The election results have confirmed that the next US President will be Donald Trump, but as things currently stand you’re still required by the Affordable Care Act to enroll in an Obamacare health insurance plan. This is likely to change within Donald Trump’s term as President, but the timetable for when changes will happen is yet to be determined. What this means is that you should still be looking into your Obamacare options!
Open Enrollment is here
This is your yearly opportunity to enroll in an Obamacare health insurance plan. This is your only chance to get 2017 health insurance that offers coverage for preventative care and pre-existing conditions. If your household earns under 400% of the Federal Poverty Level you’ll have still have access to subsidies to help lower the premium costs of plans. The 2017 OEP began on November 1, 2016 and will close on January 31, 2017. For coverage beginning on January 1st you’ll need to enroll in a plan by December 15th.
What is Changing for Obamacare Health Insurance in 2017?
The long-term plans for Obamacare are uncertain but we can still look at the changes we know are happening to Obamacare coverage. Health insurance carriers, insurers, networks, plans, and rates ebb and flow with the healthcare laws and marketplace changes that may occur from one year to the next. These changes are often dependent on where you live, so we have created a quick-view of the healthcare rate and carrier differences that you can expect for 2017 based on what state you reside in:
- Alabama
- Average rate increase: 36%
- