Health Insurance Rate Review

Health Insurance Rate Review


Welcome to Department of Financial Regulation's health insurance rate review home page.  We hope the information on the following pages will help give you a basic understanding about health insurance premiums/rates as well as the review and approval process that is undertaken by the state to establish these premiums/rates.  Check back often as we will update regularly with new information. 

In Vermont, health insurance carriers are required by law to submit their proposed rates in a filing to the Division of Rates and Forms for review and approval.  Insurers must justify why an increase is requested/warranted and they can’t apply any increase in premiums/rates until they have been approved by the division.  Click here for more on our Health Insurance Rate Review Process. 

 

Rate Review of Qualified Health Plans to be sold on Vermont Health Connect

 

Vermont Health Connect is the marketplace for individuals, families, and small businesses to compare and purchase qualified private health insurance plans, determine eligibility for and enroll in public health insurance plans, and access tax credits and financial assistance. In October 2013, Vermont Health Connect will open for Vermonters to enroll in health coverage that will take effect in January 2014.

Insurers offering plans through Vermont Health Connect must file their proposed rates with the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) by March 25.  After this date, Vermonters interested in tracking or commenting on Vermont Health Connect rates should watch the DFR and Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB) websites for progress on the following anticipated timeline:

March 25 - DFR begins review of Exchange plan rate filings, which are posted to DFR’s website within
five days of their receipt.  

June - DFR completes its review and forwards suggested rates to GMCB.  During a 30-day review
window, GMCB seeks public comment and then approves, disapproves or modifies requested rates.
Once GMCB review is complete, DFR implements GMCB’s decision for all rate filings. 

July - Plans are submitted to the Department of Vermont Health Access which reviews and selects plans
to be sold on the Exchange.  With all reviews complete, Vermonters can view both standard and choice
plans on the Exchange prior to open enrollment.

October - Vermonters begin using the Vermont Health Connect website, call center, and in-person
Navigators to determine eligibility, compare options, enroll, and access financial assistance for health
coverage that takes effect in January 2014.

 

We want to hear from you!

 

Click the link below to view all the rate filings received after January 1, 2012 for comprehensive major medical health insurance plans and Medicare-Supplement filings received after May 16, 2012.  You can click the links to view filing summaries and the full text.  Consumers can comment on filings for proposed rate increases over 5% and we will consider those comments as part of our overall review process.  Please note all comments are subject to public disclosure.

View and comment on recent filings.

On May 16, 2012 Act 171 was passed relating to implementing Vermont’s Health Reforms.  Under the new Act, Long Term Care filings are no longer required to be posted for public viewing or public comment.   Medicare-Supplement filings will be posted to the web and if the rate increase request is greater than 5%, the filing will require a plain language summary and be subject to public comment. 

Related Links:

If you have questions or technical difficulties please contact:

Sean Londergan at (802)828-2917   or
Phil Keller at (802)828-1464