The federal government is downplaying concerns about large potential rate hikes in health insurance plans next year. Many Florida providers are asking for double-digit increases. It’s a similar story across the nation. The Department of Health and Human Services recently told reporters it doesn’t believe consumers will see those rate hikes.
“What we’re saying is that there are protections here for consumers in terms of the out-of-pocket costs they’d incur," said HHS's Mandy Cohen.
Still lots of people aren’t eligible for federal subsidies and are facing steep hikes. Insurers are blaming the increases on the loss of a federal program that subsidized them.
Others point to price jumps in hospital admissions, and pharmaceutical pricing, and some health insurance companies are withdrawing from the subsidized market.
