Oct.

17, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ashley Kelsch

(701) 328-2440
amkelsch@nd.gov

Insurance Commissioner to Deny Additional Rate Increases Following Non-payments of CSRs

BISMARCK, N.D. North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread announced yesterday in a live
television interview that after careful consideration, following President Donald Trumps announcement
regarding non-payments of cost sharing reductions (CSRs) to insurance carriers, he will deny any additional rate
increases to individual health insurance premium rates for Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant plans to be
offered in North Dakota beginning Jan. 1, 2018.

In a statement to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Medica and Sanford Health Plans, Godfread said,
This decision was made in order to protect the 22,000 covered North Dakotans who have coverage from an
individual insurance policy that is off of the federal marketplace along with those on the exchange who do not
receive the subsidy. As you know, this is an issue that is between insurance carriers and the federal government
and while I understand the strain you are under in participating in this marketplace, it is my duty to look out for
those consumers who have had to absorb multiple rounds of increases to their health insurance premiums
without receiving any assistance from the federal government.
As a result of this decision, the approved rates previously released by the North Dakota Insurance Department
on Oct. 6, 2017, will continue to be the approved rates for 2018.

Carrier Information 2018 Rate Information

Company Name Group/Individual Average Increase
Noridian/BCBS Small Group 11.8%
Sanford Health Plan Small Group 2.3%
Medica Health Plan Small Group 6.2%
Medica Insurance Company Small Group 8.8%

Noridian/BCBS Individual 22.6%

Sanford Health Plan Individual 7.9%
*Medica Health Plan Individual 18.8%
*Medica Health Plan will not be selling on the Federal Exchange, meaning consumers who qualify for a subsidy through
healthcare.gov will not be able to purchase a Medica policy using a subsidy. Consumers may still purchase a Medica policy outside of
the Federal Exchange (for example, through an insurance agent), but would not receive any subsidy to assist in the purchase of the
insurance.

-MORE-
Depending upon the plan, health insurance rates will increase by an average range of 2.3-11.8 percent for
approximately 30,000 North Dakotans enrolled in an ACA-compliant small group plan. Rates will increase by
an average range of 7.9- 22.6 percent for approximately 42,000 North Dakotans enrolled in ACA-complaint
individual plans. Approximately 84 percent of North Dakotans are covered by health insurance plans offered
through employers that self-insure, participate in grandfathered plans purchased before March 2010 or receive
benefits from government plans (such as Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare or federal employee plans).

The 2018 open enrollment period runs from Nov. 1, 2017 through Dec. 15, 2017. North Dakotans are
encouraged to use this time to compare rates and sign up for new plans or renew existing plans during this
period.

For more information, visit www.nd.gov/ndins/.

###

It is the mission of the North Dakota Insurance Department to protect the public good by fairly and effectively administering the laws of North Dakota. We are
committed to vigorous consumer protection efforts while fostering a strong, competitive marketplace that provides consumers with choices and access to high-quality
insurance products and services at competitive prices. In pursuit of our mission, we will treat all of our constituencies
with the highest ethical standards and respect they deserve.