Insurance Premiums on the Rise in San Joaquin Valley, Across California
Insurance premiums in the central San Joaquin Valley are increasing at a higher rate than national averages, the Fresno Bee reports.
Tom Nelson, owner of the independent agency Hallmark Insurance, said San Joaquin Valley's premiums currently are 10% to 15% higher than last year.
Bianca DiJulio, a senior policy analyst with the Kaiser Family Foundation, said family premiums have increased by an average of 5% nationwide.
Higher Premiums in California
Although the San Joaquin Valley tops national averages for premium hikes, the region's rate increases are consistent with higher health care costs across California, Nelson said.
He added that California tends to have higher premiums than the rest of the country because of the state's high cost of living.
The California Association of Health Plans said the state's higher premiums also stem from higher medical costs and insufficient reimbursements from Medicare and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program (Anderson, Fresno Bee, 11/2). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.