Ohio Health Insurance News June 2008
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
“The survey of state-level enforcement found Ohio doesn’t require insurers to sell coverage to everyone who applies for it or prohibit higher premiums based on health status, like states including New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.
However, Ohio regulators review some rate and premium increases before insurers can charge them, and the state has an external review program where consumers can appeal denials, the study said.
A spokesman for the Ohio Department of Insurance said Thursday that no one was available to discuss the study’s findings.
A December 2007 study on individual health insurance by the trade-industry group America’s Health Insurance Plans, found that 89 percent of applicants are offered coverage, and that Ohio’s average premium is $2,498 for an individual and $5,303 for a family.
Another study conducted by the group found that requiring insurers to disregard a person’s health in issuing individual policies encourages people not to buy insurance until they have a health problem, which would drive up premiums as lower-risk people depart the market.”
My take: It’s not such a bad thing that Ohio’s health insurers can charge higher rates to those applicants that are in poor health. Otherwise, rates would dramatically increase for EVERYONE…especially those in good health. Remember…Ohio has an “Open Enrollment” for persons that may not qualify for individual coverage.
From The Dayton Daily News:
“When Ohioans don’t buy their health insurance through employers or other groups, they usually don’t have very good insurance.
Ohio laws don’t prohibit charging prohibitive prices for inadequate coverage, or even from denying coverage at any price, health consumer organization Families USA reported in “Failing Grades: State Consumer Protections.””
My take: I respectfully disagree with that notion. Yes, there are many “discount plans” that are useless and should be avoided. But Ohio’s rates are quite low compared to other states and a policy may not be as expensive as you think.
For a free quote on your health insurance…visit http://ohioquotes.com/