Connecticut Schedules Public Hearings On Health Insurance Rate Hikes

May 31--Connecticut residents will have a chance to weigh in on proposed double-digit health insurance rate increases and insurers are expected to defend their requests, the state Insurance Department announced Tuesday.

Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade notified Anthem Health Plans and ConnectiCare Benefits Inc. that their health rate requests will be the subject of public hearings June 14. The companies have about 86,000 policies in force in Connecticut's individual market.

Anthem is requesting an average increase of 33.8 percent for policies on and off Access Health CT, the state exchange, the Insurance Department said. ConnectiCare Benefits requested an average increase of 17.5 percent for policies sold on the exchange.

The state agency announced May 8 that 10 health insurers are seeking rate increases for next year averaging 15.2 percent to 33.8 percent for individual plans. The increases for premium plans range from 19 percent to 52 percent.

The increases would affect 270,000 insured customers, the agency said. The proposed rate hikes are due to increased medical and prescription drug costs, greater use of insurance and "uncertainty in the marketplace," Wade said when the rate requests were made public.

She called for hearings on rate filings for plans that affect the greatest number of Connecticut consumers.

Insurers will be expected to defend their proposals before state lawyers and actuaries, and explain the basis for the premium increases, Insurance Department spokeswoman Donna Tommelleo said. Consumers will then be given an opportunity to comment.

The hearing for Anthem is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. andConnectiCare Benefits will be heard no earlier than 1 p.m. Both will be at the Insurance Department's 7th floor hearing room on 153 Market St. in Hartford.

The public also may provide online comment through July 1. The online comment section can be accessed by clicking on the individual rate filing.

Written comments may be filed with the Insurance Department, also through July 1, by mailing or delivering the statements to the Connecticut Insurance Department, P.O. Box 816, Hartford CT 06142. All written comments will be posted on the agency's website.

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