I was so busy back in October writing about the hyperbolic study sponsored by America’s Health Insurance Plans on the projected cost impact of healthcare reform that I forget to mention on another AHIP report published the same month — the group’s helpful analysis of individual health plan premiums and underwriting approval rates.
Based on an analysis of 2.6 million individual and family policies covering 4.2 million people, AHIP found that 87% of applicants who undergo underwriting for individual health insurance are offered coverage. Young people — under age 18 — were offered coverage 95% of the time. Older people — age 60 to 64 — were offered coverage 71% of the time. Annual individual premiums averaged $2985 single, $6328 family in mid-2009. Premiums varied widely by age, e.g., annual single premium ranged from $1350 for people under 18 to $5755 for those age 60 to 64. Premiums also varied widely by state, as shown in the chart below.
Subscribe in RSS Reader
