Connecticut majority opposed to health insurers’ proposed double-digit rate increases

Lynne Ide of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut Lynne Ide of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut Photo: Christine Stuart Photo Photo: Christine Stuart Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Connecticut majority opposed to health insurers’ proposed double-digit rate increases 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

No one except executives from Anthem Health Plans defended the insurer’s request for a double-digit rate increase Wednesday during an Insurance Department public hearing.

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Two lawmakers, two insurance brokers, and 13 consumers said they opposed the rate increases and added that in the future insurance regulators should be able to reject these “unfair” and “unaffordable” rate increases based on affordability.

Currently, the Insurance Department is only able to review the proposed rate hikes based on certain criteria. The rates have to be adequate and they can’t be excessive or unfairly discriminatory, according to state statute.

Lynne Ide of the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut said they solicited responses from 500 consumers who feel the double-digit rate increases are outrageous and insurance regulators should consider the financial impact on consumers.

“Unaffordable health insurance is a more expensive version of being uninsured,” Ide said.

She said if health insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles are too high then “you’re not going to use it.”

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