Massachusetts residents saw their health insurance premiums increase by 9.7 percent to $421 between 2009 and 2011, while average commercial benefits decreased by 5.1 percent, according to the state's annual healthcare market report.
Additionally, deductibles went up by 40 percent in the state in 2011 compared with 2009. The dual trend of higher prices for fewer benefits was consistent across market sectors, although the impact varied. The effect of increasing premiums and declining benefits was most pronounced for the small-group market sector, where the benefit value fell the most at 7.5 percent, according to the report. The small-group sector experienced a 9.7 percent increase in premiums.
The mid-size group market sector saw the fastest rise in premiums, with a 12.5 percent increase over the two years studied. That sector saw benefit value decline by 4.5 percent.
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