Uncertainty remains over Illinois Obamacare premiums as other states reveal rate proposals
Premiums are set to increase by an average of 15 percent for silver-level plans in 10 states and the
Costs will likely go up in all but one of those states,
In
Open enrollment to buy coverage through the exchange will begin
MORE COVERAGE: State to keep fighting feds for
Consumer advocacy groups have long requested the state release information sooner.
"A lot of other states make this information available much earlier," said
But the state has stuck by its guns each year, waiting to release the data.
"Rates have not yet been finalized and releasing premature information could create confusion among
The state's largest insurer,
Rate changes will depend partly on how insurers plan to respond to continued uncertainty about Obamacare, experts say.
MORE COVERAGE: Despite Trump attacks, nearly 11.8M enroll for Obamacare in 2018 »
The tax bill signed by President
But a number of insurers, including
Other uncertainties, however, have since emerged, including whether the expansion of cheaper association plans and proposed changes to short-term plans will draw healthy people away from the exchanges, compelling insurers to raise prices on those who remain.
"On balance, we're seeing rates going up, and that is because the individuals who are covered under these programs are increasingly challenging populations that are not getting coverage elsewhere, and because there is no compulsion to purchase insurance at this point, the plans are bracing themselves to care for a sicker population," said
It's also unclear how many insurers will offer plans on the exchange in
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