Consumers and a state legislator on Wednesday urged Connecticut insurance regulators to reject double-digit rate increases sought by two health insurers.

Anthem Health Plans is seeking an average 33.8 percent increase for policies, including those sold under Access Health CT, the state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act. ConnectiCare Benefits Inc. is looking to boost its rate by an average 17.5 percent for policies sold on the exchange. Both defended their proposals at a Connecticut Insurance Department hearing in Hartford.

The two insurers said they have little choice but to seek the higher rates for 2018. Younger and healthier people are shunning the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, leaving a risk pool of sicker people whose reliance on health care is driving up costs, they said.

The insurers also say federal health insurance policy is unsettled as President Trump and the Republican-led Congress have yet to agree on health care legislation that can pass the House and Senate.

Garry Malone of Berlin compared Anthem’s request unfavorably to stagnant wages and asked regulators to turn it down.

“I don’t know of anyone in this room who’s had a 33.8 percent raise,” said Malone, 58. “I’d like you think about everybody. Even the little guy.”

Brenda Shipley of Branford sharply criticized Anthem. She told the panel of three officials – a hearing officer, lawyer and insurance actuary – that the health insurer is “actively sabotaging” Access Health, Connecticut’s health insurance exchange, by making coverage unaffordable.

“Unfortunately, the process is broken,” he said.

Donna Tommelleo, spokeswoman for the Insurance Department, said officials have accommodated the pubic by moving hearings up from late summer, a popular vacation time, to late spring and extended the online comment period to two weeks after the hearing.

Jennifer Lovett, of Health Agents for America Inc., said Anthem’s request for 2018 would increase rates by more than 80 percent over two years following a previous increase.

“People cannot afford it,” she said. “I’m begging you, please help these people. We get the calls. Not you.”

Other critics said the increases are particularly painful because economic growth in Connecticut is slow and public services are being cut by the state as it struggles with reduced revenue.

Stephen Hunt, an Avon insurance agent, said the issue is the rising cost of medical care, such as tests and prescriptions. He asked regulators to keep health insurance rate increases “reasonable.”

James Augur, regional vice president for sales at Anthem, told regulators that the industry faces an “uncertain environment.”

House Republicans last month narrowly passed legislation to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s signature domestic health care program. The bill faces a rewrite and strong opposition from minority Democrats in the Senate.

Anthem said its proposed cost increase, which would affect about 35,000 policyholders, reflects the preference of younger, healthier people to pay the penalty required by the federal law to avoid buying Obamacare insurance. Higher costs have followed, with a greater number of less healthy people using insurance.

Another source of uncertainty that Augur cited is whether the federal government will continue to fund a subsidy known as a cost sharing reduction that lowers the amount paid for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Wachtelhausen, too, took aim at growing uncertainty in the market as Congress considers changes to Obamacare. “The rules of 2016 and beyond need to be known,” she said.

Hospital consolidations and pricey prescription drugs also are contributing to higher insurance costs, ConnectiCare said. Its policy rate increase would affect nearly 51,000 people.

Insurance Commissioner Katharine Wade is expected to make a decision on the rate increase proposals later this summer or fall.

In all, 10 health insurers are seeking rate increases for next year averaging 15.2 percent to 33.8 percent for individual plans. The increases for premium plans range from 19 percent to 52 percent.

For small group insurance – employers with 50 or fewer workers – average rate requests are up 3.6 percent to 31.6 percent.

The increases would affect 270,000 insured customers, state insurance officials said.

Please watch and share my update on the outrageous 33.8% health insurance rate hikes that are being proposed.

Send me your comments at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .

Include your name and town.  I will forward your comments to state insurance regulators.  Simply tell them to “Deny These Rate Increases!”

The state budget is the single most important task legislators need to tackle. Click on the link below to see me discuss the state budget proposals and what needs to be done.

http://www.meettheleaders.com/2017/06/connecticut-state-senator-tony-hwang-13/

ct.gov

The state Insurance Department will hold hearings June 14 on requested double-digit rate increases for health insurers Anthem Health Plans and ConnectiCare Benefits Inc.

