Ceci Maher

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Senator Maher Submits Testimony In Strong Opposition To Proposed Insurance Rate Hikes

HARTFORD – State Senator Ceci Maher (D-Wilton) joined a dozen members of the public today in expressing her opposition to the proposed 2024 insurance rate increases submitted by nine different Connecticut health insurers.

In her testimony for today’s state Insurance Department public hearing on the proposed rate hikes, Sen. Maher explained how health insurance costs are already a burden on families across Connecticut and these rate increases only put more lives at jeopardy.

“We see insurance profits soar each quarter, yet rates rise year after year,” said Sen. Maher. “We can’t continue to place these excessive costs on residents and jeopardize the access they currently have to the good, quality healthcare that we offer in this state.”

Sen. Maher believes more should be done to protect residents and not make people choose between life-saving care and paying for essentials.

“We hear time and time again about how families must choose between lifesaving medicine and putting food on the table or new shoes on a child,” said Sen. Maher. “These double-digit rate increases will only make good, quality healthcare less accessible when we should be doing the opposite and broadening care for families and children.”

The 10 filings by nine different Connecticut health insurers are for health insurance plans that currently cover approximately 188,000 people. The proposed average individual rate request increase is 12.4 percent, and ranges from 9.8 percent to 17.5 percent. The proposed average small group rate request increase is 14.8 percent, and ranges from 7.5 percent to 23 percent.

The Insurance Department will conduct actuarial reviews on each filing to determine if they are justified and will either approve, reject, or modify the request. The department expects to make final rulings on the proposals in early September.