CT insurance department approves rate hikes for 2027 health plans

Connecticut insurance officials have signed off on an average rate hike of 11.3% for 2027 state-regulated, individual health plans.

They also approved an average increase of 15.1% for small group policies.

The amounts were less than what insurers sought. They asked for an average increase of 16.2% on individual plans and 17.8% on small group.

“There are no winners when healthcare costs continue to rise at this pace,” said Josh Hershman, the state’s insurance commissioner. “Even when the department reduces what insurers request, an increase is still an increase. Families and small businesses that are already stretched by the cost of health coverage continue to feel that pressure.”

The decisions on 2027 rates came after “extensive actuarial analysis,” he added.

Still, elected officials criticized the hikes, calling them unaffordable and unsustainable.

“The hits just keep on coming for middle-class families and job creators in unaffordable Connecticut,” said Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock, who is a physician. “Double-digit annual health insurance increases, yet again.”

“This is another whack to Connecticut families and small businesses trying to stay afloat in a sea of skyrocketing costs,” Attorney General William Tong said. “Again, Connecticut families are left to drown in ballooning premiums, deductibles, coinsurances and copays.

“We need insurers, hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers and every player from top to bottom at the table to earnestly negotiate cost relief way before these rate demands are crafted. This is completely unsustainable.”

Last year, state insurance regulators approved average rate hikes of 16.8% on individual policies and 11% on small group.

The policies cover about 220,000 people — 157,000 with individual plans and 63,000 with small group.

Two companies offer individual plans through Access Health CT, Connecticut’s insurance exchange — Anthem Health Plans and ConnectiCare Benefits Inc.

Anthem had asked for an average rate increase of 12.8%; the insurance department approved 8.8%.

ConnectiCare requested an average rate hike of 22.7%; regulators signed off on 16%.

Insurers say they need customers to pay more for coverage because the cost of administering those plans is rising.

“Our submitted rates are based on the healthcare services we expect members to access next year, along with the anticipated costs associated with that care,” said Stephanie DuBois, a spokesperson for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Additionally, a growing number of legislative mandates and restrictions on carriers’ ability to manage rising healthcare costs continues to add pressure.”

Open enrollment for the 2027 coverage year will begin on Oct. 23.