In a meeting with the State of Connecticut Insurance Department on Tuesday, health insurers cited lingering COVID-19 costs, higher use of specialty drugs, and a return to pre-pandemic healthcare demand as grounds to raise health insurance premiums significantly for 2022. ConnectiCare Benefits Inc., which covers 17,900 people on off-exchange small group plans and over 81,000 people on on-exchange individual insurance, is requesting 7.4 percent hikes in both. According to the company’s filing, COVID-19-related costs accounted for 2.2 percent of the increase. Insurers also mentioned this in a hearing with the Connecticut Department of Insurance on Tuesday.

Source: CT Examiner