Premiums for ACA health plans to decline 15 percent in PA
Individual rates for the benchmark second-lowest cost silver plan in 2019 will decline an average of 16 percent in
The open enrollment period for plans that take effect at the beginning of the year is
The Trump administration long has advocated for eliminating the Affordable Care Act, insisting that premiums are too high.
She spoke about eliminating the penalty for people who don't buy insurance and expanding access to short-term health plans, which are less expensive because they often do not cover certain benefits, such as maternity and mental health care. Both measures were expected to reduce the number of people buying insurance through the exchanges, which analysts predicted could actually drive up prices.
Analysts have said the skimpier plans and penalty elimination could also lead to more people purchasing coverage that doesn't meet all their needs or skipping insurance entirely.
"While we are encouraged by this progress, we aren't satisfied. Even with this reduction, average rates are still too high. If we are going to truly offer affordable, high quality healthcare, ultimately the law needs to change," Verma said in a statement.
Health plans sold through the online marketplace are labeled bronze, silver, gold or platinum. Bronze plans offer the lowest premiums with higher deductibles and cost-sharing, and platinum plans offer higher premiums and greater coverage.
The second-lowest silver plan -- a benchmark regulators have used to compare marketplace plans -- will cost an average of
In
The estimates are for a 27-year-old nonsmoker. Rates are higher for older people and smokers because of their greater care needs.
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