OSPIRG BLOG

Consumers and small businesses facing soaring health insurance costs can celebrate some big news today! 

State officials set new rules for health insurance rate hikes to rein in excessive rates and unnecessary administrative costs. The new rules also make all rate filings public.

Kudos to the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) for setting these fair, transparent ground rules.

The rules, which go into effect April 1, give DCBS strong tools to stand up for consumers and small businesses, and say "NO" to unjustified insurance company rate hikes.  And the information will be out in the open for all to see.

That's critically important as we enter health insurance renewal season, and are already seeing insurers asking for double digit rate increases.

The rules implement part of Oregon's Health Reform Package that OSPIRG helped to pass in the 2009 Legislative Session, where we fought to make sure the bill included provisions to strengthen the existing rate review process and standards in Oregon, among other measures to rein in costs.

Between these strong rules and the other efforts established by that health reform package which are now taking shape under the newly formed Oregon Health Authority, it's clear Oregon is becoming a leader for quality affordable health care.

Click here to see our previous post detailing the elements of these rules.