Governor Raimondo’s proposed FY 2020 budget called for the creation of the Health Insurance Market Integrity Fund, which would make available reinsurance payments to health plans to reduce the burden of high cost claims on individual market premiums. According to insurer filings, the enactment of the Health Insurance Market Integrity Fund would reduce the individual market premium requests from 6.6% to -0.4% for BCBSRI and from 5.4% to 1.7% for NHPRI. These insurers’ pricing assumptions are subject to review and verification by OHIC. Table 1 shows the requested individual market rate increases with and without reinsurance.
I wasn't expecting my analysis of Rhode Island's 2020 ACA premium changes to be of any particular interest; it's a small state with only two carriers offering individual market policies, after all, so there's not usually much to it.
PROVIDENCE — The state Senate approved legislation Thursday intended to protect Rhode Islanders’ access to health insurance in the face of threats to the federal Affordable Care Act.
The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The House version of the bill was sponsored by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara, D-Warwick, chairman of the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. The bill aims to ensure that the standards of the Affordable Care Act remain in effect in Rhode Island, even if the courts or Congress were to eliminate the federal laws that created it.
HealthSource RI enrollments up by nearly 2,000 customers as RI’s uninsured rate reaches all-time low
Feb 25, 2019
According to the latest Rhode Island’s Health Information Survey, only 3.7% of Rhode Islanders were uninsured in 2018, down from 4.2% in 2016.
HealthSource RI’s individual and family enrollments increased by 1,849. This Open Enrollment, 32,486 customers enrolled and paid compared to 30,637 last year.
The "...and paid" caveat is important. Last month HealthSource RI reported 34,533 QHP selections after the 2019 OEP wrapped up, so that's an impressive 94% paid/effectuated rate. For comparison, last year 30,637 paid out of 33,021, or 92.8%, so they've improved on that front as well.
State government plays a critical role in today’s health care system. Every policy decision we make has an impact on the individuals, children and families who need care. The Governor’s FY20 budget proposal builds on this momentum, preserving vital ACA protections that promote market stability and help to keep uninsured rates low. There are no eligibility cuts or broad-based benefit impacts proposed.
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Islanders have just a few hours left to obtain health insurance through the state.
The deadline to sign up for and renew coverage for 2019 is Monday, Dec. 31.
The state's health insurance marketplace, HealthSource RI, plans to keep its call and walk-in center open until 7 p.m. Monday.
The center is located at 401 Wampanoag Trail in East Providence and the hotline is 1-855-840-4774.
Rhode Islanders have until midnight Monday to sign up for coverage online through HealthSource RI's website.
"Enrollment is up from last year, which we're very excited about, so that to us is a sign that the ACA is working in Rhode Island, and everybody is understanding the value of having health coverage," HealthSource RI COO Meg Ivatts said.
This isn't an official update, but it's all I have for now. Back on November 29th, the Providence Business News reported that HealthSourceRI, Rhode Island's ACA exchange, was reporting 31,000 QHP selections (including auto-renewals).
Saturday, in response to the insane #TexasFoldEm judicial ruling, RI Governor Gina Raimondo was quoted for a response; the article at WPRI.com states that:
More than 32,000 people have signed up so far for coverage beginning January 2019, according to HealthSource RI.
"This does not change anything about coverage people currently access through HealthSource RI, nor does it change our current open enrollment period," Sherman said.
Sherman encourages those who need health insurance to sign up before open enrollment ends. You have until December 31st, although officials recommend you sign up before the 23rd.
PROVIDENCE — HealthSource RI, the state’s health insurance exchange, reports 31,000 people have signed up for health care coverage about a month into the open enrollment period for the 2019 plan year ending Dec. 23, 3,600 enrollments ahead of where they were at this point last year.
Last year at about this time during open enrollment, HealthSource RI had counted about 27,400 people enrolled for health insurance through the exchange, according to HealthSource RI Director Zachary W. Sherman.
Sherman said the agency has seen many people renewing existing coverage either manually or automatically.
“We’re pleased with where we are with sign-ups,” Sherman said.
HealthSource RI offers the cheapest insurance in RI, nearly half of customers pay less than $100 per month for coverage
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI (October 29, 2018) – Rhode Islanders: it’s time to put health insurance on your shopping list. Individuals and families looking for coverage starting January 1, 2019 should pick and pay through HealthSource RI by December 23.
“HealthSource RI has the cheapest health insurance in Rhode Island, and I’m proud of the work we’ve done to keep costs as low as possible,” said Governor Raimondo. “I urge Rhode Islanders looking for coverage to explore HealthSource RI’s quality, affordable options.”
And now it’s easier than ever to pick the medical and dental coverage from Rhode Island’s leading insurance companies. Rhode Islanders can visit HealthSource RI’s new and improved English and Spanish websites at HealthSource RI.com, plug in some basic information, and quickly compare their options and estimate their savings.
Later Wednesday, [Democratic Governor Gina] Raimondo held her own news conference to sign an executive order that, among other steps, directs the state to seek to codify in state law protections for people with preexisting conditions, dependents up to age 26, prescription drug benefits and maternity coverage in case federal action is taken to weaken the Affordable Care Act.
Rhode Island has one of the highest insured rates in the country, and Raimondo said she was defending "Rhode Islanders' access to high-quality, affordable health coverage."
I'm not quite sure what an executive order has to do with codifying ACA protections into law, since that's really up to the state legislature to do, but I guess it at least kicks their butts into gear?
This is also refreshing to hear from a Republican challenger:
