via Access Health CT:

Connecticut residents can work one-on-one with enrollment specialists to help them shop, compare and enroll in quality health coverage

HARTFORD, Conn. (Nov. 2, 2023) — Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced it will hold six enrollment fairs in November to help Connecticut residents shop, compare, and enroll or renew their health coverage during the current Open Enrollment period. Enrollment fairs are one-day events that provide customers free, in-person help from enrollment specialists. These events will take place in Danbury, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Stamford and West Haven.

via DC Health Link:

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

DC Health Link Open Enrollment Begins Today, Runs Through January 31, 2024; Monthly Premiums Start as Low as $13/Month

Washington, DC–Today, as the 2024 Open Enrollment period begins, Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Health Link encourage residents to sign up for high-quality, affordable health insurance at DCHealthLink.com, the District’s online state-based health insurance marketplace. Open Enrollment for DC individuals and families begins today, November 1, 2023, and runs through January 31, 2024.

“Making sure everyone in DC has access to comprehensive, affordable health insurance is one of the many ways we are working to keep DC healthy and our residents’ healthcare costs down,” said Mayor Bowser. “Whether you are uninsured and need a policy or are looking for a more affordable way to keep you and your family covered, there is a plan for you at DCHealthLink.com.”

via the Maine Dept. of Health & Human Services:

As Open Enrollment launches today, tens of thousands of Mainers qualify for help to pay their monthly premiums

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced today that Maine people can now visit CoverME.gov to shop for and enroll in 2024 coverage that fits their needs at a price that works during the Open Enrollment Period that kicks off today, November 1, 2023.

At CoverME.gov, Maine's Health Insurance Marketplace, Maine people can compare private plans, apply for financial savings, and enroll in a 2024 health or dental insurance plan. All plans offered on CoverME.gov provide quality, comprehensive insurance that protects consumers if they have an accident or major illness and fully pays for preventive screenings. This year, Maine people can continue to take advantage of additional federal financial assistance that makes insurance more affordable.

Originally posted 8/07/23; updated 11/02/23

Hawaii only has two health insurance carriers serving the individual market, Hawaii Medical Service Assocation and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. Both of them have submitted their proposed premium rate filings for 2024; HMSA is asking for a dramatic 12.2% rate hike while Kaiser Foundation is seeking a more modest 3% increase.

From the HMSA filing summary:

Our requested rates include only the amounts needed to cover the expected health care benefits of our members, the cost of administering their benefits, expected Affordable Care Act (ACA) fees, a small charge to help manage the risk of offering benefits to this population, and a small margin that will allow us to continue replenishing HMSA’s reserves.

Originally posted 7/26/23; updated 11/02/23

via Covered California:

Covered California’s Health Plans and Rates for 2024: More Affordability Support and Consumer Choices Will Shield Many From Rate Increase

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California announced its health plans and rates for the 2024 coverage year with a preliminary weighted average rate increase of 9.6 percent.

The rate change can be attributed to many factors, including a continued rise in health care utilization following the pandemic, increases in pharmacy costs, and inflationary pressures in the health care industry, such as the rising cost of care, labor shortages and salary and wage increases.

Originally posted 08/07/2023; updated 11/02/23

Florida state law gives private corporations wide berth as to what sort of information, which is easily available in some other states, they get to hide from the public under the guise of it being a "trade secret."

In the case of health insurance premium rate filing data, that even extends to basic information like "how many customers they have."

If you think I'm being sarcastic, this is literally a screenshot of what you get if you attempt to use the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation's filing search:

Michigan

Back in June (updated in July), I posted an analysis of the preliminary 2024 rate filings for Michigan's individual & small group market carriers. At the time, there wasn't anything terribly interesting going on in my home state other than Humana and McLaren pulling out of the small group market (Humana is doing this nationally). Overall 2024 rate increases averaged 5.6% and 7.1% on the indy and small group markets respectively.

Yesterday, however, the Michigan Dept. of Insurance & Financial Services posted the final/approved rate filings for 2024, and while there were only a couple of very minor tweaks to most of the preliminary requests, there's one important change: US Health & Life Insurance Co. is no longer going to be on the Michigan individual market at all:

In August I posted the average rate changes being requested for 2024 by New Jersey insurance carriers on the individual & small group markets; it came in at ~6.6% for the indy market and 12.2% for the small group market...but those was unweighted by carrier market share.

Yesterday, with the launch of the 2024 Open Enrollment Period, the New Jersey Insurance Dept. has posted the final/approved rate filings...and while they don't appear to have made any changes to the preliminary requested rate changes, they do include the overall weighted rate increases (unfortunately I still don't know how many enrollees each carrier has).

The weighted rate hikes are just 4.4% on the individual market and 7.3% for small group plans. It's also worth noting that UnitedHealthcare is newly joining the NJ individual market:

Back in July I posted Missouri's preliminary 2024 rate filing requests from individual & small group market carriers; the weighted average across all 9 carriers on the individual market was 4.3%, while it was 6.6% for the small group carriers.

Yesterday the Missouri Insurance Dept. posted the final/approved filings along with this press release:

Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance releases health insurance rates for 2024 with more choices for Missourians

  • Missourians should shop around when looking for health insurance coverage on the individual market; most will find they have many choices for plan year 2024

Jefferson City, Mo – The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) announces the release of final health insurance rates for Missouri’s 2024 individual market. 

Originally posted 8/08/23; updated 11/02/23

A few months ago, the Illinois legislature passed, and IL Gov. Pritzker signed, a new law which made my healthcare wonk heart sing, including:

  • Provides that beginning before or on May 1, 2026, and each May 1 thereafter, the Department of Insurance shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly on health insurance coverage, affordability, and cost trends.
  • Amends the Illinois Insurance Code.
  • Provides that any forms and rates filed for large employer group accident and health insurance shall be automatically deemed approved after 90 days after filing.
  • Provides that beginning plan year 2026, rate increases for all individual and small group accident and health insurance policies must be filed with the Department for approval.
  • Provides that unreasonable rate increases or inadequate rates shall be modified or disapproved.
  • Provides that beginning plan year 2025, the Department shall post all insurers' rate filings and summaries on the Department's website.

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