Medica Health, Nebraska's only insurer offering individual care under the Affordable Care Act, said it wants to raise monthly premiums by an average of 16.9 percent next year.
Currently, only 36 percent of the individual plans in the state are through Medica and it is unclear how many how many will switch to Medica after Blue Cross-Blue Shield and Aetnadecided they would pull out of ObamaCare in Nebraska.
The proposed raise comes after premiums rose an average of 53 percent for Medica customers in 2017. The increases do not apply to employer groups, Medicare or other non-ACA health plans.
Medica said Tuesday around 80 percent of current clients would pay no more in monthly premiums, however some people could face increases of 50 percent or higher.
Medica listed three possible sample scenarios for premium increases in Omaha showing before-subsidy increases of 57 percent; three others in Lincoln would increase by about 10 percent. Medica officials were checking to see why the increases in the two cities would be so different.
Medica said it might refile its proposed rates with the Nebraska Department of Insurance if changes are made by the federal government in time for the 2018 health insurance market.
Proposed rates are subject to state and federal regulators’ review.
