6:00: Morning News

Lower premium hikes take effect next year for Highmark, CareSource health plans

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the 1st time since the launch of West Virginia’s health insurance exchange created in the Affordable Care Act, health insurance premium increases are in the single digits — percentage-wise — for the 2019 coverage year.

The enrollment period on the exchange opened Thursday with premiums for individual plans from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield up by an average of nine percent, while the average increase was 9.5 percent for CareSource plans, according to information from the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner.

“We’re pleased with the rates this year,” said Ellen Potter, WVOIC director of health policy. “We’re hoping that this is an indication of the future.”

Her response was based on past years that saw premium increases of 30 percent or more in some cases.

“We just feel that this is the 6th year, the market is beginning to stabilize. The costs and the claims are kind of balancing out now,” Potter told MetroNews.

Uncertainty, she said, fueled the trend of larger hikes in previous years.

Last year, for example, premiums went up by more than 25 percent for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield while the increases averaged out to about 19 percent for CareSource for individual plans.

“The first few years, they didn’t have good experience because it was a new type of market since they were accepting everybody, regardless of their health, and it just takes a while for the marketplace to balance out and we’re getting to that point now,” Potter said.

A change to ACA made under President Donald Trump could alter that balance.

In 2019, there will be no tax penalties for not having health insurance because the individual mandate has been eliminated.

“We don’t know really know what to expect this year with the penalty going away,” said Potter.

In all, 27,000 West Virginians are enrolled in health insurance plans from West Virginia’s exchange.

More than 85 percent of those enrollees receive subsidies in some amount to help with the costs of premiums. Despite changes to ACA, subsidies are still available for those who qualify and enroll at healthcare.gov.

“It’s the 6th year and we’re just hoping that people stay in the plans,” Potter said. “We’re hoping that they see the positives and the reasons they need to have insurance and that continues.”

The deadline to enroll for health insurance plans for 2019 on the exchange is Dec. 15, 2018.

The exchange is available to people don’t have other health insurance options like private employer plans or the government programs of Medicare and Medicaid.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield offers health insurance plans in all West Virginia counties.

CareSource is available in 35 counties next year, an increase from 32 counties this year.

Free assistance with the enrollment process is available via West Virginia Navigator by going online HERE or by calling 844-WV-CARES. Appointments can made for phone or in-person consultations in local communities.

Help can also be found at many local health centers.





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