Vermont insurers are proposing rate hikes of 6 to 12 percent for Obamacare plans in 2018.
The preliminary increases released Friday are smaller than several other states that have released increases of up to 60 percent. The rates are being released as the Senate is trying to draft legislation to repeal Obamacare and insurers are demanding an answer on whether they will get cost-sharing subsidies next year.
In Vermont, the two insurers offering plans on the state’s Obamacare exchange offered relatively small increases. MVP proposed an average hike of 6.7 percent and Blue Cross Blue Shield proposed a larger hike of about 12 percent.
Both rates could be lowered after negotiations with state regulators, and final rates will be released later this year.
Only a handful of states have issued proposed rates for 2018.
In Maryland, insurers asked for an average increases between 18 percent and 59 percent. In Virginia, insurers requested increases of about 30.6 percent on average, according to analyst and Obamacare supporter Charles Gaba.
The other state to propose rates, Connecticut, also had some big increases. For instance, Anthem is seeking an average hike of 33 percent for plans sold on and off the exchanges.
The insurer ConnectiCare asked for 15 percent for plans sold on Obamacare’s exchange.
Insurers that offer plans in any of the 38 states that use healthcare.gov to offer plans have until June to propose their rates.
The insurance industry, meanwhile, has been pleading with the Trump administration to make a decision on cost-sharing reduction payments. Insurers are required to lower co-pays and deductibles for low-income Obamacare customers, and the federal government reimburses those insurers.
Without the payments, insurers have said that they could leave the exchanges or sharply raise premiums.
