Blumenthal says proposed insurance rates are unaffordable
HARTFORD (AP) — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal says proposed health insurance rate increases in Connecticut are unaffordable.
The Connecticut Democrat says the rates released by the Connecticut Department of Insurance for 2020 on Friday deserve strong scrutiny.
The insurance department says the proposed average individual rate request is a 7.8 percent increase, compared to 12.3 percent in 2019. The proposed average small group rate request is a 12 percent increase, compared to 10.2 percent in 2019.
The reinstatement of a federally mandated health insurer tax accounts for about 3 percentage points of each carrier's increase request. The department says ongoing rising medical costs are also a key driver.
Blumenthal says Congress must continue working to bring down costs of prescription drugs and medical services.
Fourteen filings were made by 10 health insurers for plans that currently cover 242,000 people.
Comment threads are monitored for 48 hours after publication and then closed.
