Individual Policy Premiums Mostly Flat

A new survey by Mountain View-based eHealth concludes there has been a significant moderation in price trends for individual healthcare coverage.

According to the Ehealth, parent company of online insurance broker eHealthInsurance, the average premium for individually-purchased family health insurance plans in the U.S. was $412 per month in 2012, down 0.5% from 2011. Premiums for individual policies averaged $190 per month in 2012, up 3.8% from the prior year.

In California, premiums for family coverage dropped 0.7% between 2011 and 2012, and averaged $413. Premiums for individual coverage increased 2.3% and averaged $173.

It was the first decrease in costs for family coverage since 2005, according to eHealth Chief Executive Officer Gary Lauer. “We're pleased to report a relative flattening of the cost curve, at the same time that plan benefits and consumer protections have increased due to health reform,” he said.

However, deductibles for the coverage continued to inch up. They averaged $4,079 for families and $3,079 for individuals. That's compared to $3,879 and $2,935, respectively, in 2011.

The average family plan deductible in California was $3,292 during 2012, while the individual deductible in was $2,537.

And the premium trending still remains on an upward trajectory. They are up 27% for families and 32% for individuals since 2005.

The data for the survey was culled from 395,000 policies purchased through eHealthInsurance in 47 states and the District of Columbia.