As you know, Iowa is pursuing a waiver from the federal government called the Stopgap Measure to stabilize the health insurance market for 2018. The Stopgap Measure will enable Wellmark and Medica to both sell health insurance in the individual health insurance market to 72,000 Iowans.
If the federal government does not approve the Stopgap Measure, only one carrier Medica will sell health insurance in 2018 in Iowa. Medica plans to increase premiums 56% or higher on Iowans. This is unaffordable and unsustainable. An independent actuary has found 22,000 Iowans would be priced out of health insurance in 2018. Many of these are hard-working middle-class Iowans. This is why getting the Stopgap Measure is critical (lower premiums for everyone and save 22,0000 Iowans health insurance).
The Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen is still obligated to hold a public rate hearing on Medica’s 56% rate increase filing this coming Saturday, August 26. It is important for Iowans to express their concerns with the 56% or higher rate increase. Telling the story about how Iowans will be affected (personally or as agents selling insurance) is important for Commissioner Ommen and the Federal Government is critical to getting our Stopgap Measure approved, so we can have a stable individual health insurance market and keep premiums low.
Please attend a public rate hearing this coming Saturday advocating for the Stopgap measure. There will be seven locations throughout Iowa for the Saturday 10 am public hearing. Iowans don’t have to drive to Des Moines to participate. More details below.
Iowa Insurance Division – Public Rate Hearing
Full list of locations for the Saturday, August 26 at 10 am public rate hearing can be found here.
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