Mountlake Terrace, Wash.-based Premera Blue Cross will increase health insurance premiums by an average 9.8 percent in 2017 for individual plans, Alaska Dispatch News reported.
The rate change is a decrease from the 40 percent hikes in 2014 and 2015. This year's hikes come despite a $55 million state reinsurance program, funded by Alaska's insurance premium tax, passed to stave off high premium increases.
Around 7,000 policyholders will be affected. Members covered by Portland, Ore.-based Moda Health will see higher-than-average increases, the Division of Insurance Director Lori Wing-Heier told Alaska Dispatch News. Moda is exiting the state's market next year.
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