Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) selling group or individual health care coverage in Michigan must file base rates and their rating methodology for approval by DIFS. Rates for the individual and small group (employer group sizes up to 50) markets must comply with both Michigan law and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating requirements. Large group rates must comply with Michigan law. In order for DIFS to grant rate approval, the rates must be compliant with the applicable statutory standards.
Commercial health insurance, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), must file all individual and small group (employer group sizes up to 50) health insurance rates with DIFS. Rates must comply with both Michigan law and, in the individual and small group markets, the rating requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A company must show its premiums are reasonable in relation to the benefit provided for the specific product or plan. Additionally, companies must show that their expected losses relative to their proposed premiums exceed a statutorily determined percentage ("loss ratio"). Commercial large group (group size over 50 employees) health rates are not required to be filed with DIFS.
No. (See response above for more detail on DIFS' rate-approval process).
Yes. Carriers offer coverage through various lines of business - e.g. group, individual, Medicare Supplemental. It is possible that some lines of business make money some years while other lines may not. Also, even if a company is making a profit today, due to ever-increasing medical costs, it may be necessary to raise rates to cover claims and expenses over the coming rating period, usually one year.
Health carriers must submit rate change requests to DIFS via SERFF, an electronic filing system. The carrier must provide documentation to support its request. This will include data regarding the costs and use of health services they have reimbursed during the experience period (usually the prior 1-2 year period) . The health carrier must then estimate future costs/utilization, based on the changes in costs over a period of time, called a ‘trend'.
Depending on the type of health policy, DIFS is allowed between 30 and 60 days to review the rate increase request and make a final determination whether to approve.
Actuaries consider past claims experience, trends in costs and utilization of various services that are considered on a national basis as well as for the particular health carrier, or particular employer group if the employer group is rated based on their own claims experience. Actuaries also consider administrative expenses (how much it costs to produce and sell the coverage), and for companies doing business through contracted provider networks, changes in the contract amounts or changes in the rating methods used in determining how much providers are paid must be considered. Actuaries must also consider the appropriate operating costs of the health carrier.
Any monies not used for claims and administrative expenses may be kept in the company's reserves to strengthen the financial position of the company, to ensure there are adequate funds to cover future costs as no one can predict future claims costs with 100% accuracy. Companies also use extra reserves to cover the costs of very expensive improvements for such things as updated information technology (IT) systems. For-profit health carriers must consider their stockholders when making financial decisions.
Rates for commercial insurers, including BCBSM, and HMOs in the individual and small group markets are filed once per year. HMO large group rates are also filed once per year.
If you are purchasing individual coverage, shop around with other health carriers, and consider purchasing benefit plans with higher copay amounts or deductible requirements. With the introduction of the Marketplace, or Exchange, you may be eligible for a subsidy depending on your income. If you are covered under a group plan, encourage your employer to do the same.
Rates for small groups (employer group sizes up to 50) must comply with both Michigan law and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) rating requirements.
Large group covered by HMOs are regulated by Michigan statute. Rates must be filed annually and approved. Large groups covered by commercial insurers are not required to file their rates for approval. DIFS does not have authority over the rates charged under a self-funded health care plan. Self funded health plans, are regulated by the United States Department of Labor.
The loss ratio is a mathematical calculation that takes the total claims that have been reported to the carrier, plus the carrier's costs to administer the claim handling, divided by the total premiums earned (This refers to a portion of policy premium that has been used up during the term of the policy). For example, if an insurance company pays $60 in claims for every $100 in collected premiums, then its loss ratio is 60% with a profit ratio/margin of 40% or $40.The rate filings must include an actuarial certification that the benefits provided are reasonable in relation to the premium charged and must show the anticipated loss ratio.
