Northwest Iowa — If you are one of the northwest Iowans who get their individual healthcare plan through Wellmark, your rates may be increasing drastically next January.
The Des Moines based insurance giant has asked the Iowa Insurance Commissioner to allow them to raise rates on those policies from 38% to 43% for the coming year.
The increases would affect individual customers who bought new plans that comply with Obamacare regulations. Wellmark says those on group coverage through their employer will see a smaller premium increase.
Wellmark officials blame the increase on the poor health of their clients, and rising claims costs paid by Wellmark as the cause of the rate increase request.
