Another banner year for consumer protection and insurer competition

In 2023, the Delaware Department of Insurance’s 101 team members served Delaware residents and seniors, attracted new companies, oversaw expansions of coverage and enhanced competition, and contributed substantial funds to the state. Today’s data release details how each team contributed to Delaware’s strong insurance environment.

“Each year, our team gathers and reports data on our efforts to give residents a look at our daily work,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “And while the numbers themselves are impressive, within them are tens of thousands of stories. Stories of finding affordable coverage for the first time, stories of storms and fires, stories of injustice, investigation, and resolution, and above all, a story of change. Our state is changing, and our department is changing with it to ensure we continue to protect our consumers and offer them a robust, affordable, competitive insurance market.”

The year began with the announcement of a record-setting Open Enrollment on the Delaware Health Insurance Marketplace, where 35,000 residents got covered, and 6,000 were eligible for plans costing $10 or less per month. As recently as 2022, Delaware consumers only had one insurer and 12 plans to choose from – but during 2023 enrollment, they had four carriers and more than 50 plans offering coverage. Premiums in the individual market have decreased roughly 12% since 2019.

DOI welcomed yet another new carrier to the Marketplace in 2023, and indications are that enrollment for 2024 has again broken enrollment records with likely more than 40,000 enrollees.

Health insurance rates are submitted alongside affordability standards data to the department’s Office of Value-Based Health Care Delivery, which endeavors to support a robust, high-quality primary care environment. As a result of this work, annual primary care investment is projected at over $40 million, an increase of nearly $13 million or 44% year over year. This includes a projected $7 million in direct, prospective payments to more than 775 providers engaged in care transformation.

In addition to supporting healthcare providers, the work of the department also provides substantial funding to the state. For the 2023 calendar year, the department’s work resulted in about $189 million in funds for the state and its funds, including $113 million for the General Fund, and $44.7 million for fire companies.

Strong results were again reported by resident-facing programs. Consumer Services staff processed a total of 4,228 complaints and inquiries. The Medicare Assistance Bureau hosted and participated in 66 public events, and held more than 5,000 one-on-one counseling sessions. Medicare beneficiaries saved an estimated $2.08 million dollars because of the free assistance offered by this team, an increase of over half a million dollars from last year. Helping residents address claim settlement issues outside of court, the Legal Division reported that of 419 cases, 236 settled pre-hearing. Completed arbitration cases resulted in awards totaling more than $611,000. The department also moved to a new office in New Castle County, which offers much improved accessibility to consumers, while also saving the department over $200,000.

Delaware continued to be a national presence in insurance regulation, with Commissioner Navarro being elected Chair of the Northeast Zone of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. His tenure chairing the National Anti-Fraud Task Force, and Delaware’s leadership on the Improper Marketing of Health Plans Working Group has resulted in improved coordination of efforts across states, and progress in the drafting of an improved model law related to producer licensing. Locally, the Commissioner and staff participate in numerous committees, including the Behavioral Health Crisis Services Board, Delaware Health Care Commission, Foster Youth Drivers’ License and Insurance Working Group, EARNs Board, Non-Acute Long Stay Task Force, Plans Management Board, Primary Care Reform Collaborative, Retiree Healthcare Benefits Advisory subcommittee, and the State Employee Benefits Committee (SEBC).

In 2023 the seventh consecutive decrease in workers’ compensation insurance rates was approved, a double-digit average drop of 13.85% in the residual market and 10.03% in the voluntary market. These lower rates are just one component of several department efforts to help businesses. Nearly 1,000 employers are saving even more on their premiums by participating in the department’s Workplace Safety Program, saving approximately $5.6 million on premiums through safety credits.

Market Conduct staff completed 61 insurer interrogatories, 72 Level 1 market analyses, and 5 exams including 3 introductory PBM examinations. 13 examinations remain in progress.

The most recent data available from the Bureau of Examination, Rehabilitation and Guaranty shows oversight of the financials of 149 domestic companies that manage $769 billion in assets, and more than 2,149 other companies operating in the state. This represents 8 new domestics, 76 new licenses, and an increase of one billion dollars in assets managed. The team completed 34 financial examinations and have 22 exams in progress.

