Individual and family health insurance premiums increased by an average of 34% and 41% respectively between 2003 and 2009, according to a new study. What states were hit hardest?
When it comes to individual insurance premiums, Alaska and Massachusetts both saw premiums increase by 51% on average over that span — making them the two most expensive states in which to purchase individual health insurance in 2009.
As for family insurance premiums, Louisiana (which was smacked with a 59% increase over that span) and Mississippi (56%) were the hardest hit. But despite skyrocketing premiums, both managed to remain outside the top 10 states with the highest annual family premiums.
By 2009, the average individual premium across the U.S. was $4,669. And the average family premium was $13,027.
This data comes from a recently released study by The Commonwealth Fund, which analyzed every state’s health insurance premiums from 2003 to 2009.
Below are the top 10 most expensive states in which to buy individual and family health insurance:
Individual coverage
- Alaska — $6,047
- Massachusetts — $5,268
- New Hampshire — $5,227
- Wisconsin — $5,132
- New York — $5,121
- Maine — $5,119
- Washington, D.C. — $5,082
- Rhode Island — $5,059
- Vermont — $5,001
- Delaware — $4,955
Family coverage
- Massachusetts — $14,723
- Wisconsin — $14,656
- Vermont — $14,558
- Wyoming — $14,319
- Washington, D.C. — $14,222
- Alaska — $14,182
- Connecticut — $14,064
- Louisiana — $13,846
- Maryland — $13,833
- New Hampshire — $13,822
Info: To see where your state ranks, click here to view the study. (A state-by-state breakdown of individual and family health insurance premiums can be found on page 14.)