Affordable Care Act (ACA)Health Care - General

In 73 Percent of Counties, Healthcare.Gov Enrollees Could Lower Their Silver Plan Premiums by Comparison Shopping

Gerry Hafer November 18, 2015

(Source – Kaiser Family Foundation)

A new analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that in 73 percent of counties served by Healthcare.gov, people enrolled in the lowest-cost silver plan this year could save money on premiums by switching to a different silver plan in 2016. In these counties, the silver plan with the lowest premiums in 2015 is no longer the lowest-cost plan in 2016, according to the analysis.

If they stay in their current plan, Healthcare.gov enrollees who purchased the lowest-cost silver plan in 2015 would have an average premium increase of 15 percent, the analysis finds. The lowest-cost silver plan is the most popular selection in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces.

Over the course of a year, a 40-year-old switching to the lowest-cost silver plan in 2016 could save an average of $322 in premiums, the analysis finds. The average premium savings could be more than $500 per year in 16 percent of counties.

Potential Savings from Actively Shopping for Marketplace Coverage in 2016 is available at kff.org.

For more analysis of the 2016 Affordable Care Act marketplace, see:

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