Blue Cross and United seek increases - OHIC seeks public comment

Rhode Island small employers (50 or fewer employees), their employees, dependants and the general public are asked to review the following documents and submit comments to the OHIC by August 22, 2008. Send comments via email (preferred) or mail to:

HealthInsInquiry@ohic.ri.gov

OR

OHIC
1511 Pontiac Avenue
Cranston, RI 02920
Attn: rate factor decision

Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island ("Blue Cross") and UnitedHealthcare of New England and United HealthCare Insurance company (together, "United") have submitted their annual rate filings for small group (small employer health insurance market)..

These filings seek approval for cost trends that will directly impact small employers and their employees and dependants.

Cost trends are significant component in determining premiums for employer groups.

For details, please review the following public comment solicitation. Also available here are parts of the Blue Cross and United filings. Both insurers requested that some portions of the filings be kept confidential in under R.I. general Laws, Sections § 38-2-1 et seq (external) and § 27-50-5(h)(3) (external).

     2008 small group filing solicitation
     BC 2008 small group trend filing
     UHC 2008 small group trend filing

For more information, see the most recent guidance from OHIC to insurers regarding small group filings.