HB1930: Do You Believe Health Insurance Premiums are Too Low?
House Bill 1930 (HB1930) seeks to require that health plans pay considerably higher reimbursement levels to hospitals and doctors.
Your bottom line: HB1930 would increase cost by as much as $1,200 to $1,800 per member. This would be in addition to the normal trend in costs you experience annually.
Payers like Arkansas Blue Cross have been working to increase payments to hospitals and doctors by implementing agreements to tie increased funding to improved quality and value. Arkansas Blue Cross has a commitment to improve health outcomes and pay more for good results.
The money spread headwind: Even as premiums continue to rise far faster than inflation, utilization is spiking, and the number of high-cost treatments – such as gene therapy and specialty drugs – has increased substantially. Determining how the money is spread is causing a lot of pain, and there is no easy solution.
HB1930’s big bet: Even while trends in healthcare affordability are alarmingly negative, supporters of government action to set much higher rates are betting that Arkansas businesses and families can afford it.
Employer whispers: This is BIG. Arkansans do not have the money for this level of an increase in premiums. Some businesses may decide to pull back on coverage, dramatically change benefit structures, or drop coverage altogether.
Requested action – Send officials a message:
Share your perspective with state policymakers you know and/or who represent you in Little Rock.
- Consider whatever your normal increase in health insurance premiums has been and then add $1,200 to $1,800 per member to that.
- This, of course, sets a higher baseline that will grow by the same percentage annually as your health insurance normally increases.
- On the next page, you will find contact information for officials who need to hear from you. Time is of the essence. This bill could be voted on as early as this Monday (April 7, 2025).
Do you believe health insurance premiums are too low? If not, you may want to make your voice heard today or over the weekend – before that vote takes place.
Contact:
- Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ office – 501-682-2345 or arkansas.gov/interact/contact-the-governor/
- 2025 House Insurance & Commerce Committee:
State legislators – 501-682-1937 or arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/List