Carriers concerned about costs

Health insurers are asking a group of state regulators to warn colleagues against the risk that well-intentioned moves could accidentally jack up the cost of coverage.

William Weller, a consultant to America’s Health Insurance Plans, talked about the danger of unintended consequences in a comment sent to several National Association of Insurance Commissioners panels.

Weller asked regulators on the panels to tell states to avoid considering rate caps and other efforts to fight rate increases in a vacuum.

When states look at efforts to hold down rates, they should think about “the potential impact of additional costs any specific strategies may create, as well as the impact of possible savings that may accrue,” Weller wrote.

AHIP would like to see regulators impose a moratorium on new insurer or employer taxes or fees, such as those on alternative reinsurance programs, which could increase costs, Weller said.