Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A study estimates medical claims costs in Maryland could jump 67 percent for residents' individual policies by 2017 under the federal health care overhaul, but a state official says the study is flawed because it doesn't consider unique steps taken to ease pressure on rates.
The increase cited in a report released Tuesday by the Society of Actuaries says much of the reason for the higher claims costs is that sicker people are expected to join the pool.
But Carolyn Quattrocki, executive director of the Governor's Office of Health Care Reform, says the report fails to consider several unique aspects in Maryland. One is the fact that it has a large high-risk pool compared to other states and has already taken care of a larger portion of its sickest residents.
Delaware
DOVER, Del. (AP) - A new study says medical claims costs in Delaware will increase by almost 30 percent for individual policies under President Obama's health care reform plan.
The report released Tuesday by the Society of Actuaries says medical claims costs in Delaware will increase by 29.3 percent in the individual health insurance market by 2017, compared to an estimated 32 percent nationwide increase.
The study estimates that the non-group cost per member per month in Delaware will increase from $380 to $491.
The study also projects that the percentage of uninsured in Delaware would decrease from 9.5 percent to 4.9 percent by 2017, and that the individual non-group market will more than double, from about 26,000 to 56,000 lives, with 81 percent of that enrollment in health care exchanges.
