In another sign that the growth in health insurance premiums is moderating from its previous double-digit pace, Highmark Inc. yesterday filed for a 6.6 percent average premium increase for subscribers to its largest product for individuals.

The move comes as many of Highmark's small business customers are receiving word of renewal rates that are up by 7.6 percent on average, said spokesman Michael Weinstein.

With competitors HealthAmerica and UPMC Health Plan responding with competitive bids for small groups, too, brokers and business leaders say spring 2006 is a much easier time for health insurance shoppers than just one year ago.

"A 7.6 percent average increase is a big improvement over last year," said Cliff Shannon, president of SMC Business Councils in Churchill. "We're still talking twice the rate of inflation, but it's a sign of the problem that this is considered good news."

Doug Moore, a broker with Seubert Associates in Bellevue, added: "There are still some 41 percent increases out there [for small businesses]. But double-digit rate increases are not as common as they have been in past years."

Mr. Weinstein, the Highmark spokesman, stressed that the single-digit increases are averages, meaning that double-digit increases are possible for some customers while others might see decreases in premiums. In the small group market, for example, premiums will vary depending on a company's size, industry and the make-up of employees, he said.

A March survey by Cowden Associates found local companies were seeing average percentage increases that measure in single (9 percent) rather than double digits -- the first time that's happened in five years.

"A lot of this is reflecting a moderation in the increases in health care costs that we have seen not only in our region, but nationally," said Mr. Weinstein said.

The majority of the 210,000 people enrolled in Highmark's small business accounts renew in July, so those customers are receiving renewal quotes now.

Highmark's requested rate increase for individuals would affect more than 42,000 people enrolled in its "Complete Care" product in 29 counties throughout Western Pennsylvania. In addition, Highmark is seeking an average rate decrease of 1 percent for about 25,000 people in the company's Keystone Blue HMO and Direct Blue PPO products for individuals, said Mr. Weinstein.

David Straight, president of Benefits Network, a consulting firm in Franklin Park, called the proposed rate increases "pretty moderate" for the individual market. Highmark received approval for a 9.9 percent average premium increase in Complete Care during 2005.

There's more competition in the individual market due to a product that HealthAmerica introduced last year as well as the efforts by several national insurers to sell insurance policies here that work in conjunction with Health Savings Accounts, noted Mr. Straight. But underlying cost trends, rather than competition, could be the bigger factor, he said, considering Highmark's dominance in the individual market.

The cost of health insurance in the individual market has become a more important issue in recent years as the percentage of people receiving health insurance on the job has declined. Even so, relatively few people buy individual health insurance. A 2002 report from the Kaiser Family Foundation estimated that about 7 percent of the non-elderly population in the United States purchase individual policies.

Complete Care, Keystone Blue HMO and Direct Blue PPO are "medically underwritten" products, meaning eligibility is based on an applicant's health status.

Highmark also offers two individual insurance policies that are "guaranteed issue" products, meaning they are available to people regardless of health status. Mr. Weinstein said he could not say whether Highmark would seek increases for people with guaranteed-issue policies.

Consumers interested in the proposed rate increase for Complete Care may submit comments to the state Department of Insurance within 30 days. If approved, the new rates would take effect Oct. 1.