The Fraud Bureau processed 631 referrals, closing 12 criminal cases with 44 charges. They collected $15,525 in civil penalties last year and closed 574 cases. 607 cases are open.
Life and Health staff reviewed 5,782 filings, rates, forms, and advertisements. The Property and Casualty team reviewed 26,915 filings, rates, forms, and rules. In addition, the department issued 57,216 licenses in 2023, bringing total licensees to 253,438.

This past year, the Captive Bureau announced the launch of Delaware Captives 2.0 in conjunction with the Delaware Captive Insurance Association to continue to innovate and compete with other domiciles. 43 new captives were licensed in 2023, for a total of 670 licensed captives.

The department led and engaged with dozens policy efforts with partners in the legislature. Legal staff processed 15 new bulletins and 10 revised or reissued bulletins, 5 new regulations, and 4 exempt orders to regulations.

Staff also participated in outreach events, including the Positively Dover African American Festival, Clayton Fire Prevention Open House, Dover Days, Down Syndrome Walk, Middletown Peach Festival, Milford Freedom Walk Festival, New Castle Ice Cream Festival, the 55+ Expo, and of course, the Delaware State Fair. In addition to robust contributions to the Delaware Employees’ Charitable Campaign, the Department also participates in charitable events including blood drives, food insecurity donations, and breast cancer awareness.

NEW CASTLE – Delawareans seeking coverage for 2024 will find more choice in insurers and plans than ever before on the Health Insurance Marketplace in the 11th year of open enrollment.

The marketplace’s open enrollment period started today, Nov. 1, and ends Jan. 15, 2024. Consumers can renew existing coverage or sign up for a new plan at www.HealthCare.gov. Coverage for enrollees who sign up by Dec. 15 and pay their first month’s premium will be effective Jan. 1.

Individuals who don’t act by Jan. 15, 2024, cannot get coverage for 2024 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period based on circumstances such as a loss of qualifying health coverage, change of income, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors.

Delawareans have four insurers to choose from this year, one more than the year prior, and a total of 55 plans compared to 30 plans last year. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced in June that a new insurer – Celtic Insurance Company Ambetter Health of Delaware – would join Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware, AmeriHealth Caritas, and Aetna CVS Health in offering coverage on the marketplace for 2024.

“All Delaware families need access to affordable, quality health care,” said Governor John Carney. “This year, individuals have the most options available since the marketplace began 11 years ago. With four insurers and 55 plans, I encourage all Delawareans to closely consider those selections, especially small-business owners, independent contractors, and individuals who don’t have access to health insurance through an employer. Please make your health a priority.”

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company. Bronze plans have low monthly premiums but high costs when you need care; gold plans have high premiums but lower costs when you need care. In a silver plan, the insurer pays about 70% of medical costs and the consumer pays about 30%. Consumers who pick silver health care plans might also qualify for additional savings through discounts on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

For 2024:

• Aetna CVS Health will offer six plans – two gold and four silver.
• AmeriHealth Caritas will offer seven plans – one gold, three silver, one bronze and two expanded bronze.
• Celtic/Ambetter Health of Delaware will offer 24 plans – eight gold, eight silver, and eight expanded bronze.
• Highmark will offer 18 plans – three platinum, six gold, three silver, five bronze, and one catastrophic.
• Two dental insurers – Delta Dental of Delaware, Inc. and Dominion Dental Services, Inc. – will offer a collective 12 stand-alone dental plans on the marketplace seven with a low actuarial level (pay less monthly, but more when you get dental services) and five with a high actuarial level (pay more monthly, but less when you get dental care). Delta Dental will offer two plans, one high and one low, while Dominion Dental will offer 10 plans, four high and six low.

“As recently as the 2022 plan year, Delawareans had just one insurer and 12 plan options to choose from. This Open Enrollment, you’ll find four carriers and more than 50 plan options. Improving health care accessibility and affordability across our state is one of my top priorities, and I’m proud that our work has led both options and enrollments to an all-time high,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “I encourage you to contact your trusted navigators so you can find the right plan for the coming year.”

