The Division of Insurance, of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, recently announced the dates health insurance companies will need to file their plans and premiums for individual and small group markets for the 2018 plan year, and the dates the information will be made public:
June 19 is the deadline for health insurance companies to file their proposed individual and small group plans and premiums for the 2018 plan year with the Division of Insurance.July 14: The Division of Insurance releases the proposed plans and premiums to the public.Aug. 4: The deadline for public comments.Late summer-early fall: final, approved plans and premiums for 2018 are released.Nov. 1: Open-enrollment period for 2018 starts.Two changes from past years should be noted:
This year, the deadline for companies to submit plans and premiums will be June 19; in past years the deadline has been in mid-May.In past years filings have been released to the public about two weeks after the deadline, after the Division of Insurance has conducted a cursory review to ensure all components are included in the submissions. This year, the Division of Insurance will extend the two-week period, after the filing deadline and before filings are released to the public, by another two weeks to account for the addition of the Risk Adjustment program, which provides payments to companies that enroll more high-cost members. The extra two weeks will provide more time to evaluate the Risk Adjustment program and give insurance companies the opportunity to adjust their plans and premiums according to the information received.On July 14, consumers will be able to view and comment on the 2018 submissions from health insurance companies and submit their comments.
For more information, visit www.colorado.gov/pacific/dora/approved-health-insurance-plans.
fstone@durangoherald.com
