Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has responded sharply to double-digit health insurance rate increase requests filed by Anthem, ConnectiCare, and UnitedHealthcare for individual and small group plans covering approximately 220,000 people across the state.

The requests vary by insurer and plan type. For individual plans, Anthem is seeking an average increase of 12.8% and ConnectiCare is seeking an average increase of 22.7%. For small group plans, Anthem is seeking an average increase of 17.4% and UnitedHealthcare is seeking an average increase of 18.9%. Under Connecticut law, the Connecticut Insurance Department must determine that any approved rates are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory before they can take effect.

"These double-digit demands are unaffordable, excessive, and unacceptable, and we're going to scrutinize every page of these applications. Year after year, insurers pad these rates with fuzzy math, double-counted costs, and unsupported assumptions. They need to come before the Connecticut Insurance Department prepared to justify every analysis, and they are going to need to explain why they remain utterly unwilling and unable to use their leverage to negotiate with healthcare providers and drive down these runaway healthcare costs," said Attorney General Tong.

The rate requests remain subject to review and have not been approved. The Connecticut Insurance Department's evaluation process will determine whether the proposed increases meet the legal standard required for approval.