All plans on the marketplace offer essential health benefits such as coverage of pre-existing conditions, outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, prescription drugs, mental health and substance use disorder services, lab services, pediatric services, birth control, and breastfeeding coverage. In addition, coverage cannot be terminated due to a change in health status.

“Providing access to high-quality, affordable health care is one of the ways that we can improve the overall health and well-being of Delawareans,” said Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Josette Manning. “We are grateful that this open enrollment period offers the highest number of plan options in the marketplace’s 11-year history and appreciate the stability the Biden administration, our congressional delegation, the Insurance Commissioner, and our own reinsurance program have all brought to the marketplace. I encourage everyone to visit HealthCare.gov for a look at the affordability of the available plans and how the coverage can fit into your family’s budget.”

“Health care is a right, not just a privilege for the few,’ said U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Acting Region 3 Director Melissa Herd. “The health insurance marketplace offers high quality, affordable health coverage options for Delawareans.”

Assistance for Delaware enrollees

Consumers can go to HealthCare.gov or CuidadodeSalud.gov now to explore their options for 2024 coverage, and they can enroll anytime between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15, 2024.

Delawareans who need help enrolling in coverage will have access to free in-person assistance from federally funded and trained specialists at Westside Family Healthcare (statewide) and Quality Insights, Inc., (New Castle and Sussex counties) and by certified application counselors at Henrietta Johnson Medical Center in Wilmington and La Red Health Center in Georgetown. Westside and Quality Insights each received increased federal funding for navigators to help people enroll for coverage.

State-licensed insurance agents and brokers are also available to help individuals re-enroll and to help employers update their coverage, at no extra charge.

For more information, go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com. Delawareans can enroll in marketplace coverage at HealthCare.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

Support from Congressional Delegation

Delaware’s U.S. senators and representative urged uninsured Delawareans to find out what’s available for them on the marketplace.

“Open enrollment begins today, and quality, affordable health care coverage is available to everyone on the health insurance marketplace,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “Health insurance navigators are available at no cost to help Delawareans review plans and pick the best one for themselves and their families, and I encourage Delawareans to get covered without delay.”

“For 11 years, the Affordable Care Act has provided quality, affordable health care coverage for Delawareans,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “I urge Delawareans to explore open enrollment, find the plan that works best for them, and gain the peace of mind that comes with ensuring that they and their families are covered.”

“The pandemic showed us just how critical access to quality, affordable health care is, and I am committed to ensuring that Delawareans can get the care they deserve,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, member of the House Health Subcommittee. “As we mark the beginning of the open enrollment period, I want to encourage Delawareans to utilize HealthCare.gov to find an affordable health care plan that works for them and their families. Don’t wait to get covered – open enrollment ends on January 15th!”

In addition to the Health Insurance Marketplace, some residents might be eligible for coverage though Delaware’s expanded Medicaid program, which is open year-round. To be screened for or to apply for Medicaid benefits, visit Delaware ASSIST.

Free one-on-one counseling saved Delawareans $1.5M in 2022

As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, the Delaware Department of Insurance and its Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) are sharing their annual consumer information update. From October 15 to December 7, consumers can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plan. DMAB’s free, confidential, unbiased one-on-one assistance can help residents determine if making a coverage change is the right choice. In 2022, the team completed 5,123 counseling sessions, saving beneficiaries a combined $1.5 million.

When selecting 2024 coverage, there are important changes to keep in mind. Extra Help is expanding to offer full subsidy benefits to those up to 150% of the federal poverty level, allowing more people access to $0 premiums for coverage and fixed prescription copays. Additionally, those with Medicare Part D who fall into the catastrophic phase of their benefits will no longer have to pay 5% coinsurance for covered drugs during that period of coverage. And, on July 1, 2024, CMS will institute a new cap on Part B payment amounts for new biosimilars when average sales price data is not available.

