Public hearings planned for Highmark, Aetna rate increase
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Dover, Del. — Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart announced that she has received rate request filings from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware and Aetna, Inc. for individual and small group plans offered on Delaware’s Health Insurance marketplace in 2016.
Highmark is asking for a 25.4 percent increase in the individual market, while Aetna is requesting a 16 percent increase. In the small group market, Highmark is asking for a 12.7 percent increase, while Aetna is asking for a 6.1 percent decrease.
“Large rate increase requests like these are occurring in several states across the country and I know they will cause a hardship for many Delawareans,” said Stewart. “The increases are substantial and I’m going to do my best to reduce them. I am instructing my actuaries to examine vigorously Highmark’s and Aetna’s supporting data for the requests.
The Insurance Department will conduct public comment sessions in June in Delaware’s three counties. The sessions are scheduled for the following locations:
- Monday, June 15 at 1 p.m. Â Â Â Delaware Tech Owens Campus, Georgetown
- Monday, June 15 at 6 p.m. Â Â Â Insurance Department, 841 Silver Lake Blvd., Dover
- Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m. Â Â Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington
Representatives from Highmark and Aetna will be present at each session. Consumers and interested parties may also submit written comments to the Department at rate division@state.de.us for 30 days between June 15 and July 15, 2015.