Anthem is requesting an average increase of 33.8 percent for policies marketed both on and off the state exchange, Access Health CT.

ConnectiCare has requested an average increase of 17.5 percent for policies sold exclusively on the exchange.

33.8 percent?!?

17.5 percent?!?

Here’s how YOU can join ME in speaking out.

1. Members of the public can provide online comment for each rate filing through close of business July 1.
2. The online comment section at www.ct.gov/cidcan be accessed by clicking on the individual rate filing. All written comments will be posted on the Connecticut Insurance Department website.
3. You may also send me your comments at Tony.Hwang@cga.ct.gov .
4. Please spread the word about these hearings to other concerned ratepayers!

Thank you.

State Senators Toni Boucher (R-26) and Tony Hwang (R-28) today hailed the Connecticut legislature’s passage of a bill that will create the nation’s strongest hate crime law.

In a strong, bipartisan stand against hate crimes, legislators acted in solidarity with the Anti-Defamation League. House Bill 5743, An Act Concerning Hate Crimes, passed both the state House of Representative and Senate and heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

Sen. Boucher said that despite the tolerance found in most of Connecticut, the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that 94 hate-related incidents happened in Connecticut in 2015 and incidents have continued in 2016 and 2017.

“There have been unfortunate examples of antisemitism in my district over the years that were deeply disturbing and cast a dark shadow over a caring and tolerant community,” Sen. Boucher said.  “This bill will send a strong message that these despicable acts will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted as the serious crimes they are.”

Sen. Hwang hailed the cooperation that lead to the bill’s passage. The bill adds crimes based on a person’s gender to the list of hate crimes.

“The bipartisan cooperation on this bill means that when the specter of hate rears its ugly head in our communities, all of us will rise up against it,” Sen. Hwang said. “Intolerance and actions of hate can never be tolerated or ignored; this bill reflects the commitment and resolve of CT residents to loudly say that hate is never acceptable under any circumstance. When someone becomes the target of a crime because of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability, the very fabric and soul of our community is torn.”

Steve Ginsburg, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League – Connecticut Region expressed the organization’s gratitude for the General Assembly’s action.

“On behalf of ADL leadership and supporters in Connecticut and across our nation, I wish to express profound gratitude to the Connecticut legislature,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “ADL drafted the first ever model hate crimes statute and now welcomes HB 5743 which, with overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses, will set an example for how – when unified – we can protect minorities, ensure our freedoms and strengthen democracy,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “Our state already had relatively strong hate crimes protections, but today our leaders made clear that when incidents of bias and hate are on the rise, good enough isn’t good enough. Protecting community centers, including gender as a protected category and enhancing penalties makes all Connecticut residents and their communities safer and sets a proud example for our children. ADL w will keep pushing until all 50 states have hate crimes laws (#50statesagainsthate), and we look forward to being a part of our state’s new Hate Crimes Advisory Council.”

Among other provisions, Connecticut’s proposal would:

• Increase penalties, making it a felony (instead of a misdemeanor) for committing a hate crime against a group of persons (instead of a specific individual).
• Increase the penalty to a Class C felony (from a Class D felony) for making a bomb threat or other threat of violence against a house of worship, religious community center or other religious institution—or any day care facility—if the threat is made with the intent to terrorize another person or to cause the evacuation of the building or grounds. This puts the penalty for such bomb threats on par with threats made against schools.
• Increase the penalty for desecrating any house of worship or any religious cemetery from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony if there is more than $10,000 in damage, or a Class D felony if there is less than $10,000 in damage.
• Establish a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000 for individuals convicted of hate crimes, and require such fines to be deposited into a fund for anti-hate crime education initiatives.

Senator Boucher represents the communities of Bethel, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

Senator Hwang represents the communities of Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston, and Westport.