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The rate hike comes after nearly a month of public comment submitted to the bureau for a review by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office. Every year, Attorney General Peter F.
In June, Teague said the proposed rate hikes “demonstrate the need for continued shared accountability by insurers and providers to address the underlying costs of health care to increase access for Rhode Island consumers and businesses.”
Rhode Islanders expressed growing anger during the referendum.
“I recently experienced a rate hike. [Blue Cross Blue Shield,” wrote Mark De Binder in an email to OHIC. He said his and his wife’s plan has gone from $800 to $2,400 per month since 2012. “And we don’t have any un-normal health situations.”
Clay Moore, a sales and business development manager, said all Rhode Islanders are facing “excessive increases” in gas prices, rent, property taxes, groceries, and utility bills, and it is “unconscionable to raise” rates.
Neronha told the Globe in a statement Wednesday that there appears to be a “presumption” by most insurers that their rates must go up every year, regardless of prevailing economic and other conditions.
“If healthcare costs are rising, it is the public alone who must bear the full weight of those rising costs,” said Neronha in his statement. “And it is a clever game that these insurers play. They typically ask for the moon, recognizing that they are likely to get less, yet secure in the knowledge that the lesser amount they are virtually guaranteed to receive will nevertheless be an enormous win.”
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island requested plans to be sold on the individual market for people who do not receive insurance through their employer. Blue Cross Blue Shield requested a 9.6 percent rate increase, but was approved for a 3.1 percent rate increase into the next year. Neighborhood requested a 6.8 percent increase, but after the Attorney General’s office recommended a 9.8 percent increase, Tigue approved a 8.2 percent increase — which will impact the more than 25,000 people enrolled in the plan.
Brian Hodge, a spokesman in the Attorney General’s office, said Neronha urged Tigue to “deny all requested increases, except for Neighborhood’s in the individual market.”
“This year, like last year and the year before, we advocated that OHIC use its discretion to deny the requested premium increases. We did this, despite our own retained actuaries’ analysis, because I believe they are nevertheless not justified given current, overall economic conditions,” said Neronha in his statement to the Globe. “The only exception was a single instance where, based on our actuaries’ opinion, an increase to Neighborhood’s rates in the individual market was necessary to ensure the company’s solvency and thereby maintain consumer choice in that market.
Last year, Tigue approved a 3.5 percent rate increase for Neighborhoods individual market plans.
“My office has conducted a thorough review of the rate filings, public input, and considered the actuarial recommendations provided by the [Attorney General’s office] in all markets,” says Teague.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Neighborhood Health, UnitedHealthcare and Tufts Health Plan have all filed small group market plans. UnitedHealthcare requested the largest increases of all insurers at 12.3 percent for their HMO plans and 10.7 percent for their PPO plans—down from 5 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.
Blue Cross Blue Shield, the state’s largest health insurer, had about 41,000 people enrolled in its small-group plan through March, asking for an 11.7 percent increase and being approved for a 9.7 percent increase.
Five insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, Tufts Health Plan, Aetna, and Cigna, submitted a large group rate. Each was approved for a price increase, with amendments. Athena approved a 5.4 percent increase, Cigna a 5.7 percent increase, Blue Cross Blue Shield a 5.9 percent increase and an 8 percent increase for UnitedHealthcare’s large group plan.
Tufts Health Plan approved an 8.8 percent increase for their HMO plan and an 8.9 percent increase for their PPO plan.
as if Note In early August, Neronha reminded Tig. June commitment To evaluate these proposed values ”strictly”.
“OHIC has an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to affordable health care through the 2023 price reviews by rejecting unnecessary price increases demanded by insurers,” Neronha wrote. “This year’s rate hike request comes at a time when inflation is at a 40-year high… More than 130,088 Rhode Islanders will face another rate hike if the rate hike is approved.”
Alexa Gagosz can be found at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter. @alexagagosz And on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.
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