Insurance companies struggling with uncertainty about the national health-care program have an extra three weeks to figure out how much to charge next year.
The federal government said Friday it was extended its rate-filing deadline from Aug. 16 to Sept. 5 for insurance companies offering 2018 plans on state exchanges, including the exchange in New Hampshire.
“This is welcome news to insurance companies, who have been facing unprecedented uncertainty, in large part at the federal level,” New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner Roger Sevigny said in a statement.
State insurance regulators around the country have been urging the federal government to extend the deadline and also to commit to funding cost-sharing reduction, or CSR, payments through 2018. That message has been echoed by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who sent a letter to the president detailing these concerns.
The New Hampshire Insurance Department will transfer all recommended 2018 exchange plans to the federal government by Wednesday, Aug. 16, in advance of receiving the companies’ final rate filings.
Insurance companies must sign a contract with the federal government by Sept. 27 in order to offer plans on HealthCare.gov.
Three companies have announced intentions to offer plans in New Hampshire in 2018: Ambetter, Anthem, and Harvard Pilgrim. Ambetter only confirmed its commitment to remaining in the marketplace on Thursday.
“We continue to hope that Anthem and Harvard Pilgrim will remain on the exchange for 2018 despite the significant uncertainty all insurance companies are facing,” said Sevigny.
Date:Aug 11, 2017