2023 Medicare changes will continue into the new plan year. As of July 1, people with Traditional Medicare who take insulin through a traditional pump pay no more than $35 a month for their supply, and deductibles do not apply. Free vaccine coverage has expanded, and as of April 1 persons with Part B have lower coinsurance for drugs whose price increased faster than the rate of inflation.

“Delaware’s Medicare Assistance Bureau provides consumers with the education and empowerment they need to find the coverage they need at a cost they can afford,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro, who reminded residents to be smart shoppers this enrollment season.

“Part of being a smart shopper is knowing what to ask, and where to find trustworthy answers,” shared DMAB Director Lakia Turner. “There is no shortage of marketing during Open Enrollment, and bad actors may disguise themselves by offering information about changes for 2024. Our team can help you cut through the noise by answering your questions and identifying the best plan for your needs.”
In addition to scheduled phone and virtual appointments, DMAB is offering weekly appointments at all three Department of Insurance offices from October 17 to November 30:

• Tuesdays from 9:30AM-3:00PM at 503 Carr Road, Suite 303, Wilmington DE 19809
• Wednesdays from 9:30AM-3:00PM at 28 The Circle, Suite 1, Georgetown, DE 19947
• Thursdays from 9:00AM-3:30PM at 1351 West North St., Suite 101, Dover, DE 19904

Top Tips for a Successful Medicare Open Enrollment

1. Know that enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan means it becomes your primary coverage. Original Medicare will no longer pay for services. You will receive a new ID card from the new plan, and should store your Original Medicare card in a safe place.
2. When moving from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, be prepared to pay both a monthly Medicare Advantage premium and a monthly Medicare Part B premium.
3. Medicare Advantage plans do not automatically give you “more money in your Social Security check every month.” To qualify, you must be eligible for the Medicare Savings Program by having an income below Medicaid limits.
4. Check that additional benefits, like dental, vision, hearing, fitness, or over-the-counter medications are actually accessible if offered. Some network providers of these services may be farther away than anticipated, including in neighboring states, so only factor them into your decision if you feel they are usable.
5. Know that premium costs aren’t the only out-of-pocket costs you may face. Medicare Advantage plans may have co-pays or cost-sharing that differ from Original Medicare.
6. Call your preferred healthcare providers and facilities to understand if your prospective plan contracts with them. You may experience additional out-of-pocket expenses, service denial, or referral requirements if providers are considered out of network.
7. Check if a prospective plan is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). HMO plans require healthcare to be completed by a provider contracted with the plan’s network, otherwise the consumer will need a referral. PPO plans have both in-network and out of network providers and facilities, with consumer costs differing based on the network. HMO and PPO plans are not Medicare Supplement Plans, and may have out-of-pocket costs each visit.
8. Check if the plan provides Prescription Drug (Part D) coverage that meets your needs.
9. Be aware that in many cases, enrollment locks a person into a plan for the full upcoming calendar year.
10. Scrutinize any contact carefully during Medicare Open Enrollment to ensure it is from a known, credible source. Commercials, cold calls, and other contact may be scams or can provide deliberately misleading information about a plan.

About the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau provides free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people eligible for Medicare. Residents can call DMAB at 1 (800) 336-9500 or (302) 674-7364 to set up a free, confidential session or visit the DMAB website for important educational resources. Counselors can assist with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance), long-term care insurance, billing issues, prescription savings, and much more. DMAB has a Virtual Welcome to Medicare Seminar helpful for new and soon-to-be Medicare beneficiaries and those exploring enrollment changes.

The department does not manage benefits offered to state employees, pensioners, or spouses. While DMAB can counsel Medicare-eligible state plan members, questions about the state’s proposed Medicare Advantage plan or transition, they should first contact the Office of Pensions at 1 (800) 722-7300 and explore their online guide.

Medicare Advantage plans are regulated at the federal level, though the Insurance Commissioner and his peers are advocating for increased state regulatory authority.

Be aware of non-compliant alternative health plans

Free one-on-one counseling saved consumers more than a half million dollars in 2021

As the October 15 to December 7 Medicare Open Enrollment quickly approaches, the Delaware Department of Insurance and its Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) are sharing their annual consumer information announcement.

