Wedged in between Halloween and Thanksgiving is health insurance open enrollment season for many employees. That means it's time to review health benefits and pick what plan to enroll in for next year.
This year, things are a little different in light of the health reform bill signed into law in March. So we consulted Optima Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for these health insurance open enrollment tips.
Expect premiums to go up. Optima Health estimates a 1 to 4 percent increase to the base rates of large group plans and a 2 to 3 percent hike for small group and individual plans. This reflects the added medical expenses of providing coverage of dependents up to age 26, the elimination of member cost sharing on preventive services and other new mandates. At Anthem, premiums increases on average are in the mid-single- to low double-digit range, said Scott Golden, an Anthem spokesman.
