Insurance Department Releases Report on 2016 Health Insurance Costs

CONCORD, New Hampshire, Dec. 13 -- The New Hampshire Department of Insurance issued the following news release:

The New Hampshire Insurance Department today released its annual report on health insurance costs in the state. The report looks at 2016 data from insurance companies operating in the state.

"The Insurance Department plays a key role in informing policymakers and the public about our markets," said New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny. "Accurate, in-depth information is more important than ever, as the state grapples with rising costs and instability in the health insurance marketplace."

Some of the key findings include:

* The number of residents without health insurance declined from 10.7 percent in 2013 to 5.9 percent in 2016 -- and from 83,000 in 2015 to 78,000 in 2016.

* The individual and large-group markets experienced average premium increases of 4 to 6 percent between 2015 and 2016, while premium increases in the small group market were slightly lower.

* The individual market grew from 58,000 members in December 2015 to 104,000 members in 2017, largely due to the state's Premium Assistance Program (NH PAP). This market now covers 37 percent of the total insured lives in New Hampshire.

* Despite substantial membership increases and relatively stable premiums, the individual market struggled with financial losses in 2016.

The full report is available on the Insurance Department's website, along with an abbreviated fact sheet for quick reference.

State law requires the insurance commissioner to "hold an annual public hearing concerning premium rates in the health insurance market and the factors, including health care costs and cost trends that have contributed to rate increases during the prior year." A preliminary version of the report was presented and discussed at the Insurance Department's 2017 annual hearing on premium rates, which took place November 4 in Concord.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department Can Help

Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insurance coverage at 1-800-852-3416 or (603) 271-1406, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department's mission is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. For more information, visit www.nh.gov/insurance.