Costs For Many Marketplace Plans Are Increasing In Sophomore Season
The Washington Post reports that on the health law's marketplace website, 25 states have plans with higher premiums on average for the most popular plans. Nine states have lower prices this year. Elsewhere, The New York Times reports that unless Americans switch health law plans, they could face big increases next year.
The Washington Post:
Post Analysis: Health Plan Choices And Premiums Increase On Healthcare.gov
People shopping on the HealthCare.gov marketplaces that reopened Saturday have more options this year than they did last year, but the options usually will be costlier. Twenty-five states using the federal enrollment portal on average have higher premiums this year for the most popular level of health insurance plans — called “silver” plans — while nine states on average have lower prices this year for that level of coverage, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal data. New plans are typically slightly more expensive than existing ones, the analysis showed. (Keating and Millman, 11/15)
The New York Times:
Cost Of Coverage Under Affordable Care Act To Increase In 2015
The Obama administration on Friday unveiled data showing that many Americans with health insurance bought under the Affordable Care Act could face substantial price increases next year — in some cases as much as 20 percent — unless they switch plans. ... An analysis of the data by The New York Times suggests that although consumers will often be able to find new health plans with prices comparable to those they now pay, the situation varies greatly from state to state and even among counties in the same state. (Pear, Abelson and Armendariz, 11/14)
The New York Times:
Where Federal Health Exchange Rates Will Rise (Graphic)
In about a fifth of the counties in states using the federal insurance exchange, premiums for the lowest-priced silver plans will increase by 10 percent or more. But rates for the same plans will decrease in all of Maine, Montana and New Hampshire, and most parts of Mississippi and South Dakota. (11/14)
