Rhode Island
R.I. health insurance rates are going up next year, but not as much as insurers wanted
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island is one of the health insurers with rate increases for 2025. Seen here are the company’s offices on Exchange Street in Providence. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)
More than 170,000 Rhode Islanders will see their monthly health insurance costs rise next year, but not by as much as private insurers wanted.
Newly approved 2025 rates unveiled by the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner on Tuesday feature year-over-year increases ranging from 1% to 14% depending on the type of insurance and the provider. The approved premiums will reduce residents’ costs by a combined $29.6 million in 2025, compared with the higher increases requested by commercial health insurers.
The initial rate hikes pitched by insurers in May drew sharp criticism from Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, who urged state regulators to deny what he blasted as “astronomical” increases. Neronha’s initial criticism focused on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, which was the only individual market insurer to ask for a double-digit rate increase.
Blue Cross, in turn, defended its requested 14.3% rate hike for the 17,000 enrollees on its individual insurance plan, pointing to soaring drug costs and medical services, which resulted in a $26 million operating loss in 2023, the company said.
After an independent review, Neronha later decried rate hikes proposed by the other five private insurers, some of which proposed even steeper premium hikes; UnitedHealthcare of New England topped the list with a requested 22.7% increase for its small-group market, which affects 1,644 residents on small-business insurance plans.
Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner Cory King acknowledged the competing arguments from health insurers and ratepayer advocates like Neronha.
“Each year my office must strike a difficult balance between affordability, the funding needs of the health care delivery system, and insurer solvency,” King said in a statement. “Rising premiums negatively impact Rhode Islanders’ economic well-being. When insurers pay more for health care goods and services, premiums go up. Addressing the rising cost of healthcare is a core focus of my office, and we will continue our work with health care providers and insurers to lower Rhode Islanders’ health care costs.”
Blue Cross President and CEO Martha Wofford called the approved rates “concerning” and warned of further financial shortfalls next year.
“Healthcare costs in Rhode Island are soaring. We have experienced 20% growth in medical and drug costs since 2023, which is far outpacing premium increases OHIC approved last year,” Wofford said in a statement on Tuesday. “We are highly focused on improving affordability and the last thing we want to do is increase rates for our customers and members, however, it is imperative for healthcare stability in Rhode Island that OHIC establish premiums that adequately cover surging costs.”
Neronha’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Tuesday. Most of the approved rates are lower, or on par, with the increases suggested by his office.
The rates do not apply to self-funded employer groups, which account for approximately 65% of Rhode Island’s employer-sponsored coverage, according to OHIC. Self-funded employers pay employee health expenses directly, but they also rely on health insurers for administrative services.
Affected enrollees in individual market plans will see premiums rise by a weighted average of 7.8% next year — with an approved 11% hike for Blue Cross enrollees. The average, weighted small-group market rate increase is 12.4%, while enrollees in large-group markets will see average, weighted increases of 11.2%.
The steepest annual premium hike will be borne by the 1,644 small-group market members enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare plan, for whom rates will rise 14%. The smallest annual increase is for large-group market enrollees under Cigna Healthcare, who will see a .9% rise in 2025 rates.
Premiums are calculated based on the claims that private insurers make to hospitals, physicians and pharmacies for treating their enrollees. Premium increases are driven by increases in use of services, and the intensity of services, along with higher reimbursement rates, according to OHIC. Administrative charges can also spark requested premium increases by insurance companies; the approved 2025 rates rejected all administrative-related increases that exceed inflation.
Elizabeth McClaine, vice president of commercial health care products for Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, said in a statement that the company respects state regulators’ annual review and approval process.
“We set rates to balance cost to members and reimbursement to providers while ensuring access to high quality care,” McClain said in an email. “Neighborhood takes seriously its role to ensure cost is not a barrier to high quality services.”
UnitedHealthcare declined to comment.
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Rhode Island
An appreciation of Joe Biden; RI’s underpaid doctors | Letters
Thank you, Joe Biden
Trump has learned that if he tells lies often enough and loudly enough, they will be believed. He keeps repeating that Joe Biden has been a terrible president.
In fact, President Biden has accomplished much. He tackled the COVID crisis by helping hospitals get supplies, getting COVID vaccines distributed, making free testing kits available, sending checks to all Americans, and helping people return to work and students return to school.
He revitalized the U.S. participation in NATO and supported Ukraine vs. Putin.
He recognized climate change and rejoined the rest of the world in battling its effects.
He appointed the first Black female Supreme Court justice.
He initiated projects to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
He oversaw the U.S. economy’s rebound from the pandemic.
The list goes on.
But, best of all, he stopped the daily flow of lies that had been streaming from the White House.
Cindy Kaplan, West Warwick
Better compensation for doctors
What is happening to the health-care system in America? The quality of care seems to be diminishing. One of the reasons is the abysmally poor salaries we pay to our medical residents and fellows, doctors who have already spent years in medical school and are now honing their skills in hospitals throughout the country.
