Lawmakers Calling For Public Input On Insurance Rate Requests

Newtown State Rep Mitch Bolinsky and Senator Tony Hwang, whose 28th District includes Newtown, are joining with the state’s Insurance Department ramping up outreach in the hope of encouraging Newtown residents to speak out against proposed health insurance rate increases currently on the table.

The Connecticut Insurance Department seeks public comment for an August 21 informational public meeting on those requests.

The proposed average individual rate request for the plan year starting January 1, 2024 is a 12.4 percent increase, compared to 20.4 percent in plan year 2023. Increases requested range from 9.8 percent to 17.5 percent. The proposed average small group rate request is a 14.8 percent increase, compared to 14.8 percent in 2023 and ranges from 7.5 percent to 23.0 percent.

Bolinsky said carriers have attributed the proposed increases to:

Trend: Trend is a factor that accounts for rising health care costs, including the cost of prescription drugs and the increased demand for medical services.

Experience: Experience adjustment necessary to reflect deteriorating claim experience from the prior rating period to the current rating period.

Medicaid Unwinding: The impact to the current commercial market due to Medicaid unwinding.

Legislation: The impact of bills passed in 2022, such as Public Act 22-90 (expanded coverage mandates for certain procedures used to treat or prevent breast and/or ovarian cancer) and PA 22-47 (requires coverage of two mental health wellness examinations per year, coverage for emergency access to DCF-licensed urgent crisis center services).

Hwang, who serves as Ranking Senator on the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, is urging rejection of unaffordable double-digit health insurance rate increases sought by Anthem, Cigna and ConnectiCare.

In written testimony he submitted ahead of the hearing, Hwang tells state insurance regulators that “we cannot sustain health insurance rate hikes in Connecticut.” He states that “overall affordability is a crisis in our state, and this crushing health insurance rate increase will exponentially add to that.”

Bolinsky reinforced the fact that, as a matter of policy, the Insurance Department does not necessarily grant insurers their full requests.

“And in my opinion, any increase in fees places an added strain on residents at a time when our regulators should be doing what it can to hold the line or reduce costs for families in these inflationary times,” he said. “For this reason, I encourage every impacted ratepayer to make their voices heard on these ill-timed and unaffordable cost increases. Last I checked, wages hadn’t increased 12 percent in the past year, making these requests yet another reason for concern.”

While urging rejection, Hwang points out multiple missed opportunities that aimed to provide solutions to achieving more affordable and accessible health insurance. Among them: Association Health Plans, Benchmarking, Reinsurance, and Prescription Drug Cost Containment.

Hwang believes the best way to try and curb these increases, or at least reduce them, is for the public to speak out.

“As someone who has worked on a bipartisan basis to lower health insurance rates, I want to make the public aware of an important public meeting regarding proposed double-digit health insurance rate hikes and how people can speak out,” Hwang said. “Your comment can simply be: ‘No to health care rate hikes.’ Make your voices heard as soon as possible and please spread the word.”

Anyone wishing to speak virtually at the meeting via Zoom can sign up by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with your name and written comments.

Hwang said people can also e-mail him comments at [email protected] with their name and town and he will personally submit them to the state Insurance Department at Monday’s hearing in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The hearing starts at 9 am.

“I encourage you to submit written testimony when you sign up to speak, which can be done prior to virtual or in-person presentations,” Bolinsky said. “Comments must be limited to three-spoken minutes, although written testimony may include more detail.”

Bolinsky said the Insurance Department will review each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject, or modify the request, with a final ruling likely in early September. Open enrollment for the 2024 coverage year begins November 1.

To access details on proposed increases, visit portal.ct.gov/-/media/CID/1_RateFilings/2024-ACA-Rate-Filing-Request.pdf

To file written comments and opposition or support, look for the “Select” buttons when visiting catalog.state.ct.us/cid/portalApps/HCfiling2024.aspx

Anyone accessing this information before the deadline may also participate virtually through Zoom and can sign up by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with your name and any attached written comments by Friday, August 18 at 5 pm.

Editor John Voket can be reached at [email protected].