2023 Rate Changes

Hmmmm...Vermont's filings are usually pretty easy to average because a) they don't redact any of their filing data; b) they make the forms easy to access; and c) they only have two insurance carriers operating in the individual or small group markets anyway (in fact, it's the same two carriers in both markets).

This year, however, there's an odd discrepancy going on between what I had originally reported as the preliminary 2023 rate filings and what's showing up as the preliminary filings under the approved rate changes.

Back in May, the preliminary individual market rate filings were +12.3% for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and +17.4% for MVP, for a weighted average increase of 14.7%, while the small group filings averaged out to +14.6%.

This was also reported by Liora Engel-Smith of VT Digger at the time:

Georgia

Georgia's health department doesn't publish their annual rate filings publicly, but they don't hide them either; I was able to acquire pretty much everything via a simple FOIA request. Huge kudos to the GA OCI folks!

A few years ago, Georgia's GOP Governor, Brian Kemp, put in a request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for what's known as a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver. If approved, these waivers allow individual states to modify how the ACA operates in their state as long as they can prove that the changes would a) cover at least as many residents b) at least as comprehensively without c) increasing federal spending in the process.

Rhode Island

Via the SERFF database, it looks like Rhode Island's two individual market carriers have had their 2023 individual market rate changes finalized. Blue Cross Blue Shield is increasing rates lower than they originally requested (3.1% instead of 9.6%), while Neighborhood Health Plan rates are increasing more than they originally asked for (8.3% vs. 6.9%).

Overall weighted average increase: +6.1%, down from +8.0%.

Unfortunately I can't find the final rate change filings for the small group market yet.

Oregon

via the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation:

Salem – People who purchase their own health insurance, as well as those in the small group market, can view the final rate decisions for the 2023 health insurance plans, which have been released by the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation. The division reviews and approves rates through a detailed and transparent process before they can be charged to policyholders.

The division conducted a rigorous review, including holding public hearings and taking public comments, to reach the final decisions. The division published preliminary decisions in July before the public hearings. In the public hearings, members of the public, health insurance companies, and the division have the opportunity to further review and analyze the preliminary decisions.

Montana

The Montana Insurance Dept. has published the final/approved (unsubsidized) premium rate changes for 2023 in both the individual and small group markets:

Insurance companies offering individual and small group health insurance plans are required to file proposed rates with the Montana State Auditor’s Department of Insurance for review and before plans can be sold to consumers.

What is a rate review?

The rate review process, established by the Montana Legislature in 2013, does not give the Commissioner the authority to disapprove rates or prevent them from taking effect. It does give the commissioner the chance to review the factors insurance companies use in setting rates.

If the commissioner finds a rate increase to be excessive or unjustified, the insurer can voluntarily lower the rate increase. If the insurer decides to use the rate anyway, the commissioner will issue a public finding announcing that the rate is unjustified.

What does the department consider?

Indiana

The Indiana Insurance Dept. has quietly posted their final/approved 2023 health insurance premium rate changes for both the individual and small group markets:

INDIANA 2023 ACA FILINGS

The overall average rate increase for 2023 Indiana individual marketplace plans is 5.7%.

The IDOI will finalize the review of the 2023 ACA compliant filings both on and off the federal Marketplace by August 18, 2022.

  • The medical trend increase ranges from 5.1-10.2%. This varies depending on networks and experience of each carrier.
  • The premium averages shown consist of a combination of catastrophic, bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans. The premium is reflected as an average; individuals may experience a rate increase or decrease dependent on the plan selection or auto-enrollment process.
  • Within each metal level there are numerous plans with various cost sharing methods.

There's been no change to any of the rate filings on the individual market.  A few of the small group market carriers were shaved down a bit.

Idaho

Via the Idaho Insurance Dept:

Idaho Rate Review Individual

The Department of Insurance receives preliminary health plan information for the following year from insurance carriers by June 1 and reviews the proposed plan documents and rates for compliance with Idaho and federal regulations.The Department of Insurance does not have the authority to set or establish insurance rates, but it does have the authority to deem rate increases submitted by insurance companies as reasonable or unreasonable. After the review and negotiation process, the carriers submit their final rate increase information.The public is invited to provide comments on the rate changes. Please send any comments to Idaho Department of Insurance.

District of Columbia

via the DC Dept. of Insurance, Securities & Banking:

DC Announces 2023 Health Insurance Rates; Half of Insurers Decrease Rates after District Review

Washington, DC–Today, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) announced the 2023 approved individual and small business health insurance rates. As a result of the Department’s review, half of the insurers decreased their initial rate proposals, which will save District residents more than $17 million.

“The Bowser Administration and the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking are committed to fair rates and non-discriminatory coverage,” said DISB Commissioner Karima M. Woods. “We performed a thorough review of 211 small group plans and 27 individual plans to ensure that they meet the District’s standards and provide non-discriminatory, accessible and affordable health insurance for our residents.”

Pennsylvania

I can't overstate how much I wish every state was as good as Pennsylvania is at not only making their annual rate filings publicly available on the state insurance dept. website, but doing so in such a clear, simple format, while also including a consistent summary page for every carrier!

As a result of this attention to transparency and detail, I was able to put together my Pennsylvania analysis pretty quickly even though they hae a huge number of carriers on both their individual and small group markets.

Via the Pennsylvania Insurance Dept:

Insurance Department Announces 2023 Health Insurance Rates; Highlights More Plan Options And Positive Impact Of Inflation Reduction Act

​Harrisburg, PA – Acting Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys today announced Pennsylvania's 2023 Individual and Small Group Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance rates, highlighting increased marketplace competition for several counties, and how the Inflation Reduction Act and extension of subsidies contributed to lower rates. Pennsylvanians can expect more options and greater competition while shopping for health insurance plans for 2023.

Arizona

The Arizona Insurance Department has finally posted the final, approved 2023 Individual and Small Group Market premium rate filings.

There's two significant changes this year: One new entrant to the individual market (Imperial Insurance) and one major withdrawl...Bright Health Co., which I wrote about earlier today; they had around 19,700 enrollees in the AZ individual market as of a year ago, though I don't know how many are enrolled at the moment.

In any event, Arizona is looking at a weighted average rate increase of 4.3% on the individual market (for unsubsidized enrollees only), and 8.2% on the small group market:

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