A new website launched by the Washington state Office of the Insurance Commissioner lets consumers sign up to receive an e-mail when their health plan requests a rate change, and when a decision is. Consumers can also post comments about rates while they’re under review.
“Giving consumers access to the information health insurers file when seeking rate increases is important, said Washington’s Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “But even more so is providing them with tools to understand the requests and a venue for providing feedback.”
The new site, found at www.insurance.wa.gov/health-rates.shtml, includes rate filings for all individual and small employer (1-50 employees) health plans.
Kreidler applied for and received a federal grant under the Affordable Care Act to build the new website.
“For most families, health insurance is their largest bill next to their mortgage,” said Kreidler. “In today’s tough economic climate, people deserve to see where their premium dollars are going. The new website and its interactive features give consumers a better window into what’s really behind the increasing costs of health insurance.”
