Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • Health Care
  • State Government
  •  

Covered California To Add Surcharge To Silver Plans

  •  Sammy Caiola 
Thursday, October 5, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

Covered California has announced a 12.4 percent average premium rate increase for some customers enrolling in silver tier plans.

The federal government still hasn't announced whether they'll continue cost-sharing reductions to subsidize public health exchanges, which help keep premium rates down for Covered California shoppers. So on Oct. 11, Covered California announced it would move forward with its contingency plan to add a surcharge to silver products.

Last week, the exchange's executive director Peter V. Lee, said the goal is "to be the least confusing possible, to protect consumers that have subsidies, and protect consumers that get no subsidy from having an unwarranted increase in their prices. We believe that the policy we have in place will do that, and it is not ideal. The ideal thing is for the federal government to act."

The increase for silver enrollees will stack on top of a previously announced 12.5 percent average increase for all shoppers. Some people will get a higher federal tax credit to make up for the increase, but others will have to choose whether they want to take on the extra out-of-pocket costs.

Charles Bacchi of the California Association of Health Plans said last week that making decisions about rates so close to enrollment was unusual. Typically, plans provide information to consumers as far in advance as possible. There are also forms and packets to be mailed out ahead of time.

“We need to be able to get them their notices on time, to give them the ability to decide what their choices are going to be when open enrollment actually opens up," he said 

Covered California enrollees can now view their options on an online "Shop and Compare" tool.

The silver tier plans are the only plans in the exchange that were benefiting from the federal cost-sharing reductions, so they'll be the only plans affected by the change.

About 1.4 million Californians buy insurance on the public marketplace.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Rich Pedroncelli / AP

    Covered California Delays Premium Rates Release, Citing ACA Concerns

    Tuesday, July 18, 2017
    Insurance rates for Covered California insurance plans were supposed to be released this month, but officials are holding off until August due to continued uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act.

 affordable care actobamacarecalifornia association of health plansCovered Californaipremium ratespublic health exchangPeter V. Lee

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sammy Caiola

Former Healthcare Reporter

Sammy Caiola has been covering medical breakthroughs, fitness fads and health policy in California since 2014. Before joining CapRadio, Sammy was a health reporter at The Sacramento Bee.  Read Full Bio 

 @sammycaiola Email Sammy Caiola

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Health Care Stories

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Centene agrees to $215 million settlement with California for alleged medicaid overbilling

February 8, 2023

Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

Will the state’s big Medi-Cal plan really fix mental health care for low-income Californians?

February 3, 2023

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Millions of Californians are at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage

February 5, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

Paul’s Place provides ‘path forward’ for unhoused residents in Davis

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

Paul’s Place provides ‘path forward’ for unhoused residents in Davis

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.