Salem — The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation announced today that preliminary rate decisions for 2021 individual and small employer health insurance plans will remain as currently filed by the state’s health insurance companies.

Preliminary rate decisions are for individuals who buy their own coverage, rather than getting it through an employer, and for small businesses. The division must review and approve these rates before they can be charged to policyholders.

In the individual market, preliminary decisions for the six companies range from an average 3.5 percent decrease to an average 11.1 percent increase, for a weighted average of 1.8 percent. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $425 to $466 a month.

In the small group market, the preliminary decisions for the nine companies range from an average 1.1 percent decrease to an average 7.0 percent increase, for a weighted average of 3.7 percent. Under the preliminary decisions, Silver Standard Plan premiums for a 40-year-old in Portland would range from $335 to $405 a month.

See our chart for a full list of preliminary decisions.

“Our transparent rate review process has been critical to understanding how health rates will be set for 2021,” said Andrew Stolfi, insurance commissioner and Department of Consumer and Business Services director. “We look forward to gathering more information from insurers and the public during the upcoming hearings before final decisions on 2021 rates are made.”

These preliminary decisions will undergo continued review and discussion through virtual public hearings streamed online Tuesday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 8. All Oregonians are encouraged to participate in the public comment period and view the public hearings.

The public comment period closes on July 8 at 11:59 p.m. There are two ways to comment on a company’s rate request:

• During the virtual meeting: To testify by phone or email, send an email to stephen.w.kooyman@oregon.gov on Monday, July 6. Include your name and phone number in the email, and join the web meeting at the link posted on the day of the hearing. The division will call on you during the public testimony portion of the hearing.
• Online. Click here to comment online and view the company's rate request documents.

Visit the division’s health rate public hearing page, to review each insurance company’s public hearing schedule, and submit comments regarding specific health insurance company’s rates.

Final decisions will be announced by early August.

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About DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, go to www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and www.dfr.oregon.gov.