Coronavirus pandemic could push health premiums up by 40 PER CENT and cost private insurers up to $251billion, new study finds

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Health insurance premiums could rise by as much as 40 per cent next year as the total cost of additional expenses linked to diagnosing and treating coronavirus could reach up to $251billion, according to a new study.

‘Health plans went into 2020 with no hint of coronavirus on the horizon,’ said Peter V. Lee, the executive director of Covered California.

Covered California, which conducted the study, is the state insurance marketplace that was created under the Affordable Care Act.