Obamacare Insurance benchmark silver plan's cost to fall in 2015 • Latest News in the Business and Financial World

A study analysis of health insurance prices carried across 16 major cities in the United States has found that the rates for the benchmark Obamacare silver plan will go down vaguely next year, when the enrollment for second round begins on November 15.

According to the study, the prices for benchmark Obamacare ‘silver’ insurance plans are expected to decline an average of 0.8 percent in 2015 across 16 major cities, while the lowest-cost ‘bronze’ insurance plans are expected to rise at a 3.3 percent.

While Obamacare premiums in Los Angeles will rise less than one percent in 2015 for the most widespread sold coverage.

The report was released by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation on Friday.

The study investigators found that the changes in premiums are expected to vary widely in the second year of the healthcare coverage expansion plan under the Affordable Care Act.

“There is variation, but so far, premium increases in the second year of the Affordable Care Act are generally modest. Double-digit premium increases in this market were not uncommon in the past,” said Drew Altman, CEO of Kaiser Family Foundation.

Kaiser Family Foundation is not affiliated with HMO giant Kaiser Permanente.

Silver plan is the second-lowest-priced health coverage program in each state. It is a key barometer to measure the premium assistance that the people can receive under the plan based on their income.

Seven cities across the US witnessed a drop in their benchmark premiums, with Denver reporting the largest at a 15.6 percent reduction. The benchmark premiums for New York City and Cleveland fell almost invisibly at 0.7 percent.

Another eight cities of the US will see benchmark premiums increase in 2015 from 8.7 percent in Nashville to 0.8 percent in Los Angeles.

Silver premium percent change from 2014 to 2015

California 15 (Los Angeles): 0.80%
Colorado 3 (Denver): -15.60%
Connecticut 2 (Hartford): -4.70%
DC 1 (Washington): 2.00%
Maine 1 (Portland): -4.40%
Maryland 1 (Baltimore): 3.00%
Michigan 1 (Detroit): 2.50%
Nevada 1 (Las Vegas): 1.70%
New York 4 (New York City): -0.70%
Ohio 11 (Cleveland): -0.70%
Oregon 1 (Portland): 6.00%
Rhode Island 1 (Providence): -11.40%
Tennessee 4 (Nashville): 8.70%
Vermont 1 (Burlington): 6.60%
Virginia 7 (Richmond): 2.70%
Washington 1 (Seattle): -9.80%

Avg. % change from 2014: -0.8%

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Christina Langfold

Remember that weird girl in school who never quite managed to fit in? Who was always silent and strange? That was me during my entire teenage life. A few years after finishing college (with a degree in arts) I decided that the best way to become more sociable, while also feeling safe, is to test my people skills online.