Covered California Expected To Announce 2016 Individual Premium Rates Monday

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California on Monday will announce 2016 premium rates for individual health plans sold on the state's insurance exchange, an important gauge of affordability amid growing concern that some insurers around the country are seeking double-digit price increases.

Last year, state officials declared victory when they announced premiums rose by an average of 4.2 percent, which was about half the increase the industry saw over a three-year period.

But this year a number of health plans around the country have requested increases above 10 percent for 2016, saying their new customers turned out to be sicker than expected.

The rates are an important measure as Covered California prepares for its third year of business because one of the main goals of President Barack Obama's health overhaul was to slow down health care costs.