Washington health insurance rates could rise more than 13 percent, state says

The Washington State Legislative Building. (handout)

Insurance rates in Washington State are set to increase by an average of 13.5 percent, a figure that the insurance commissioner says comes as no surprise.

Thirteen health insurers have filed 154 individual health plans for 2017, asking for an average 13.5 rate increase, according to the Office of the Insurance Commission in Washington.

"The requested rate changes are not a surprise, as we expected insurers to make adjustments based on their earlier predictions compared to who actually signed up and what services they used," Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in a statement. "Clearly, some of the insurers guessed better than others. We know that no one wants to see their rates go up. We will review each plan carefully over the next several months to make sure that any rate changes are justified."

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All of the proposed rates, benefits, and provider networks for 2017 are currently under review.The highest rate increase request is 20 percent, from Premera, for an exchange plan. Premera and Lifewise, both statewide insurers, intend to stop marketing outside of the exchange and will reduce the number of counties where they will offer plans, according to the insurance commission.

Kreidler's office does not have the authority to require a company to sell in a particular county, the commission said in the statement. 

UnitedHealthcare of Washington announced earlier this year that it would leave Washington's individual market in 2017 and Moda withdrew from the state in January. Both insurers sold plans statewide.

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Nine of the 13 insurers in the state intend to sell individual plans on the exchange.

Insurers with plans inside of the exchanges and their proposed rate increases are: Bridgespan, 10.5 percent; Community Health Plan, 11.3 percent; Coordinated Care, 7.4 percent; Lifewise, 10.9 percent; Molina, 9.6 percent; and Premera, 20 percent.

Insurers offering plans both on the exchange and outside, and their rate proposals are: Group Health Cooperative, 9.5 percent; Kaiser, 10.3 percent; and Regence, 12.5 percent.

Insurers offering plans outside of the exchanges and their proposed rate increases are: Asuris, 14.5 percent; Group Health Options, 14.3 percent; Regence of Oregon, 15.3 percent, and Health Alliance, with a rate not available.

All individual health plans and their requested rates must be reviewed within 60 days. The review can take longer if Kreidler's office requests additional information. The Health Benefit Exchange Board is scheduled to certify all plans for sale on the site Washington Healthplanfinder on Sept. 8. 

Open enrollment for the 2017 individual market starts Nov. 1.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse