LEWISTON — The head of the Maine Bureau of Insurance has denied the 2018 rate increase requests made by the three health insurers who sell individual plans in Maine under the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.
However, he said he would approve slightly lower rate increases that average between 17.5 percent and 27.1 percent.
Superintendent Eric Cioppa issued his decisions Thursday.
Community Health Options, which is based in Lewiston and is the state’s only health insurance co-op, had asked for an average 19.7 percent increase. Cioppa said he would allow 17.5 percent.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield had asked for an average 23.5 percent increase. Cioppa said he would allow 18.8 percent.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care asked for an average 29.2 percent increase. Cioppa said he would approve 27.1 percent.
He invited the three insurers to submit revised rate requests.
The insurers have said they needed the large increases in part because of the uncertainty around the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
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