Health insurers in Connecticut have proposed to increase premiums for 2019 by an average of 12.3 percent for Obamacare plans, though there is a wide gap between the requests.
The proposals range from a requested decrease of 10.9 percent by CTCare Benefits Inc. to a requested increase of 31 percent by Anthem Health Plans. Last year, Obamacare plans increased by an average of 25.5 percent.
Insurers attributed the changes to rising healthcare costs as well as uncertainty from the federal government. They cite the Trump administration’s actions to offer plans outside Obamacare’s rules and the GOP’s tax bill, which in 2019 will eliminate the fine for going uninsured.
The state’s insurance regulator is expected to negotiate with the insurers over final prices, which will be announced ahead of the November open enrollment period during which people can purchase coverage. The coverage offered on the exchange tends to be purchased by people who are self-employed or work for a small business that doesn’t provide health insurance.
How much customers pay for coverage through their Obamacare plans will vary based on whether they smoke, how old they are, where they live, and whether their income is low enough to qualify for subsidies, a cutoff of about $48,000 a year.
