The individual market continues to face challenges and recent policy actions may exacerbate current market instability and place greater upward pressure on premiums in 2019.
Factors placing upward pressure on premiums include increases in medical trend and pharmacy costs, elimination of the individual mandate penalty, and the impact of new regulations that expand the availability of association plans and short-term plans. The one-year moratorium on the health insurance tax (HIT) can help mitigate or reduce premium increases.
AHIP will continue to work with state leaders, Congress and the Administration to ensure that every American has affordable choices for 2019 and beyond.