PROVIDENCE – A new report from the R.I. Department of Health and the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner finds that the state’s two leading commercial health insurers “provided fair value” to their customers in 2008, with lower average costs than their New England peers’ and “generally equivalent” performance on quality measures.

Health plans are required to report financial and quality data to the state every year, including premium information, customer satisfaction surveys, and several measures of the care given to members – from immunization rates to the use of antidepressants.

The state report only covers a fraction of the Rhode Island market, people directly insured in commercial plans: about 296,000 people in 2008, with more than 76 percent covered by two carriers, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island and UnitedHealthcare of New England.

Excluded are self-insured groups, such as most government entities and large companies, the roughly 14,000 people covered by individual plans, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, all of whom also make up substantial parts of both insurers’ local business.

The report starts from the premise that “for Rhode Islanders to receive value from their investment in health insurance, that coverage should be equivalent or less expensive and deliver the same or better quality services than elsewhere.”

It finds that in 2008, with average commercial premiums of $354 and $338 per member per month, respectively, Blue Cross and United were 3 and 7 percent cheaper, respectively, than the New England average, $365. The gap has narrowed since 2005, however, the report shows: At that time, Blue Cross was 5 percent cheaper and United, 9 percent.

On the 19 quality measures, Blue Cross was about average on nine, better on four, and worse on six when compared with its New England peers, the report found. For United, 11 of the measures were about average, five were better and three were worse.

“It is important for Rhode Islanders to know how well their health insurers are performing,” said Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director, in a news release. “Public reporting of results also holds insurers accountable for how services are delivered and often improves overall quality.”

Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller noted that health plan purchasers “deserve to know how well they are performing and whether there is good value received from the premiums dollars expended,” adding that health insurers can also “improve the value of key medical services by their actions.”

In a joint cover letter, Gifford and Koller identified specific areas where they’d like to see improvement. For example, the state’s chlamydia screening rates were about 45 percent, and antidepressant medication treatment rates were under 40 percent.

“These and other measures demonstrate the need for targeted primary care for early detection and disease management,” the letter says.

To read the full report, go to www.health.ri.gov.