House memorial calls for study group to examine health insurance premium drivers

Representative Nicole Chavez introduced House Memorial 52 to create a study group focused on health insurance premium affordability for working families and small employers. The memorial requests structured, data-driven analysis of six areas including primary drivers of premium growth, affordability impacts on working families, the role of state-imposed taxes/assessments, policy options to improve affordability and competition, tools to estimate policy effects, and transparency improvements.

Witnesses from industry and advocacy groups told the committee the OSI already collects extensive information through rate-review processes and rate-transparency reports that could inform the study. Jason Espinosa (NFIB) said the memorial would give interim stakeholders a practical way to assemble existing data and translate it into policy recommendations and workshops. Blue Cross, AHIP, and other stakeholders voiced support for using the interim to bring together payers, small employers, and consumer advocates to improve shared understanding of premium drivers.

Committeemembers discussed timing and funding constraints: HED and OSI flagged capacity concerns and the lack of funding for actuarial work; sponsors said the memorial is nonbinding and meant to promote structured interim work and stakeholder engagement.

What happens next: The memorial passed the committee and will be a vehicle for interim conversations and potential prefiled legislation; its findings and any proposed bills would depend on the committee’s ability to secure data and expert resources during the interim.