New Connecticut Law Allows State to Reduce Health Insurer Rate Increases

A new Connecticut law allows the state insurance commissioner to reduce proposed rate hikes for individual and small group health plans starting in 2027, reports the Hartford Business Journal. Effective January 1, 2027, the insurance commissioner will be allowed to reduce a health carrier’s individual or small employer group health insurance rate request by up to 2% under certain circumstances. The law also strengthens mental health parity compliance, bans the use of step therapy for certain medications and prohibits insurers from capping reimbursement for general anesthesia inappropriately.