Report Finds Individual Premium Costs Lower in Calif. Than Elsewhere
Californians pay an average of $157Â per month for individual health insurance coverage, an amount lower than the average monthly premium costs for individual insurance in many other states, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Los Angeles Times' "Money & Company" reports.
Kaiser based its California findings on data from Anthem Blue Cross, the largest provider of individual insurance in the state (Helfand, "Money & Company," Los Angeles Times, 8/9).
Key Findings
The study found that the average monthly amount paid for individual adult or child coverage nationwide was $215.
Monthly premium costs generally were higher in the Northeast and lower in the South and Mountain States, according to the report (Daly, Modern Healthcare, 8/9). For example, states' average insurance premiums ranged from $136 per month in Alabama to $400 in Massachusetts and Vermont (Appleby, "Capsules," Kaiser Health News, 8/9).
Factors Affecting Premiums
Kaiser analysts said the cost of premiums varies across states because of age, costs of living and health care spending.
Insurance usually is more expensive in states where broad access to coverage makes it easier for people with pre-existing conditions to obtain coverage, the report noted. Costs might be lower in states such as California that allow health insurers to reject coverage for individuals who have certain medical conditions that could increase spending ("Money & Company," Los Angeles Times, 8/9).
In addition, factors such as the cost of copayments and deductibles affect the price of coverage ("Capsules," Kaiser Health News, 8/9).
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