Regulators to accept public complaints on health insurance rate increases

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011 | 3:55 p.m.

The state Insurance Division will begun accepting consumer complaints about increases to company health insurance costs this week.

Nevada law requires prior approval by the division of any rate change for individuals and small employer groups -- fewer than 50 employees -- in their insurance coverage rates.

The federal Affordable Care Act has required states to give consumers a chance to express their feelings about these proposed premium hikes. And the state Insurance Division has installed a new section on itswebsite to allow individuals and small employer groups to comment on proposed premium increases.

A division spokesman said the intention is to protect the individual or the small employer from unreasonable rate increases by health insurance companies and the comments will be considered by regulators. It affects small employers only because large employers, he said, have a greater ability to negotiate with insurance companies.

The online service goes into effect Thursday.