News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2015
Contact: HHS Press Office
202-690-6343
Competition and Choice in the Health Insurance Marketplace Lowered Premiums
in 2015
The Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act
allows consumers to compare health insurance plans based on key factors, such as
covered services, providers, and importantly, price. According to a report
released today, choice and competition increased in the 2015 Marketplace and
consumers benefitted as new issuers entered and price competition intensified.
In 2015, 86 percent of Marketplace-eligible consumers could choose from at least
three issuers, up from 70 percent in 2014.
Counties with net increases in issuers had lower premium increases than other
counties in 2015. Premium growth for the second-lowest cost silver plan in
counties with at least one new issuer was 8.4 percentage points lower than in
other counties. And for each new issuer that offered coverage, there was a 2.8
percentage point lower rate increase for the second-lowest cost silver plan from
2014 to 2015.
gTodayfs study shows the Affordable Care Act is working to increase choice
and competition for consumers and keep premium growth in check,h HHS Secretary
Sylvia M. Burwell said. gThis report shows that increased competition in a
market, as occurred in most areas of the country in 2015, has an important
impact on cost. Thatfs good news for the economy, and helps more people find
quality affordable health coverage that meets their budget.
Todayfs report examines changes in the number of health insurance issuers and
premiums between open enrollment periods for the 2014 and 2015 plan years in the
35 states that used the HealthCare.gov platform in both years.
According to the report, in 2015, most counties gained at least one new
issuer, 33 percent held steady and only 8 percent of counties experienced a net
loss of issuers. New issuers entering a market might reduce premium growth, in
part, because they offer plans at lower premiums, influencing incumbents to
moderate their premiums.
The overall growth in second-lowest cost silver plan premiums between 2014
and 2015 was low, increasing by approximately 2 percent on average for potential
enrollees. And premiums in counties with 3 or more issuers are more than 9%
lower than in those with 1 or 2 issuers present. Previous
work has also shown an inverse relationship between the number of issuers
and premiums: on average, each additional issuer in a rating area is associated
with a 4 percent lower second-lowest cost silver plan premium.
Open Enrollment for 2016 Marketplace plans begins on November 1, 2015. Visit
HealthCare.gov to see if you qualify
for a Special Enrollment Period for a life change like marriage, having a baby,
or losing other coverage, or if you qualify for Medicaid or the Childrenfs
Health Insurance Program.
To read todayfs report visit: http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2015/MarketplaceCompetition/rpt_MarketplaceCompetition.pdf