This article originally appeared in Virginia Capitol Connections Magazine
Virginia Consumer Healthcare Alliance Focused on Making Coverage Affordable
by Rosalyn R. Dance and Chris K. Peace
Virginia enters a new decade with a solid foundation from which to strengthen communities and address shared challenges. In 2019, Virginia reclaimed its No. 1 spot on the CNBC list of best states for business. We closed the year with more positive news when Virginia rated as one of the most improved states for healthcare in the 2019 America’s Health Rankings report. With a new General Assembly in Richmond, there’s an opportunity to build on gains made through Medicaid expansion which has provided health care access to more 340,000 Virginians. Now that more people can access care, we should focus on making healthcare more affordable. Reducing health insurance costs that burden employers and families with rising premiums, high-deductible plans, and rising out-of-pocket costs is one way to achieve affordability. Over the past decade, the amount people pay for health insurance has risen at a rate higher than the increase in wages or inflation. At the same time, high-deductible insurance plans requiring families to pay greater out-of-pocket costs are increasingly prevalent. The Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance shows that from 2014-2019, the average health insurance premium on the individual market rose 147 percent. Meanwhile, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis found that more than 40 percent of Americans have high-deductible insurance plans. In short, people are paying more for insurance coverage even as the industry is generating record profits, restricting patient choice, and making benefits less comprehensive. In the Commonwealth, one insurer (Anthem) controls 40 percent of the health insurance market share. Anthem’s market presence influences premium rates impacting millions of Virginians. Insurers also define network coverage that can interfere with doctor-patient relationships when the insurer dictates how patients may receive treatment. Governor Northam’s introduced budget recognizes that high insurance costs impact families and appropriately proposes establishing a state reinsurance program to help reduce rising premiums. The upcoming Session also presents an opportunity to prevent the shock of surprise medical bills after emergency care. Too often a patient unknowingly receives treatment from an out-of-network healthcare provider then later gets an unexpected bill when the insurer didn’t cover the appropriate share of costs. Making quality healthcare accessible and affordable is a priority for the Virginia Consumer Healthcare Alliance. We will be working over the coming months to inform the public about proposed public policy, including health insurance industry practices, that can impact Virginia families and employers.
Former Senator Rosalyn R. Dance and former Delegate Christopher K. Peace Co-Chair the Virginia Consumer Healthcare Alliance
This article originally appeared in Virginia Capitol Connections Magazine