Washington health plans -- big average 19 percent rate hike
Eleven health insurers, in 74 health plans proposed for Washington's 2019 health insurance market, would increase rates by an average of 19.08 percent.
Every county in Washington would be covered by at least one plan, although 14 of Washington's 39 counties would have only a single insurer selling through Washington's insurance exchange, the Washington Healthplanfinder.
"I'm relieved to see lower rate requests that we expected by most insurers, and coverage in every county, but any increase will be hard for consumers to bear," State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said. "There's still a great deal of uncertainty in individual markets across the country, fueled by the Trump administration's efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act."
The administration, and Republican leaders in Congress, make repeal of the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, a top priority. At one point, GOP repeal efforts in the U.S. Senate were blocked by a single vote, that of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
The bipartisan Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee team of Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., held hearings on turmoil in insurance markets, and proposed a plan to shore up markets. They could not get a Senate floor vote on the plan, or action in the House of Representatives.
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