Individual Health Insurance Rates Rising In 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesotans shopping for individual health insurance will be seeing a hike in premiums next year.

State officials announced the rates for 2017 Friday morning. The Minnesota Department of Commerce and MNSure said the rate increase ranges from 50 to 67 percent in the individual market.

The announcement comes ahead of the 2017 enrollment period, which begins on Nov. 1.

Premiums are going up because health insurance companies didn't expect to cover as much as they have.

Since the introduction of the Affordable Healthcare Act in 2014, insurers cannot deny coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions.