Report: Premiums Up 128 Percent Since ‘13
Health insurance premiums in Arkansas have increased by 128 percent since 2013, according to a report released this week by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Let’s put this into context: nationally, health insurance premiums have (on average) merely doubled since 2013.
From the report:
Comparing the 2013 average premiums using the MLR (Medical Loss Ratio) data with the 2017 average premiums obtained using CMS MIDAS (Multidimensional Information and Data Analytics System) data shows average premiums were 105% higher in 2017 than in 2013 and that the median state premium increase was 108%. Moreover, 62% of states using Healthcare.gov had 2017 average premiums double average premiums in 2013.
Of course, way back in 2013, Medicaid expansion was passed with the promise that it would help “drive down premiums” for Arkansans. With the release of this latest report by the federal government showing premiums in Arkansas have risen higher than premiums nationwide, it’s clear this claim was false.
You can read the full report here.