The problem is especially acute in Rhode Island where these young doctors are paid an average of less than $70,000 per year at our hospitals (“Resident doctors make union bid,” News, Nov. 21).
How can these doctors’ patients and hospital management expect them to excel while trying to survive on such meager wages for four to seven years of residency and fellowship, especially with the high cost of housing in Rhode Island and with their average quarter-million-dollar student loan debts?
The only thing that keeps at bay the hounds who are constantly calling for the nationalization of our health-care system is that our country provides the best medical care in the world. Nationalization would destroy our system as it has done in the UK and Canada.
Poor pay and overly arduous working conditions foisted upon residents and fellows in the U.S. will lead to fewer quality doctors entering the profession. Nationalization will eventually follow.
I have opposed unions in the past, but when we pay our young doctors less than what we pay electrical and plumbing apprentices, something is terribly wrong.
If we want our citizens to continue receiving the world’s best medical care, we better start properly compensating residents and fellows and allowing them a bit of time off. Otherwise, they will enter other professions and the quality of medical care in America will deteriorate to that provided by nationalized health systems.
Lonnie Barham, Warwick
Saving RI’s forests
Many environmentalists are concerned about the upcoming administration being filled with individuals who do not take climate change seriously. While, unfortunately, these next four years will probably take us backwards in the fight against climate change, we can still protect the environment here in Rhode Island.
Currently, Rhode Island is the only state in New England with no protected forests on state-owned land. Rare and endangered species are threatened due to their habitats being destroyed by DEM and solar developers through forest clear-cutting.
By joining the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign, you can help in the effort to get legislation passed to create laws to finally protect our state forests and endangered species. In Rhode Island, you can save the environment.
Nathan Cornell, Warwick
The writer is president of the Rhode Island Old Growth Tree Society.
Rhode Island
Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report
A watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was reportedly found over 1,000 miles away from his Kansas mansion that was broken into last month.
The homes of Kelce and teammate Patrick Mahomes were burglarized last month shortly before one of their games — Kelce’s house is in Leawood, Kansas, while Mahomes’ residence is in nearby Belton, Missouri.
The watch was recovered in Providence, Rhode Island, where Kelce’s girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift, also owns a home.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
NFL players were cautioned by the league to be on high alert after the homes were broken into last month in a wave of burglaries reportedly tied to international organized crime. It was eventually revealed that $20,000 in cash was taken from Kelce’s home.
In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL issued a security alert to teams and the NFL Players Association, warning that professional athletes in different sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”
Law enforcement officials say the suspects conduct extensive surveillance on their targets’ homes and have even posed as groundskeepers or joggers. Some have even attempted home deliveries.
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The memo urged players to take special precautions, including installing home security systems. They were also encouraged not to post live updates of their comings and goings on social media or showcase their expensive items online.
“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing. I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing, but, obviously, it’s something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself,” Mahomes said last week.
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The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to the Buffalo Bills after winning their first nine games.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
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Rhode Island
Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of $20K in cash: report
Travis Kelce’s stolen watch was reportedly found in Providence, RI, this week after the NFL star’s mansion in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized last month.
Sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News Friday that a watch taken from Kelce’s residence — and not previously disclosed to the public — was recovered.
Details have yet to be revealed on what type of timepiece was stolen or how much it was worth.
Authorities previously shared that the unidentified criminals stole $20,000 cash from Kelce’s home. They did not specify whether any other items were taken at the time.
Sources told ABC News that they think the athlete’s home was specifically targeted — and thoroughly surveyed — before the Oct. 7 burglary.
Just two days before Kelce’s pad was broken into, burglars also raided the home of his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes.
Authorities have theorized the burglars may have targeted the athletes as their public football schedule reveals when they will be away from their residences.
“There is a concern about what happens if the athlete or his/her family members are present,” a security source told the outlet.
The insider shared that the burglars have gained access to Kelce and Mahomes’ houses by “posing as delivery men, maintenance workers or joggers to learn about residences, neighborhoods and security systems.”
Captain Jason Ahring from the Leawood, Kan., Police Department told Page Six that they are not releasing any information pertaining to an open investigation and maintained they will not be commenting.
Meanwhile, a Providence Police Department Public Information Officer told Page Six that they do “not have any record or involvement related to this incident.”
Kelce, 35, has yet to address the crime, but Mahomes, 29, previously expressed how “disappointing” the violation was.
“I can’t get into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing, but it’s obviously something you don’t want to happen to anybody — and obviously yourself,” Mahomes said during a press conference earlier this month.
Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt and that neither of them were home during the robberies.”
Kelce’s home was broken into around 7:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 7 – just 15 minutes before his team kicked off against the New Orleans Saints.
Meanwhile, Mahomes’ mansion was burglarized while he was celebrating Kelce’s 35th birthday on Oct. 5.
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