Health insurance rate increases approved in NY

Employers with fewer than 100 workers will see premiums increase an average of 8.3 percent in 2017. The state's Department of Financial Services approved rate increases requested by health insurance companies Friday. The higher rates are driven primarily by increases in medical costs and federal programs to redistribute risk across insurers, according to the department. Premiums for individuals who buy insurance on the state's health exchange website will increase an average of 16.6 percent. That's…