The Idaho Department of Insurance has posted proposed health insurance premium rates, plus the requested increases for plans sold starting January 2019.
Health insurance carriers submitted their rating information and explanations for the rate increases. The insurance department has the authority to determine the rates “unreasonable” if the requests are not adequately justified.
Preliminary 2019 rate increase requests include a 10 percent overall jump for Blue Cross of Idaho Health Service, and a 7 percent increase for Regence BlueShield of Idaho. Proposals seek a 24 percent overall bump for PacificSource Health Plans, and 23 percent for Mountain Health CO-OP. SelectHealth was the only proposal that would lower rates overall by 1 percent.
In past years, the department has negotiated lower rate increases with carriers to avoid having them labeled unreasonable.
Final rates will be publicly available in mid-September or early October.
Public comments can be emailed to ratecomments@doi.idaho.gov or or mailed to the Idaho Department of Insurance in Boise. (Idaho Department of Insurance, Times-News)
