Study shows medical claims cost increasing in Del.

Study says medical claims costs for individuals in Delaware will increase under health reform

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- A new study says medical claims costs in Delaware will increase by almost 30 percent for individual policies under President Obama's health care reform plan.

The report released Tuesday by the Society of Actuaries says medical claims costs in Delaware will increase by 29.3 percent in the individual health insurance market by 2017, compared to an estimated 32 percent nationwide increase.

The study estimates that the non-group cost per member per month in Delaware will increase from $380 to $491.

The study also projects that the percentage of uninsured in Delaware would decrease from 9.5 percent to 4.9 percent by 2017, and that the individual non-group market will more than double, from about 26,000 to 56,000 lives, with 81 percent of that enrollment in health care exchanges.