Rates higher in resort areas, college towns

By Katie Kerwin McCrimmon

People living in resort areas of Colorado will have to pay higher health insurance rates than those in other regions when plans start being sold through the states health exchange on Oct. 1.

An average 40-year-old non-smoker living in a resort area who is buying a mid-level silver plan could be charged a base rate as high as $667 per month compared to the least expensive silver plan for a comparable 40-year-old in Greeley, whose base rate would be about $232 per month. Shoppers will also be able to choose from lower level bronze plans and gold and platinum plans that will cover more. But, insurance companies arent even offering the platinum plans in resort areas.

The base rates dont tell the whole story. Many new buyers of health insurance will pay less than the base rates because theyll qualify for federal tax rebates designed to make insurance more affordable. (Click here to see a chart showing base rates for various level plans throughout Colorado.)

Rates in Grand Junction, Boulder and Fort Collins are also higher than in some other parts of the state like Denver and Colorado Springs.

Colorados Division of Insurance on Friday released information on approved plans.

Altogether, Colorados Division of Insurance approved 242 plans from 13 carriers to be sold on the states health exchange, Connect for Health Colorado. Insurance regulators approved an additional 299 plans that will be sold outside of the states health exchange.

Consumer advocates say the prices appear to be affordable and that people should be able to find what they need.

The myth of rate shock continues to be just that a myth, said Adam Fox, director of strategic engagement of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, a consumer advocacy group.

Foxs group has been tracking proposed rates and found that the final approved rates are the same or slightly lower than those first proposed.

Were pleased with the number of plans and the variety of carriers offering plans. It will make for a robust marketplace here in Colorado, Fox said.

Elsewhere in the country, once insurance companies saw proposed rates from competitors some asked for do-overs to lower their rates. Here in Colorado, insurance regulators did not allow full revision of rates, but if the math was wrong, carriers and regulators worked together to revise them. Fox said his group noticed that the price of several plans came down slightly. In one case, the price for a catastrophic health plan declined by 30 percent.

In addition, a handful of carriers who wanted to sell in Colorado voluntarily withdrew their bids when the plans didnt meet requirements or had errors in them, like trying to charge more for preexisting conditions, which is now illegal under the Affordable Care Act, said Vincent Plymell, spokesman for the Colorado Division of Insurance.

He said its important not to compare the new plans to old ones because the new ones are required to provide significantly more coverage than existing plans.

These are completely different, Plymell said, adding, were pleased with the number of plans and the number of carriers. Its going to be good competition and provide good choice for the consumer.

I know were in better shape than some states that might have only had one or two carriersWere pleased that we have all the big carriers, he said.

Both Plymell and consumer advocates say its too early for consumers to make up their minds or to fully immerse themselves in the process of finding new insurance.

People shouldnt get too focused on trying to make decisions now, Plymell said. They can think about options now. Once (plans) are available for sale come Oct. 1, people will realize they have options.

Like Colorados health exchange, the Division of Insurance also will be reaching out to consumers to help them understand their options.

Were going to spend the next couple of months trying to educate people about health care reform, Plymell said.

He acknowledges that insurance isnt sexy, but is hoping that people attending events like Colorados Home and Garden show might be willing to stop by a booth to learn a little about how health insurance and the exchange will work before theyre in the hot seat and have to buy.

Wed rather people ask questions on the front end, Plymell said. We want them to at least have their eyes wide open when they go in.