SEATTLE - Regence BlueShield filed its medical loss ratio (MLR) for the Large Group, Small Group and Individual pools with U.S. Health and Human Services June 1.
Medical Loss Ratio refers to the portion of premium that is spent on the full range of medical care: Doctor visits, tests and scans, medication, devices and equipment, hospital stays and other covered services.
The Affordable Care Act calls for insurers to meet an MLR threshold of 80 percent of premium toward claims and certain allowable quality activities for Individual and Small Group pools (or 85 percent for large groups), or rebate premium to policyholders.
Regence BlueShield exceeded the MLR threshold for all its members in 2012, and will not issue a rebate.
Regence carefully calculates expected claims costs for each pool, with a goal of setting premium that just covers claims and cost of administering plans, in keeping with our nonprofit values.
About Regence BlueShield
Regence BlueShield is a leading health plan in Washington with nearly one million members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueShield is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceWA.