Montana Health Insurance Rates to Rise Again in 2018, BCBS Increase is Triple That of Competitors

Health insurance rates are going up across the board on Montana’s individual market in 2018. Montana won’t be losing any major carriers this year, but the rates for each carrier could vary significantly. Montana Insurance Commissioner Matt Rosendale describes what to expect.

"The average on the individual market for the filings that have been approved for 2018 is Pacific Source is proposing a 7.4 percent increase," Rosendale said. " The Montana Heath CO-OP is proposing a 4 percent average increase and Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield is proposing a 22.3 percent average increase "

With such variability, Rosendale says it’s extremely important that Montanans shop around.

"The most important thing that folks need to remember is to go out and shop these plans and make sure they are looking at the specific plan that they are interested in and make sure of the price that they are currently paying and how it is going to impact the price going forward," Rosendale said

The open enrollment period with the new prices will be open starting November 1st through December 15th. Rosendale says his focus when discussing with the different insurance carriers about their rates was insisting that they be competitive in their pricing.