Judge Denies Insurers' Injunction Request
A Suffolk Superior Court judge has denied a request by six state health insurance providers to make double-digit premium increases.
The insurers filed a preliminary injunction earlier this month after the state Division of Insurance denied 235 of 274 rate increase requests for small business and individual policies.
Increases denied by the division ranged from less than 10 percent to 35 percent. Insurers argued that the increases were necessary to keep up with the rapidly rising cost of hospital care.
The new rates would have taken effect April 1, the day the division's denial was filed.
Insurance brokers have described the days since the denial as "complete chaos."
For more of the WBJ's coverage of the issue, click here.
The Massachuseets Association of Health Plans said its members are "confident in the merits of our case."
It said that until something is done to solve the medical care cost problem, insurance costs will continue to rise.
The MAHP said efforts like House Bill 4452, which was filed by state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, would cut the cost of coverage for small businesses and level the playing field for providers.
Moore's bill is known as the Affordable Health Plan and it would limit what hospitals and physician groups could charge for care.
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