Health Insurers Struggle to Predict 2015 Rates

The Washington Post reports that health insurers will have difficulty developing premium rates for 2015 because of limited data for the health insurance plans effective in 2014. The federal Affordable Care Act changed a lot of things in the industry beginning in 2014.  And in many states, insurers need to file proposed 2015 rates with their state insurance commissioners already.  A close look at two insurers in Washington state shows wide variation in projected rates. One insurer is requesting a 6.8% rate decrease, while another is requesting a 26% increase.  What do both rate filings have in common, though?  The proposed rates are “pure projections” because neither company has enough 2014 data to consider.