Marketplace Premiums See Small Increase for Kansans in 2019

If a 6 percent increase in health-insurance premiums can be considered a victory in the fight against rising costs, Kansas residents who buy through the federal Affordable Care Act marketplace can savor a win: The state’s Insurance Department says the proposed average rate increase in Kansas for individual and small group coverage this year is slightly less than 6 percent.

That, says Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, is significantly lower than in past years. “We again have a competitive market in Kansas for 2019,” Selzer said, “with every county having plan choices available from multiple insurance carriers.”

A department news release announcing that increase was timed with this week’s update of healthcare.gov web site, where a total of 25 plans are proposed for sale for 2019, according to the initial filings. Approximately 3 percent of the Kansas population purchase individual plans on the healthcare.gov platform, the department said.   

“All rate filings are subject to analysis by our Kansas Insurance Department staff,” Selzer said. “Rates for 2019 plans are required to be final by August 22.” 

Open enrollment for the 2019 marketplace begins Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15.   Kansans can access the initial rates by plan from healthcare.gov, when they are available on the Kansas Insurance Department website at http://www.ksinsurance.org/healthlife/health/health-rate-increase.php.