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Obamacare plan rates to drop in 2019

The HealthCare.gov website main page. The Trump administration is clearing the way for insurers to sell short-term health plans as a bargain alternative to pricey "Obamacare" for consumers struggling with high premiums. But the policies don't have to cover pre-existing conditions and benefits are limited. It's not certain if that's going to translate into broad consumer appeal among people who need an individual policy. (HHS via AP)
The HealthCare.gov website main page. The Trump administration is clearing the way for insurers to sell short-term health plans as a bargain alternative to pricey "Obamacare" for consumers struggling with high premiums. But the policies don't have to cover pre-existing conditions and benefits are limited. It's not certain if that's going to translate into broad consumer appeal among people who need an individual policy. (HHS via AP) The HealthCare.gov website main page. The Trump administration is clearing the way for insurers to sell short-term health plans as a bargain alternative to pricey "Obamacare" for consumers struggling with high premiums. But the policies don't have to cover pre-existing conditions and benefits are limited. It's not certain if that's going to translate into broad consumer appeal among people who need an individual policy. (HHS via AP)

By Dave Flessner 5 min read

Where insurers are offering individual plans

* BlueCross will be in 81 counties and all markets except Memphis and the Nashville area* Ambetter by Celtic is a new entrant to the Tennessee market next year with plans in Memphis and Chattanooga* Cigna is expanding into Knoxville and continuing plans in Nashville, Memphis and Tri-Cities* Oscar Health is expanding into Memphis and keeping its coverage in Nashville* Bright Health is a new entrant next year with coverage in the Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville marketsSource: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance

Health insurance rates for individual coverage in Tennessee will decline next year after four consecutive years of double-digit annual rate increases.

State regulators Wednesday approved lower rates for individual insurance policy charges in 2019 for the biggest health exchange plans offered in Tennessee under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. At the same time, regulators granted permission for two new insurers to offer individual coverage plans in parts of Tennessee next year, adding new competition in Chattanooga and other major cities in the state.

“This year’s approved rate filing requests are positive developments for Tennessee and our working families,” Tennessee Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak said in a statement after approving the new rate schedules. “Two carriers are entering Tennessee markets for the first time in 2019, and another is expanding its coverage area, resulting in more options for more Tennessee consumers. Tennesseans will see competition that currently does not exist in many parts of the state, including in and around Chattanooga.”

Health insurers said the individual market has tended to stabilize after four years of Obamacare experience and after worries about some cuts in government payments have been allayed by recent fixes in how the government pays insurers.