Local advocacy group Charlottesville for Reasonable Health Insurance has submitted a formal complaint to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, detailing concerns about the Bureau of Insurance’s handling of Optima Health’s 2018 health insurance premium rates in the Charlottesville area.
Charlottesville and surrounding counties (Albemarle, Green, Fluvanna) have the most expensive health care premiums in the nation in 2018, 23% higher than the next most expensive market. Rates more than tripled for consumers buying coverage on the ACA Individual Exchange, making comprehensive insurance unaffordable for people who do not qualify for subsidy assistance. A typical family of four is being charged $3000 per month for high deductible plans.
CRHI hired attorney Jay Angoff in January 2018 to formally dispute Optima’s rates with the Bureau of Insurance, triggering an investigation of the filings in question. The BOI had initially approved the record setting rates without question or request for justification. In April 2018 the BOI concluded that Optima’s unprecedented rates were ‘actuarially justified.’
CHRI requests that SCC Commissioner Judith Williams Jagdmann open an investigation into the BOI’s rate review process, specifically examining why Optima’s rates were not subjected to appropriate scrutiny. Commissioner Jagdmann has administrative supervision over the Bureau of Insurance.
About Charlottesville for Reasonable Health Insurance
Charlottesville For Reasonable Health Insurance is a grassroots healthcare consumer advocacy group formed in response to the tripling of premium prices in 2018. CRHI is currently disputing the Charlottesville rates in the Individual Market, and lobbies federal and state representatives for laws that provide everyone with comprehensive and affordable health insurance. The group can be found on Facebook.
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