorating claims experience continue into the first quarter of 2017.

Health Insurance Tax: The federal Health Insurance Tax is returning for 2018, which accounts for 2-3% of premium. There had been a moratorium on the tax.

Other Factors:  Carriers have filed to take into consideration the perceived lack of strong enforcement of the individual mandate, the lack of stability of the risk adjustment mechanism and the evolving participation of carriers in the market.


The Rate Filing Process

Insurance Department will conduct actuarial reviews on each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject or modify the request. A public comment section is available with each filing.

Public Comment

Filings from each company are below. Click "Select" to view an individual filing, which includes executive summary that provides a brief overview the filing and a section to provide public comment.


Total of 14 filings requested
ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1618303
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc. filed a request to increase rates an average of 10 percent on small group policies marketed outside Access Health CT, the state-sponsored health insurance exchange.


ConnectiCare Insurance Company, Inc - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1618303
Company Filing Type: Individual
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare Insurance Company submitted a rate filing requesting a 26.3 percent rate increase on individual health plans marketed outside of Access Health CT, the state sponsored health insurance exchange.


ConnectiCare Inc - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1537522
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare, Inc. filed a request to increase rates an average of 8.8 percent on certain small group HMO policies marketed outside Access Health CT, the state-sponsored health insurance exchange. These policies are used by employers with 50 or fewer workers and currently cover 48 employees and their dependents.


ConnectiCare Inc - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1537522
Company Filing Type: Individual
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare, Inc. submitted a rate filing requesting an average increase of 22 percent on individual health plans or 'Solo' products marketed outside of Access Health CT, the state sponsored health insurance exchange.


Anthem Health Plans, Inc - 2018 On/Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1475928
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017 Anthem Health Plans, Inc. filed a rate request for an average increase of 31.6 percent on small group health plans for employers with 50 or fewer workers.


Anthem Health Plans, Inc - 2018 On/Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1475928
Company Filing Type: Individual
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, Anthem Health Plans, Inc. filed a rate request for an average 33.8 percent increase on individual health plans marketed on and off the state's health insurance exchange.


Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-1181201
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017 Oxford Health Plans (CT), Inc., filed a request to raise rates an average of 11 percent for HMO health plans used by employers with 50 or fewer workers.


UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 36-2739571
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company requested an average rate increase of 3.6 percent for small group plans it is marketing outside of the state health insurance exchange.


Aetna Life Insurance Company - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 06-6033492
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, Aetna Life Insurance Co. submitted a rate filing for an average increase of 19.4 percent for small group indemnity plans that provide major medical and prescription drug coverage for employers with 50 or fewer workers.


Oxford Health Insurance, Incorporated - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 22-2797560
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017 Oxford Health Insurance, Inc., filed a request to raise rates an average of 15.4 percent for health plans used by employers with 50 or fewer workers.


ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc. - 2018 On Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 46-1559752
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc. (CBI) filed rates for a new small group plan that will be marketed through Access Health CT, the state's health insurance marketplace.


ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc. - 2018 On Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 46-1559752
Company Filing Type: Individual
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, ConnectiCare Benefits, Inc. (CBI) filed a request to raise rates an average of 15.2 percent for individual health plans marketed through Access Health CT, the state's health insurance marketplace.


HPHC Insurance Company, Inc. - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 04-3149694
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017 HPHC Insurance Co., Inc., filed notice with the Insurance Department that it plans to apply an average increase of 17.3 percent on small group health care indemnity plans used by employers, who have 50 or fewer workers.


Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of Connecticut, Inc. - 2018 Off Exchange Rates

Tax ID: 46-1681667
Company Filing Type: Small Group
Date Opended: 05/01/2017
Date Closed:

On May 1, 2017, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of Connecticut filed a request to increase rates an average of 10.3 percent for small group HMO plans that will be marketed outside of Access Health CT, the state-sponsored health insurance marketplace.



Find the filing, brief summary and public comment section here at Health Insurance Rate Filings

Content Last Modified on 7/13/2017 5:14:43 PM