North Dakota insurers request sharp premium increases for individual plans

BISMARCK—Citing increasing costs, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has requested a nearly 24 percent average premium increase for individual insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The filing, submitted in June for rates effective Jan. 1, is being reviewed by the North Dakota Insurance Department. Medica Health Plans requested a roughly 12 percent and 19 percent increase for its two individual insurance products listed, while Sanford Health Plan requested a nearly 8 percent average increase for its individual plans, according to filings listed on HealthCare.gov.

North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread said the final increases should be known in September. The window for enrolling in a health insurance plan, known as the open enrollment period, is scheduled to run from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.

"It's safe to say we're going to be seeing increases in our market. Exactly what they're going to be has yet to be determined," Godfread said. "It's going to be important for our consumers to shop."

Read more: http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/health/4311063-nd-insurers-request-sharp-premium-increases-individual-plans