Rate review is the process by which state or federal insurance regulators review health plans’ proposed insurance premium rates to ensure that they are reasonable based on a variety of factors. Although easier in some states than others, public participation has the potential to not only hold down premiums for consumers but also to apply pressure to reduce the underlying healthcare cost drivers in a state.
Consumers Union hosts rate review-related conference calls and distributes information to advocates and consumers on our distribution list. To be included in our distribution list, please email dena.mendelsohn “at” consumer.org.”
To join the conversation on Twitter, use #ratereview 
Consumers Union Documents
- Rate Review Background and Training Information
- 2017 Rate Review Timeline
- 2016 Rate Review Timeline
- Rate Review FAQ
- Rate Review 2016 Backgrounder and Action Items PowerPoint Slides (as PDF)
- Primer on Specialty Drug Costs
- Letter to HHS: Making Rate Filings Public
- CU Comment letter to Senate Finance requesting for feedback on next steps on healthcare transparency
- Updated Health Insurance State Rate Review Toolkit (2014)
- A Guide for Advocates: Rate Review for Non-Actuaries – Taking the Mystery out of Actuarial Analysis and the Insurance Rate-setting Process
- Exhibit A: 50 State Overview: Statutes, Type of Rate Review and Public Participation
- Exhibit B: 50 State Overview: Conditions under Which Rate Review Hearings Held (Draft)
- Exhibit C: 50 State Overview: Public Access to Rate Filing (Draft)
- Exhibit D: 50 State Overview: Opportunity to Comment per DOI (Draft)
- Exhibit E: State Decisions Renewing Non-Compliant Plans (Draft)
- Glossary
- Exhibit F: Trade Secret Legal Memo (DRAFT) – email Dena.Mendelsohn at consumer.org for a copy.
- CU Rate Review Training for Advocates for 2015 Plan Year
- Health Reform’s ‘Value for Your Dollar’ Rule: Early Impact: reports on Florida, Missouri, & Arizona (2012)
- Health Insurance Rates: Flexing Your Consumer Muscle (2012)
- Health Insurance Premiums: Rate Review Model Bill (2011)
- CU comment on HHS Rate Increase Disclosure and Review Reporting Requirements (2011)
- How Much is Too Much: Have Nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans Amassed Excessive Amounts of Surplus? (2010) Surplus Update Report (2015)
- Rate Review Comments Submitted by Consumers Union
- Consumers Union’s comments on Anthem Blue Cross’s proposed rate increase in California (2016)
- Consumers Union’s comments on Blue Shield of California’s proposed rate increases in California (2016)
- Consumers Union’s comments on Health Net of California’s proposed rate increase in California (2016)
- Consumers Union’s comments on Blue Cross of California (dba Anthem Blue Cross) Rate Filing (2015)
- Consumers Union’s comments on California Physicians’ Service (dba Blue Shield of California) Rate Filing (2015)
- Consumers Union’s comments on Blue Cross of California (dba Anthem Blue Cross) Rate Filing (2014)
- Consumers Union’s comments on California Physicians’ Service (dba Blue Shield of California) Rate Filing (2014)
- Consumers Union’s comments on Health Net of California, Inc. Rate Filing (2014)
Consumers Union Blog Posts & Press Releases
- We Told the Regulators What’s On Our Mind—Now It’s Your Turn
- With Covered California’s Great Reveal, It’s Time to Do Our Research
- Health Insurance Rate Setting: Time to Raise the Bar and Lift the Veil of Secrecy (2014)
- Trend setters: how much does the cost of healthcare increase each year? (2014)
- No more excuses! Distinguishing “need” from “desire” when insurers want to raise rates (2014)
- Figuring out health insurance rate requests is getting simpler, and you can weigh in! (2014)
- Insurance rates are being filed, consumers need to pay attention (2014)
- Consumers Union applauds covered California for reining in 2015 health insurance rate requests (2014)
- More states need rate review like Oregon (2011)
- Are 40 states truly “effective” at protecting consumers from excessive rate hikes? (2011)
- Why Connecticut and every state needs stronger checks on premium hikes (2011)
- Say what? A health insurer is lowering premiums? Yes, thanks to an ACA rule that some lawmakers now want to gut (2011)
- Lessons from the Fight Against Blue Shield Rate Hikes (2011)
Newspaper & Periodical Articles
Other Resources