H.C.R. No. 128 Summary

• Requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study of rising health insurance premium costs and issues related to House Bill No. 1896 of the 2012 regular session.

• Directs the study to examine whether a higher medical loss ratio would prevent premium increases, promote insurance market competition, and whether the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act formula should apply differently to tax-exempt versus for-profit insurers.

• Requires investigation of how the Insurance Commissioner reviews health insurer rate requests, factors in investment income, and what historical medical loss ratios have been for Hawaii health insurers.

• Asks the study to evaluate whether House Bill No. 1896 would benefit employers, union trust funds, individuals purchasing health insurance, and the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.

• Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2013 regular session convenes, with the Insurance Commissioner directed to provide necessary assistance.