National outcry against increases in Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums has dominated headlines, but a new study from analyst Avalere Health reveals that the cheapest and most popular coverage offered on the exchanges is not too much more expensive than it was last year.
According to the report, premiums on “bronze”-level insurance plans for 2015 have increased by about 3%, costing at least $307 on average for a 50-year-old nonsmoker. Silver plans, the most popular tier with American consumers, increased just slightly more, costing $381 on average and up 4% from the year earlier.
By comparison, the health advocacy group Commonwealth Fund found that individual health insurance premiums increased at a rate of roughly 10% annually in the three years before the Affordable Care Act was implemented.
Still, the good news is not quite universal. Avalere Health found that despite the average 3% and 4% increases across the board, several states are experiencing high jumps in premium.
“The bottom line is that exchange enrollees’ 2015 premiums will vary widely based on geography,” said Avalere Health Director Elizabeth Carpenter. “Consumers should be wary of reports detailing national or state-wide premium changes and should instead focus on the details of their particular plan.”
As reported by the analyst group, the following 10 states are experiencing the largest increases in individual silver-level health insurance premiums.
1.
Alaska—28%, from $532 in 2014 to $683 in 2015
2.
Florida—11%, from $370 to $410
3.
West Virginia—9%, from $370 to $404
4.
Wyoming—9%, from $538 to $583
5.
Pennsylvania—9%, from $270 to $295
6.
Nebraska—9%, from $324 to $354
7.
North Carolina—8%, from $407 to $438
8.
Michigan—7%, from $337 to $362
9.
Texas—7%, from $316 to $339
10.
Virginia—6%, from $370 to $391
There are also states on the opposite end of the spectrum. Mississippi is seeing a full 12% decrease in premium price, and New Hampshire premiums are falling by 18% in the lowest-priced silver plans.
All data was based on the 2015 Federal Exchange Premium File.
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