Smart Benefits: Health Insurance Commissioner Approves Premiums for 2020

Monday, September 09, 2019

Rob Calise, GoLocalWorcester Business/Health Expert

Rob Calise

Following a two-month process, the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) has approved premium rates for 2020.

The large group market had the biggest overall rate increases, with the lowest change being 8.1% (United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield) and the highest increase 10.6% (Tufts Health Plan).

The small group market rate changes ranged from a decrease of .09% (Neighborhood Health Plan) to an increase of 11% (Tufts Health Plan).

Rates for individual market plans had an overall average decrease compared to rates last year, due in large part to the upcoming implementation of a statewide reinsurance program.

Without the reinsurance program, average rates would have increased up to 7% higher than 2019 rates; with the program, many on the individual market will pay less in premiums in 2020 than they did in 2019.

Rob Calise is the Managing Director, Employee Benefits of The Hilb Group of New England, where he helps clients control the costs of employee benefits by focusing on consumer-driven strategies and on how to best utilize the tax savings tools the government provides. Rob serves as Chairman of the Board of United Benefit Advisors, and is a board member of the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Broker Advisory Board, United HealthCare of New England Broker Advisory Board and Rhode Island Business Healthcare Advisors Council. He is also a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU), American Health Insurance Association (AHIA) and the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), as well as various human resource associations. Rob is a graduate of Bryant University with a BS in Finance