Covered California Premiums To Rise 12.5 Percent In 2018

Californians enrolled in Covered California will see premiums rise by an average of 12.5 percent next year, according to rates released Tuesday.

Eleven health care companies currently participate in the program. Despite uncertainty about federal action on health care, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee says all 11 will continue in 2018.

But there is one, significant caveat.

"Anthem Blue Cross of California will be returning in just three of Covered California's regions," Lee announced Tuesday in a teleconference with reporters. 

Lee says Anthem will continue in the northern Counties, Santa Clara and the Central Valley. That means 150,000 Californians will need to find a new plan for 2018. 

Insurers across the nation face uncertainty as to how the U.S. health care system will evolve. One big unkown is whether the White House and Congress will subsidize out-of-pocket costs for low-income consumers.

If they don't, insurers or consumers will have to absorb the cost.