New York Stops Unauthorized Health Insurance Premium Increases

New laws in New York make it harder for insurance companies to raise premiums. The governor signed into law the Governor’s Program Bill No. 278 which gives the New York State Insurance Department authority to review and approve insurance premiums before they are issued. It passed with overwhelming support in a 111-17 vote.  Before this new law the insurance industry was pretty much self-regulated, according to a report by dotmed.com. “Deregulation of health insurance premiums is a failed experiment leading to unjustified premium increases and more people losing their health insurance coverage,” Governor Paterson said in prepared remarks.

Now, if insurance companies want to raise rates, they have to apply for approval first. “Before, health insurance companies could raise premiums as much as they wanted, and all we could do is check long afterward if, in fact, they were overcharging,” David Neustadt, spokesman for the New York State Insurance Department, told DOTmed News. “The current rates are increasing at a much faster rate than before [the file and use law].” This way governing bodies can make sure any increases are justified, and not just created by insurance companies so they can increase bottom lines.

The law will impact any rate increases set to take effect on or after October 1, 2011. “I applaud New York on its bold move to hold insurance companies accountable and prevent the kind of unreasonable rate increases that have made health insurance unaffordable for many American families,” said U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a statement, according to dotmed.com. “This is the kind of action that, together with the Affordable Care Act, is shifting power back to consumers.”