Cigna cutting Connecticut large-group rates

The company also is “citing a leveling off of the impact of any new pricing mandates from the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),” officials say.

In the new 2014 rate filing, CIGNA has included a discussion of PPACA pricing effects that’s similar to a discussion it included in a 2013 rate filing.

At CIGNA’s large HMO groups in Connecticut:

• The ban on lifetime benefits limits is increasing rates 0 percent to 1 percent.
• The preventive services coverage mandate is increasing rates 0 percent to 3 percent.
• Expansion of access to dependent coverage is increasing rates 0 percent to 1.75 percent.
• Changes in out-of-pocket maximum limits and co-payment accumulation rules is increasing rates 0 percent to 5 percent.
• The new claim decision appeals process, coverage definitions, rescission limits and ban on use of pre-existing condition information in decisions on whether to issue coverage to children have had no effect.

CIGNA does not talk about the effects of the new PPACA health insurance tax or the possible cost of the new PPACA risk-management programs in the filing.

Another carrier, Anthem, a unit of WellPoint Inc. (NYSE:WLP), has estimated in its filings that the PPACA preventive health services mandate is increasing coverage costs by about 0.1 percent. Anthem did not talk about the effects of other PPACA changes.

See also:

• Exchanges lose low-cost plans with carrier departures
• Connecticut approves exchange plan prices
• Proposed Connecticut exchange rates in narrow range