Small Businesses Face Brunt of Insurance Hikes

February 10, 2010 -- The Oregon Insurance Division approved a 16 percent rate increase on Regence individual health plans renewing after April and a 12.2 percent increase on HealthNet small group plans.

Regence, in its filing for a rate increase on individual plans, had asked for a 25.3 percent hike affecting up to 70,000 people.

State regulators also approved HealthNet's 12.2 percent rate increase on 36,000 small group members starting April 1. 

Several rate requests are still pending in the small group market, which include a 15.4 percent rate hike by United HealthCare in March, a 14 percent increase by HealthNet in August and a 9.9 percent increase by Kaiser in July. These increases would impact employers that have between 2-50 employees.

None of those requests will be decided under the new rules scheduled to take place in April, according to Cheryl Martinis, Insurance Division spokesperson.

In its latest filing, Kaiser justified part of the increase on a 1 percent premium tax imposed by the legislature last year. It's intended to lower health insurance costs in the long run by decreasing the ranks of the uninsured – including low-income adults and children through the Oregon Health Plan.

Currently 30,755 children have joined the Healthy Kids Plan, while 25,000 adults have been enrolled in OHP Standard. Another 57,600 names were on the reservation list as of Jan. 29, according to Dr. Bruce Goldberg, acting administrator of the Oregon Health Authority.   

Kaiser said its medical costs increased by 6.6 percent between 2008 and 2009, while prescription costs grew by 7 percent during the same period. If approved, its 9.9 percent rate increase would impact 31,700 small group members. Kaiser also increased co-payments on urgent care and in-office injections, which decreased premiums by one-tenth of one percent. 

In contrast, HealthNet’s request for a 14 percent hike on 37,000 small group members comes closer to actual medical cost increases. In its rate filing, HealthNet said its medical costs grew by 13.25 percent since January, and drug costs went up 13 percent. 

For a related story that appeared in last week's edition on rising insurance rates click here.

To review all rate requests, click here.

RECENT HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES

Company	Coverage type	Effective date	Date submitted	Avg increase requested	Approved	Members affected	Review
HealthNet	Small Employer	8/1/2010	2/8/2010	14.00%	pending	37,189	Link
HealthNet	Small Employer	4/1/2010	1/5/2010	12.20%	12.20%	36,844	Link
Kaiser	Small Employer	7/1/2010	1/25/2010	9.90%	pending	31,700	Link
Pacificsource	Portability	4/1/2010	12/22/2009	17.00%	14.50%	769	Link
PacificSource	Small Employer	1/1/2010	10/22/2009	11.52%	11.52%	33,404	Link
Regence	Small Employer	1/1/2010	10/30/2009	19.40%	16.00%	56,766	Link
Regence	Individual	4/1/2010	12/7/2009	25.30%	16.00%	73,271	Link
United HealthCare	Small Employer	3/1/2010	12/5/2009	15.40%	pending	11,612	Link