Insurance Department Discusses Impact of ACA Rate Filings at New Kensington Information Event

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Aug. 16 -- The Pennsylvania Insurance Department issued the following news release:

Insurance Department Chief of Staff Alison Beam met with residents and health professionals today at Community Health Clinic, Inc. in New Kensington to highlight the positive statewide impact of the newly released 2019 rate filings for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act.

The Insurance Department publicly released the 2019 rate filings for individual and small group health insurance plans on July 23.

Beam explained that consumers in the Pittsburgh area will continue to experience competitive coverage options in the individual market during this year's open enrollment period for 2019.

"The Pittsburgh region has a competitive health insurance market, which means consumers have options, both in terms of plan offerings and affordability," Beam said. "As individuals and families begin to think about enrolling or re-enrolling in the individual market this fall, I urge them to shop around and explore the plan that best fits their needs."

The number of individual market issuers will remain the same compared to last year in western Pennsylvania; specifically, Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties will continue to have two individual market issuers. The number of issuers will increase from one to two in Armstrong and Clarion counties. No counties are losing issuers.

"We were delighted to host the Insurance Department today for this important discussion on the continued availability of affordable and stable health coverage for the residents of our service area," said Community Health Clinic, Inc. CEO Raji Jayakrishnan. "We remain committed to provide high-quality, affordable health care to all community members, regardless of their ability to pay; and to assist those without health insurance to obtain quality, affordable health coverage through our certified application counselor service."

A chart of the rate filings and maps detailing the impact by county are available on the Insurance Department's website, www.insurance.pa.gov.

Rate requests reviewed by the department for the 2019 plan year are due to the federal government in August, and final approved rates will be made public in the fall.

Public comment on rate requests and filings will be accepted through Aug. 22 and can be emailed to [email protected].

For more information on health insurance rates and how they are filed, visit www.insurance.pa.gov. and click on Health.