HHS: Health Care Premiums Likely To Go Up In 2015

Insurance News Net reports:

“Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says health insurance premiums are likely to increase in 2015.

Sebelius’s comments came Wednesday during a hearing of the House Committee on Ways and Means about the White House’s 2015 budget proposal, the Wall Street Journal reported.

“I think premiums are likely to go up, but at a smaller pace than what we’ve seen since 2010,” Sebelius said.

The increases seen in 2015 will likely be smaller than those seen in previous years, Sebelius said.

The number of young Americans signing up for health insurance has been below the level needed to keep premiums stable, the Wall Street Journal reported.

On Tuesday, the Obama administration said about 25 percent of people age 18 to 34 have signed up for Obamacare — lower than a 40 percent target believed needed to keep premiums relatively stable.

Overall, 4.2 million people have signed up for health insurance since October, the administration said.”