During Medicare Open Enrollment, consumers can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or Medicare Advantage Plan. DMAB’s free, confidential, unbiased one-on-one assistance can help residents determine if making a coverage change is the right choice. In 2021, DMAB provided more than 5,500 counseling sessions, saving beneficiaries a combined $521,000.

The department does not manage benefits offered to state employees, pensioners, or spouses. While DMAB can counsel Medicare-eligible state plan members, questions about the state’s Medicare Advantage plan or transition should first contact the Office of Pensions at 1 (800) 722-7300 and explore their online guide. Medicare Advantage plans themselves are regulated at the federal level, though the Insurance Commissioner and his peers are advocating for increased state regulatory authority.

“Our Medicare Assistance Bureau is an important resource for residents. Many Delawareans face confusion when it comes to Medicare Advantage plans, and as Open Enrollment approaches, they will begin to see an influx of television commercials and be targeted by a lot of other enrollment marketing,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.

DMAB Director Lakia Turner agreed. “Many beneficiaries enroll in plans based on marketing, without fully assessing the plan’s total costs or asking key questions about their coverage, and ultimately that means they then experience unexpected issues. We work hard to inform consumers on the front-end to help ensure they get the right plan from the start.” Commissioner Navarro and Director Turner recently shared enrollment advice on Delmarva Life.

Ten Tips for a Successful Medicare Open Enrollment

1. Know that enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan means it becomes your primary coverage. Original Medicare will no longer pay for services. You will receive a new ID card from the new plan, and should store your Original Medicare card in a safe place.
2. When moving from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, be prepared to pay both a monthly Medicare Advantage premium and a monthly Medicare Part B premium.
3. Medicare Advantage plans do not automatically give you “more money in your Social Security check every month.” To qualify, you must be eligible for the Medicare Savings Program by having an income below Medicaid limits.
4. Check that additional benefits, like dental, vision, hearing, fitness, or over-the-counter medications are actually accessible if offered. Some network providers of these services may be farther away than anticipated, including in neighboring states, so only factor them into your decision if you feel they are usable.
5. Know that premium costs aren’t the only out-of-pocket costs you may face. Medicare Advantage plans may have co-pays or cost-sharing that differ from Original Medicare.
6. Call your preferred healthcare providers and facilities to understand if your prospective plan contracts with them. You may experience additional out-of-pocket expenses, service denial, or referral requirements if providers are considered out of network.
7. Check if a prospective plan is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). HMO plans require healthcare to be completed by a provider contracted with the plan’s network, otherwise the consumer will need a referral. PPO plans have both in-network and out of network providers and facilities, with consumer costs differing based on the network. HMO and PPO plans are not Medicare Supplement Plans, and may have out-of-pocket costs each visit.
8. Check if the plan provides Prescription Drug (Part D) coverage that meets your needs.
9. Be aware that in many cases, enrollment locks a person into a plan for the full upcoming calendar year.
10. Scrutinize any contact carefully during Medicare Open Enrollment to ensure it is from a known, credible source. Commercials, cold calls, and other contact may be scams or can provide deliberately misleading information about a plan.

About the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau provides free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people eligible for Medicare. Residents can call DMAB at 1 (800) 336-9500 or (302) 674-7364 to set up a free, confidential session or visit the DMAB website for important educational resources. Counselors can assist with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance), long term care insurance, billing issues, prescription savings, and much more. DMAB has a Virtual Welcome to Medicare Seminar helpful for new and soon-to-be Medicare beneficiaries and those exploring enrollment changes.

Be aware of non-compliant alternative health plans

Following in-depth reviews by independent actuaries and the Office of Value-Based Health Care Delivery, rates for regulated 2023 health, dental, and small group insurance plans were announced today. While premiums are rising steeply across the country, the extension of consumer-friendly subsidies through the Inflation Reduction Act, coupled with Delaware’s strong 2022 enrollment and 2023 Health Insurance Marketplace expansion, will limit consumer impact locally.

