BioCentury
ARTICLE | Politics & Policy

HHS releases ACA state exchange premiums

September 26, 2013 1:11 AM UTC

HHS issued a report listing the health insurance premiums for the 36 states in which the agency will support or fully run exchanges under the Affordable Care Act. According to the report, about 95% of people will have a choice of two or more insurers, while residents of West Virginia and some counties in other states will have only one insurer participating. HHS said the average premium nationally for the second cheapest of the mid-priced "silver" plans will be $328 per month for an individual, before tax credits. The agency said that premium is 16% below projections provided by the Congressional Budget Office in March 2012. Tax credits to assist with premiums are calculated by the difference between the second lowest cost silver plan in a state and a government estimate of the monthly maximum it would expect that individual could afford. The report did not provide a comparison to current private premium rates. A six-month enrollment period for the state exchanges is slated to begin Oct. 1, with coverage beginning as early as Jan. 1. ...