Portman Statement on Ohio Health Insurance Cost Increases

Press Release

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) issued the following statement after the Ohio Department of Insurance released the proposed premium cost increases of health insurance plans for 2017:

"The middle-class is already feeling squeezed from eight years of stagnating wages, slow economic growth, and rising cost of living, including an 80 percent increase in health insurance premiums in Ohio since the President's health law went into effect," Portman said. "These latest increases are just further proof that we need real health care reform, and to change course for the sake of the millions of middle-class families who deserve relief, not even higher costs."

NOTE: According to data from the Ohio Department of Insurance, health insurance premiums had already increased by a total of 81 percent in the individual insurance market, and 80 percent for small business purchasing ACA-compliant plans since the President's health law went into effect.

Today, the Ohio Department of Insurance announced proposed rate increases for 2017, which show an additional increase of nearly 10% above and beyond 2016's premiums on average. In one case, requested premiums would increase by 39 percent.

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