Health insurance premium increase.

[Ms. Toad]

8. As a practical matter, you generally can't change it at all.

It depends somewhat on which state you are in - BUT - as a general rule, companies are not required to allow you to switch (either level of plan or insurers) AND it they do, they can charge you based on your actual health.

The changes announced now are for plans starting in January - so even if you can find a cheaper plan that will issue you a policy - changing now might mean giving up 7 months of better rates.

Not to mention - your new plan will likely increase in January. That's when the annual rate increases go into effect. So your new policy may be $75 cheaper than your current supplement rate - but might well be higher than the change announced for January.