On the Third Hand: Rate filings

I’ve been trying to figure out what the heck is going to happen to commercal health insurance in 2017 by looking for early 2017 rate filings.

See also: PPACA 2017: Cigna might sell through Virginia exchange

On the one hand, that’s nosy, and it might interfere with health insurance company executives’ natural inclination to cry quietly to themselves.

I’ve been on a ropes course (flimsy bridges in treetops) that was much too high and challenging for my skill level. I would not want detailed analyses of my minimal level of ability to handle a ropes course published the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) for all to see.

On the other hand: No one other than me depends on my ability to complete a ropes course. Hundreds of millions of Americans are counting on health insurers to pay their medical bills in 2017. 

If that’s not going to happen, we’d better find that out sooner rather than later.

On the third, what’s wonderful is how many states are now using a consistent SERFF interface to present their 2017 rate filings.