(Washington, D.C. – Insurance News 360) – On Oct. 19, 2017, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) approved 2018 health insurance plan rates for DC Health Link, which is the District of Columbia’s health insurance marketplace.

Since May, DISB has been reviewing initial rates filed by the insurers. Two insurers lowered their rates from initial proposals.  There was also a public hearing to get input from the public about the process and proposed rates.

“DISB completed a transparent, extended and rigorous rate review process to ensure District residents and small businesses are paying competitive prices for the plans offered by companies on the District’s health insurance marketplace,” said Commissioner Stephen C. Taylor. “The proposed 2018 health plan rates have been reviewed not only by the Department but also by District policyholders and consumer advocates via a public hearing to ensure that all viewpoints were considered before the process ended.”

Across all insurers, the average increase is 15.64 percent in the individual market and 7.26 for small group plans. Four major insurance companies: Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente and United Healthcare will have plans on DC Health Link. CareFirst and Kaiser Permanente plans cover individuals, families and small businesses for the 2018 plan year. Aetna and United Healthcare plans are only available in the small business market.

There were six more plans filed for the 2018 plan year than in the 2017 plan year. 151 of those were small group plans, and 26 were individual plans. The new standard health savings account or HSA plans that will be available for 2018 allow policyholders to set aside pre-tax money for covered medical expenses, if they have a high deductible health insurance plan.

“Under Commissioner Taylor’s leadership for the first time ever DISB held a public hearing on proposed rates. Commissioner Taylor took comments on the impact of proposed rate increases from District residents and small business owners. Dozens of DC Health Link customers testified in person and approximately 900 submitted written comments – and they had a real impact,” said Mila Kofman, J.D., Executive Director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority. “At the hearing, we advocated for the lowest possible rates and provided some actuarial analysis for consideration by DISB. We are pleased that Commissioner Taylor worked with one insurer to revise its proposed increase to half of the original request. Overall, District residents and small businesses will see lower rates than what was initially proposed.”

DC Health Link’s open enrollment runs through Jan. 31, 2018.

Source: District of Columbia Department of Insurance.

(Sacramento, CA – Insurance News 360) – In late December, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones sent a request to insurance companies to provide relief from the requirement that claimants provide a full home inventory, and provide up to 100 percent of personal property coverage limits without that inventory document.

“These families have endured unimaginable loss and pain,” said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. “I’m asking insurers to ease their burden by providing up to 100 percent payment for contents coverage without the onerous requirement of a detailed home inventory, so they may get on with rebuilding their lives.”

The department held a claims workshop in Santa Rosa in early December where policyholders told staff that the required detailed home inventories for payment of personal property coverage were burdensome.

Not all insurers are requiring this inventory. Some have gone above and beyond the Voluntary Expedited Claims Handling Procedures and have offered  full percent contents limit payment without the inventory.

Jones asked that insurers notify the insurance department by Jan. 8 about whether they will accommodate policyholders in that way, and notes that insurers should allow policyholders to get additional benefits if the policyholder subsequently completes a full inventory.

Policyholders who are working with claims adjusters should create a plan that best serves their needs.

Source: California Department of Insurance.