Some Idahoans may see a consecutive year of double-digit premium increases as health insurers propose an average increase of 27 percent for individual plans, the Idaho Statesman reported.
Across the board, Utah-based Select Health proposed an average 32 percent increase, Blue Cross of Idaho proposed an average 28 percent increase, Mountain Health Co-Op proposed an average 21 percent increase, BridgeSpan Health proposed an average 12 percent increase and PacificSource Health Plans proposed an average 8 percent increase.
Insurers cite expiring federal Affordable Care Act programs that help payers combat high costs, increased medical treatments and heightened medical and prescription drug costs as reasons for the proposed rate hikes.
"We will aggressively challenge these proposed increases in the individual market and continue to fight against abusive practices which contribute to these losses and ultimately to rate increases," Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron said in a news release.
By state law, IDI reviews rates before they take affect, though IDI cannot set the rates, according to the Statesman. IDI is seeking public comment on the proposed increases.