Covered California Insurance Plans Increased By 9.6%, The Largest Increase In 5 Years

Covered California Insurance Plans increase 9.6% in their monthly health insurance rates for 1.7 million residents of California. People who do not have access to health insurance through their employment are able to purchase it through a marketplace thanks to the federal Affordable Care Act. The majority of states delegate their market management to the federal government. But California runs its own marketplace called Covered California.

Covered California Insurance Plans Increased By 9.6%, The Largest Increase In 5 Years
Covered California Insurance Plans Increased By 9.6%, The Largest Increase In 5 Years

Covered California Insurance Plans

Covered California insurance plans and rates for 2024 show a 9.6% increase, attributed to factors like increased healthcare utilization, pharmacy costs, and inflationary pressures. Despite the challenges, Covered California’s market remains stable, with enhanced federal subsidies and state financial support providing more help for plan payments.

Monthly prices on insurance plans remained constant during the pandemic, rising an average of slightly over 1% annually from 2020 to 2022 as many people delaying normal medical treatment. However, rates increased 5.6% in California this year and 9.6% next year as patients started going back to the doctors,

Consumer activists, however, who claimed that many individuals won’t end up paying extra due to a number of government support programs. A law passed by Congress last year states that the premium for a Silver plan, the most popular type of insurance, cannot be more than 8.5% of the buyer’s salary. The difference will be paid by the federal government; this rule will be in effect until the end of 2025. More than one-third of customers who purchase insurance through Covered California would experience no change in their monthly costs so long as they remained with the same insurance provider and did not relocate outside of the state. 20% of consumers, according to Covered California, won’t have to pay any premiums at all.

Greater Competition And More Options For Consumers

Covered California is the healthiest consumer pool attracts 12 health insurance carriers, offering increased competition and choices for all Californians. 96% will have three or more carriers, and 92% will have four or more in 2024. Inland Empire Health Plan, Aetna CVS Health, Health Net, and Oscar Health will join Covered California and begin offering coverage, Executive Director Jessica Altman said.

Increased competition benefits Covered California marketplace and provides enrollees with meaningful choices for their health coverage. Covered California consumers will have more choices than ever to shop, compare and find a plan that best fits their family’s needs.

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