New Jersey Individual Health Insurance Ratings & Rate Changes
Rating
Modified Community Rating for Standard Plans:
Carriers have the option to use modified community rating for the standard plans. The rates may vary based solely on age. Rates vary from carrier to carrier and from one individual plan to another. That is, one carrier's price for Plan D is not likely to be the same as another carrier's price for Plan D. And, because Plan D has a higher carrier coinsurance than Plan B, Plan D will generally be priced higher than Plan B. The list of carriers and their rates for various plans can assist those interested in purchasing individual health coverage with a comparison of rates.
Modified Community Rating for B&E Plans:
Carriers have the option to use modified community rating for the B&E plan. For the B&E plan, the rates may vary based on age, gender and/or geographic location. Carriers may use one or more of those permissible rating factors. As with the standard individual plans, the rates for one carrier offering B&E may be very different from the rates for another carrier. In addition, while the B&E coverage basically covers the same services and supplies, the addition of a carrier-designed rider to enhance the benefits under the B&E plan can result in some significant differences between the B&E plan with rider offered by one carrier as compared to that of another. Those benefit differences result in further rate differences among carriers.
Caps on Rate Increases:
As of January 5, 2009, and for the next four years, the law imposes a renewal rate cap. The renewal increase for consumers who bought a plan prior to January 5, 2009 is limited to a 15% increase. The renewal increase for consumers age 55 or older who buy a plan on January 5, 2009 or later is limited to a 15% increase. As mentioned, the cap applies only for 4 years and thus will expire in 2013.
Resources:
- » A Table of Standardized Medigap Plans
- » Deciding on The Right Medigap Plan for You
- » What Medigap Programs Don't Cover Compared to Medicare
- » Summary of Medigap and Secondary Health Insurance Policies
- » Introductory Information to Medicare HMO's
Articles:
- » Specialized Rules and Features for Medicare HMO's
- » Comparing the Traditional Medicare Plan and Medicare HMO's
- » Choosing A Specific Medicare or Medicare HMO Plan for You
New Jersey Health Guide Pages:
- » Introduction to The New Jersey Individual Health Coverage Program Buyer's Guide
- » Obtaining New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage
- » New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Eligibility
- » New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Dependent Eligibility
- » Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Health Insurance Eligibility
- » More Questions Regarding New Jersey Health Insurance Eligibility
- » Key Features of the Individual New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Program
- » Pre-existing Conditions and Portability Regarding New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage
- » New Jersey Individual Health Insurance Ratings & Rate Changes
- » Questions Regarding New Jersey Health Insurance Plans, Features & Rates
- » New Jersey Health Insurance Delivery Systems
- » Managed Health Insurance & Health Care Plans
- » Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Health Insurance Delivery Systems
- » New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Benefits
- » More Types of New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage Benefits
- » Frequently Asked Questions About New Jersey Health Insurance Benefits
- » Alternatives to Individual New Jersey Health Insurance Coverage
- » Individual New Jersey Health Insurance Plans Summary
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