More than 26,000 members in UnitedHealth Group plans, spanning UnitedHealthcare and subsidiaries, could face steeper rate hikes before the end of the year, according to the Maryland Insurance Administration.
Maryland said it received four requests from UnitedHealth for small-group rate changes by Oct. 1. Building on a previously agreed-upon 9.4% average increase for October, the combined average increase would be 17.6%.
Along with UnitedHealthcare and its mid-Atlantic business, rate increase requests also applied to MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Co. and Optimum Choice, other UnitedHealth subsidiaries.
In a May 13 letter, the Maryland State Medical Society opposed the proposal.
“Maryland families should not be forced to shoulder the burden of excessive premium increases while large insurance corporations continue reporting soaring profits,” MedChi President Eric Wargotz, MD, said. “Patients are already struggling with rising healthcare costs, delayed care and increasing barriers to treatment. Approving these rate hikes would only worsen access and affordability for Marylanders.”
The Maryland Insurance Administration hosted a public hearing May 14 and accepted written testimony by May 15.
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