JUNEAU — The state Division of Insurance has approved average rate increases for next year of nearly 40 percent for the two companies providing individual health insurance plans through the federally run online marketplace.
Division director Lori Wing-Heier says Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield and Moda Health cited the high cost of medical services as one of the factors in requesting rate increases.
She also said Alaska has a relatively small market and very small group of individuals with high-cost claims.
She said the average rate increase approved for Premera was 38.7 percent and 39.6 percent for Moda. She said that applies to individual plans on and off the online marketplace.
Wing-Heier says the cost of health care in Alaska has been a long-standing concern, with no clear answers for addressing it.