Many health insurance rates going up this year in Washington state

Rates for many health-insurance plans are going up again this year in Washington state. Already, four Washington carriers have filed rate hikes for individual plans for 2009. Premera Blue Cross will see a 6.1% increase for individuals this June, while its affiliate, LifeWise Health Plan of Washington, had a rate increase of 17.6% in January. Group Health Cooperative also expects to raise its rates.