Kaiser Permanente Hawaii Asking for 5.3% Rate Increase

Kaiser Maui Lani Clinic. Kahului. Courtesy of Kaiser.

By Sonia Isotov

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii is asking the State Insurance Division for approval to raise rates 5.3% on Jan. 1, the Honolulu Advertiser reported today.

The rate increases fall on the heels of an 8.8% increase this year, 12.6% increase last year and a 10.7% increase in 2010. If the current rate increase is approved, that would be a 37.4% increase over 4 years.

This rate increase would rffect more than 150,000 members and 5,000 businesses buying Kaiser Permanente Hawaii health coverage.

Earlier this week, Kaiser said it will also increase premiums next year for its supplemental Medicare coverage, the newspaper reported.

Additionally, Kaiser is also asking for a 9.1% increase that will affect 14,000 individuals.