Bill would raise Medigap rate‑review trigger to 10% and remove independent actuarial review

The Vermont House Committee on Health Care on May 20 reviewed proposed changes to state law governing Medicare supplement (Medigap) rate review that would raise the threshold that triggers extra review from 3% to 10%, eliminate a separate independent actuarial review coordinated by the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL), and require the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR) to post detailed rate‑filing information online and solicit public comment.

Jen Harvey, legislative counsel, told the committee the proposal would streamline a process that currently creates a separate DAIL‑led independent actuarial analysis when a carrier with at least 5,000 Vermont lives requests a composite average rate increase above a statutory threshold. “So that is what is being proposed to go away, that whole additional process,” Harvey said, explaining the draft moves the threshold from 3% to 10% and adds online posting and public‑comment requirements.

The draft would keep the 5,000 covered‑lives trigger and the DFR review but remove the additional third actuarial review that DAIL previously coordinated. Under the bill…