Hawaii's Largest Insurer, HMSA, Plans Rate Hike

12.8 percent increase....how will the employers continue to afford the increases and provide benefits down the road...might see more of this on the mainland too....BD

Haeaii's biggest health insurer wants to hike health insurance premiums by more than 12 percent next year, the biggest increase in nearly two decades.
The proposed rate hikes would affect 144,000 members and businesses with fewer than 200 employees starting July 1. The increases must be approved by state insurance Commissioner J. P. Schmidt before they can go into effect."In recent years, we have fallen short of that mark as cost trends have outpaced increases in member dues," said Steve Van Ribbink, HMSA's chief financial officer.