Health Net 2018 Arizona health premiums rise just 2 percent

Filings with Arizona regulators show average individual health-insurance premiums for about 95,000 Pima and Maricopa county residents will rise less than 2 percent next year, a move that will be a relief for people who saw huge premium increases this year.

The final rates are for people who buy Affordable Care Act-compliant plans sold by Centene Corp’s Ambetter by Health Net. The company in June anticipated a 5 percent boost in 2018.

The rates posted by the Arizona Department of Insurance show premiums dropping by 9 percent on some plans and the biggest increase at 3.6 percent. The average increase is 1.8 percent.

Health Net officials on Monday did not immediately respond to inquiries about the reasons for the smaller increases.

The move to increase rates by less than first planned mirrors those of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, which is the only seller of policies in the 13 other Arizona counties.

Blue Cross is actually lowering rates by an average of 1 percent next year, citing improved profitability as one reason, along with an assumption that the federal government will continue funding a program reducing some customer costs. It initially planned a 7 percent increase. Health Net is assuming the payments end, according to an actuarial report prepared for the state Insurance Department.

Premiums statewide went up by 116 percent on average this year.