Governor Dan McKee has directed the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner to review the factors that are driving up the cost of health insurance premiums and identify ways to control them.
McKee says the rising premiums are creating real strain for families across Rhode Island and they can't continue to absorb the costs.
The governor is asking the OHIC to put forth a legislative proposal that would place a cap on the drivers of premium costs, including administrative charges.
“Rising health insurance premiums are creating real strain for families across Rhode Island. They simply cannot continue to absorb these costs,” said Governor Dan McKee.. “In discussions with the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner, we have agreed that it’s crucial to create additional tools to strengthen the office's regulatory authority to better control costs for Rhode Islanders. And that’s exactly what we plan to do.”
He says the legislation should also strengthen OHIC's authority to contain overall premium costs beyond what is currently permitted by law.
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Photo: Eric Thayer / Getty Images News / Getty Images