This month Covered California, our state health insurance exchange, announced the preliminary health insurance rates for 2016. Good news is that for Los Angeles the average rate increase is overall very low, with only 2.5%. California-wide the average health insurance premium increase are 4%, whereas the largest increases were in the rural Northern California areas.
But there’s additional great news for Angelinos! Anthem will go back to a PPO and will decrease their rates for 2016 in Los Angeles. However, in contrast Blue Shield will increase their rates in the Bronze, Gold & Platinum level. It’s important to note though that they will keep their rates relatively stable in the Silver-Tier level. Kaiser Los Angeles rates (Region 16) will increase approx. $ 12.00 per metal tier, so will overall be very manageable. There is a new insurance carrier called Oscar based out of New York which will begin offering an EPO in Los Angeles, and is contracted with the Providence Hospitals. Their rates will be even even lower than Kaiser’s rates. Currently there are not much information other than there is a pretty new technology driven health insurance start up, (which is exciting news).
The federal subsidies will be similar to the amounts of 2015. The rates will be loaded in the Covered CA system in August.
Remember November 1st starts the open Enrollment Period and you are able to switch plans.
Here are the preliminary rates published from Covered CA for 2016 /2015 for region 16 for a
40 year old (2015 rates are in parentheses):
| Carrier | Bronze HSA | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Anthem PPo | $229 – ( 2015 EPO$250) | $245( 2015 EPO$256) | $327 (2015 EPO $336) | $412 ( 2015 EPO -$441 | 482 ( 2015 EPO$482) |
| Blue Shield PPo | $274 ( 2015 $ 250 ) | 272 ( 2015 $ 254) | $318 ( 2015 $308) | $402 (2015 $362) | $512 (2015 $415) |
| Kaiser | $232 (2015 $ 219) | $238 (2015 $225) | $312( 2015 $300) | $365 (2015 $372) | $402 ( 2015 $390) |
| OSCAR | – | $227 | $298 | $ 334 | $374 |
Here are the preliminary rates published from Covered CA for 2016 /2015 for region 16 for a
25 year old (2015 rates are in parentheses):
| Carrier | Bronze HSA | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Anthem PPo | $180 – ( 2015 EPO$201) | $193( 2015 EPO$200) | $257 (2015 EPO $264) | $324 ( 2015 EPO -$323 | 379 ( 2015 EPO$379) |
| Blue Shield PPo | $216 ( 2015 $ 196 ) | 214 ( 2015 $ 200) | $249 ( 2015 $242) | $316 (2015 $285) | $403 (2015 $326) |
| Kaiser | $182 (2015 $ $172) | $187 (2015 $176) | $245( 2015 $ 236) | $292 (2015 $285) | $316 ( 2015 $306) |
| OSCAR | – | $179 | $245 | $ 262 | $293 |
Out mission at Solid Health Insurance Services is to find you and your family a 2016 health care plan which best fits your individual needs. Note though that individual rates are not available yet, and we hope to have that information by August.