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Rhode Island

BCBSRI is seeking a 14% premium rate hike. Why state officials say it should be rejected

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BCBSRI is seeking a 14% premium rate hike. Why state officials say it should be rejected



The insurer requested a 14.3% average increase in its individual market plan, affecting over 17,600 Rhode Islanders

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s Office of the High Insurance Commissioner should not approve a steep premium rate hike requested by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, said Attorney General Peter Neronha in a statement Friday.

BCBSRI requested a 14.3% average increase in its individual market plan for its 2025 premium rates, affecting more than 17,600 Rhode Islanders enrolled with BCBSRI. It is a marked increase from previous years; between 2019 and 2022 the average approved rate by OHIC in the individual market was 3.4%.

Neronha also noted that BCBSRI “has sought and received a combined 21.6% increase since 2019.” Approving the rate requested for next year would put the total increase at nearly 40% in seven years.

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“To put it bluntly, we have a system that is broken. While rates continue to go up, our health care system stands on the brink of collapse. Insurers get what they need, while consumers, providers, and our healthcare system continue to suffer. We need systemic reform – not tinkering on the margins,” said the brief Neronha submitted to Cory King, Rhode Island’s High Insurance Commissioner.

Insurers ask for steep rate hikes across the board

BCBSRI is not the only insurer requesting rate hikes to premiums, nor is its request the steepest. One insurer is asking for a rate increase of 22.7% in the small group market, which would affect 1,644 enrollees.

On average, insurers are asking for the following rate hikes:

  • Individual market (over 47,000 enrollees): 8.8%
  • Small group market (over 44,000 enrollees): 15.4%
  • Large group market (nearly 80,000 enrollees): 13.6%

These are steeper hikes than in previous years. In 2019-2022 the average approved rates were:

  • Individual market: 3.4%
  • Small group market: 3.0%
  • Large group market: 6.7%

Only proposed rate hikes over 10% in the individual market trigger a review by the attorney general, according to Timothy Rondeau, deputy communications director at Neronha’s office. But Rondeau said the attorney general will submit comments to OHIC on the other proposed increases in the coming weeks.

Opposition to proposed rate hikes

The requested rate hikes have drawn opposition from some state leaders and business representatives.

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Democrat State Rep. David Morales has urged Rhode Islanders to submit comments to OHIC opposing the rate hikes.

“These proposed rate hikes are outrageous and would just make healthcare inaccessible for thousands of working people,” Morales posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Al Charbonneau, executive director of Rhode Island Business Group on Health, a nonprofit representing about 90 companies with 80,000 employees, also voiced his concerns at a recent OHIC Town Hall meeting. He said businesses are worried about how the rate hikes will affect them.

“The proposed increases are being taken as a shock to them, to be candid with you. Many employers don’t quite know what to do next,” Charbonneau said.

The proposed rate hikes do not apply to self-funded employer groups, which account for about 65% of Rhode Islanders with employer-sponsored coverage, according to an OHIC press release.

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Several factors influence the rate requests, according to OHIC, which each year reviews and either approves, rejects or modifies the insurers’ requests. Among these are “expected increases in the cost of health care services due to increases in utilization, provider prices, and pharmaceuticals.”

A decision from OHIC is expected sometime in August.

Comments about the proposed rate hikes can be sent to OHIC.HealthInsInq@ohic.ri.gov.



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Rhode Island

Judge says sale of RI hospitals can move forward – TPR: The Public's Radio

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Judge says sale of RI hospitals can move forward – TPR: The Public's Radio


Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence have been losing money for years. According to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, that’s because the California hedge fund that owns them has prioritized investor returns over patient care.

California-based Prospect Medical is now trying to sell these two Rhode Island hospitals to an Atlanta-based nonprofit called the Centurion Foundation.

But Prospect, a national hospital chain based in Los Angeles, ended up filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last month before it could complete the sale. The company recorded debts up to $10 billion.

The bankruptcy filing meant a judge needed to approve the sale, and time was of the essence, because the company could not afford to keep running the hospitals.

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Even so, various stakeholders opposed the sale for different reasons.

Rhode Island’s attorney general attached a list of 85 conditions that must be met before a new owner can take charge.

Federal regulators from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services attached a laundry list of conditions too, as did the United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP), the union representing 1,200 employees at the two hospitals.

At a hearing in Dallas Wednesday, Chief Judge Stacey G.C. Jernigan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Northern District of Texas heard from state and federal officials, lawyers, bankers, and others before giving the green light.

“The court believes that all objections have been resolved, withdrawn, or overruled,” she determined. “So with that the court will approve the transaction.”

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That means the sale can now go ahead, with a closing date set for 30-to-60 days time.  

Centurion has not yet come up with financing for the deal, but Anne Wallace, an attorney for Sidley Austin LLC representing the hospital’s current owners, indicated that Centurion’s financing was contingent on a closing date.

Neronha said in a statement, “The bankruptcy court’s approval of this sale provides reason for cautious optimism.” 

While Nehrona applauded the idea that the hospitals will no longer be owned by a private equity firm, he emphasized there is still work to be done to meet the conditions set out by the state.

“These safety-net hospitals are absolutely critical for maintaining delivery of safe, affordable and accessible health care services in Rhode Island. Roger Williams and Fatima provide services to largely underserved and underinsured communities, and we must maintain their viability. And in order for us to give these hospitals a fighting chance, our conditions must be met. If all parties meet our conditions as they say they intend to, today brings us one step closer to the finish line.”

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Dr. Jerry Larkin, Director of Health for the Rhode Island Department of Health, issued a statement saying he was pleased by the court’s decision to allow the sale to go forward.

“While some steps in this transaction are still outstanding, we are committed to the two facilities having new ownership,” he said.  “Rhode Island needs a stable network of hospitals that supports the health and wellness of every community in the state.”



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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Feb. 11, 2025

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Feb. 11, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

07-30-39-41-70, Mega Ball: 13, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

08-25-28-41-46, Lucky Ball: 05

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

Midday: 2-5-5-1

Evening: 5-1-0-9

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Feb. 11 drawing

11-15-16-17-28, Extra: 33

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Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

  • Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
  • Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
  • Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
  • Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
  • Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Rhode Island

Gov. McKee and others will call for action on Assault Weapons Ban

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Gov. McKee and others will call for action on Assault Weapons Ban


FILE – Gov. Daniel McKee gives his victory speech during an election night gathering of Rhode Island Democratic candidates and supporters on Nov. 8, 2022, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell, File)

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