Dive Brief:

• Insurers filed proposed 2015 rates for individuals buying plans through Maryland’s health insurance exchange, among about a dozen states already releasing some of next year’s rate filings.
• Maryland’s largest insurer, CareFirst Blue Cross and Blue Shield, wants a 23% to 30% premium hike over current rates, and two others are proposing double-digit decreases, according to state filings released June 6. Rates are subject to final approval by state regulators. Two new entrants will vie for business on Maryland's exchange next year: Cigna Corp. and UnitedHealthcare. 
• The Washington Post reports that insurers in Virginia seek rate increases ranging from 3.3% to 14.9% in the individual market; in Washington state, insurers are proposing rates ranging from a 6.8% decrease to a 26% increase.

Dive Insight:

Insurers' proposed 2015 premiums in Maryland reflect market volatility as payers prepare rates for another year of exchange plans with scant claims data to draw upon. Many industry experts said the key for insurers was to get into the new market for exchange plans early. The Affordable Care Act prevents insurers from charging higher premiums to consumers based on medical condition or gender, although rates may vary based on age and whether a person smokes. Plans must offer a defined package of essential benefits to consumers, and follow strict rules limiting consumers' out-of-pocket expenses.

Did some insurers seeking approval for higher premiums in 2015 get a sicker-than-average mix of new members in the first enrollment period? Are other payers cutting premiums next year because they got a healthier bunch or to compete more effectively? The only certainty is that insurers all hope to remain competitive in the overhauled marketplace.