“This year, Delaware consumers have more carriers and plans to choose from than ever before, so they can find an affordable plan that meets their needs. We remain optimistic that this increased competition will lead to lower rates and higher care quality over time,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro. “Delawareans are facing rising costs in nearly every area of life and making difficult sacrifices to afford necessities – but let me be clear, no matter the financial cost, we cannot afford to sacrifice our health. We will continue to work to ensure that coverage is affordable and accessible to all residents.”

Two new health insurers will be joining the Marketplace for 2023. Before tax credits and subsidies, base rates for 21-year-old non-tobacco users range from $315 to $505 across 9 Aetna CVS Health plan options, and from $283 to $402 with AmeriHealth Caritas across 4 plan options. Returning ACA issuer Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware will be increasing rates 5.5% on average, with base rates for 17 plan options ranging from $249 to $618 including a catastrophic plan option. In the last few years, Highmark’s average rates have decreased roughly 10% despite this needed increase.

Plans on the marketplace are spread among metal-level categories – bronze, silver, gold, platinum and catastrophic – and are based on how enrollees choose to split the costs of care with their insurance company.

As always, Commissioner Navarro urges residents to be informed consumers and shop for the best plan for both their needs and their budget. 30 plans are available to Delawareans for the 2023 plan year, and local navigators are available to assist in choosing the right plan. Open Enrollment takes place November 1 through January 15.

Factors Involved in Expansion, Rates

Nationally, insurers are requesting increases due to inflation, increasing costs of care, and rising drug prices. In Delaware, both state and federal legislation contributed to the long-awaited carrier expansion and final rates.

“It’s no coincidence that Delaware was able to expand the number of carrier options on the Health Insurance Marketplace in the same year that laws limiting hospital price growth to appropriate, inflation-conscious levels became enforceable,” said Commissioner Navarro. “The hospital price growth law, for the first time in our state’s history, gave insurers leverage to negotiate lower costs for consumers while still ensuring that hardworking healthcare providers receive their fair share. We’re grateful to have worked with legislators and the Primary Care Reform Collaborative to put cost containment guardrails in place to curtail rising consumer expenses, encourage carrier expansion, and ensure the effectiveness of every dollar spent.”

With little financial limitations around hospital prices, private insurance plans pay the price – on average 224% more than Medicare plans, according to RAND Corporation.

During the rate filing process, questions also remained about the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act subsidies, which the department lobbied Delaware’s congressional delegation to extend. These subsidies lowered consumer costs significantly and contributed to the state’s largest-ever ACA enrollment, a year-over-year increase of 26.8%. Had these benefits expired, healthy consumers who were influenced to acquire coverage through the enhanced discounts may have left the marketplace, shrinking the risk pool and unbalancing rates. On August 16, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, extending subsidies into 2025.

Aside from potential enrollment increases due to the carrier expansion, future participation growth may come from Medicaid unwinding and income eligibility reviews. National efforts are underway to ensure smooth, affordable transitions to Marketplace coverage for those eligible.

Other ACA and ACA-Compliant Rates

Delta Dental will reduce both ACA and non-marketplace rates by an average of 4%, and Dominion Dental will increase ACA premiums by 2.2%. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co.’s small group non-marketplace dental plan rates will remain at their current level.

Returning off-market small group plans from Highmark will increase an average 2.4%, Optimum Choice plans will rise by 2.7%, and United Healthcare small group rates will increase by 2.8%. Aetna Health’s small group plans will increase 7.6%, and Aetna Life rates will increase 5.1% after an initial increase request of 8.8% was reduced. Aetna Health’s 9 off-marketplace individual plan rates will remain at their current level.

About ACA Plans

All ACA-compliant health plans offer essential health benefits, including coverage of pre-existing conditions, prescriptions, emergency services and hospitalization, mental and behavioral health coverage, outpatient care and telehealth, lab services, and more.

Open enrollment for 2023 Health Insurance Marketplace plans begins November 1. Residents may qualify to enroll or change plans based on special circumstances, such as income qualification, loss of health coverage, becoming a parent, or other qualifying factors throughout the year. Find out if you qualify for special enrollment.

Commissioner Navarro announces Health Insurance Marketplace expansion

Be aware of non-compliant alternative health plans