© 2026 KRWG
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Blue Cross Blue Shield Of NM Files For Health Exchange Premium Increase

A major insurer on the New Mexico health exchange is not budging from a proposal to raise its premiums for some customers by more than 50 percent.

The Albuquerque Journal reported  Friday that Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico filed a request for a 51.6 percent increase with the state insurance office.

The exchange offers plans by five different insurance companies.

Three are asking to boost premiums between 2 and 17 percent, depending on the plan.

But CHRISTUS Health Plan, however, is not seeking any increase.

Blue Cross Blue Shield president Kurt Shipley says the hike reflects the actual costs of coverage instead of the projections used when it first set rates.

Insurance premiums are determined by several factors such as age, smoking habits and level of coverage.

___

Information from: Albuquerque Journal.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.