Welcome to Consumer Reports Advocacy

For 85 years CR has worked for laws and policies that put consumers first. Learn more about CR’s work with policymakers, companies, and consumers to help build a fair and just marketplace at TrustCR.org

North Carolina – Health Insurance Premium Rate Review Laws

If you buy health insurance on the individual market, without help from an employer, you may want to know what North Carolina is doing to protect you from unfair and unnecessary premium rate increases. Here’s a summary of the North Carolina laws that govern rate increases.

If you buy health insurance on the individual market, without help from an employer, you may want to know what North Carolina is doing to protect you from unfair and unnecessary premium rate increases.  Here’s a summary of the North Carolina laws that govern rate increases.

  • North Carolina does require insurers to obtain state approval of rate increases before they go into effect.
  • For individual accident and health plans, insurers must file rate increase requests with the Department of Insurance, and regulators have 90 days approve or disapprove the proposed revised rates or rates will be deemed approved after expiration of 90 days.  Rates may be disapproved if benefits are unreasonable in relation to the premium charged. N.C. GEN. STAT. § 58-51-95.
  • For non-profit insurers, regulators have a right to approve, modify, or notice a hearing on the rate increases within 60 days after the filing. N.C. GEN. STAT. § 58-65-40, 58-65-45.  The Insurance Commissioner may refuse approval if rates are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, or unreasonable in relation to benefits provided.
  • For HMOs, the approval period is 45 days, and rates are deemed approved if regulators take no action within the 45-day period. N.C. GEN. STAT. § 58-67-50(c).  HMO premiums must be in accord with actuarial principles and may not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, and shall be reasonable to the benefits provided.  N.C. GEN. STAT. § 58-67-50(b).
  • The Department of Insurance makes rate filings publicly available online in a searchable database at http://infoportal.ncdoi.net/filelookup.jsp?divtype=3, although portions of filings are considered confidential and therefore not disclosed.

Information is based on review of state statutes and regulations and, in some cases, interviews or emails with state insurance departments.

IssuesHealth