"Every last one of us, at some point in their lives, is going to be a patient."
Gaye Hyre
Tens of thousands of Connecticut residents could see their health insurance rates go up starting January 1. Anthem is seeking an increase of nearly 27 percent for individual health plans sold on and off the state’s health exchange.
The Connecticut Insurance Department, which has the authority to reject or modify rates, held a public hearing. Speaking from a prepared statement James Augur, Anthem’s Regional Vice President of sales, said there are several reasons for the proposed increase including rising drug prices, the elimination of funds from the federal reinsurance program, and an adjustment for current year rates.
"A correction for our 2016 rates, which we now know, from our year-over-year data, are not adequate," Augur said.
Residents and state officials voiced their opinions. Gaye Hyre of West Haven opposes the rate hike. She opened her remarks with a reminder.
"One of the things that I want to make pellucidly clear is that at the end of all of this is a person and a patient," she said. "And every last one of us, at some point in their lives, is going to be a patient."
Hyre is a cancer survivor living on a fixed income with her husband who is disabled.
"The fact that six people in management at Anthem have a total compensation package of 59-point-one million dollars last year… do the really need an extra 200 bucks a month from me? I don’t think so," Hyre said. "And I don’t think they need to take it out of any other patients hide."
State Senator Tony Hwang was the second person to speak. He said while the Affordable Care Act and the state’s health exchange have noble intentions the plan is flawed.
"The consumer has been on a roller coaster ride of up and down and rate increases without any sense of predictability," he said. "There has to be a truly organic manageable program that the consumer can understand and not have these hearings at 9:00 in the morning in the summer where people who are working and trying to make a living can’t come and have their voice be heard."
Anthem insures nearly 57,000 Connecticut residents.
Public hearings continue Thursday on proposed rate increases by Aetna and ConnectiCare.
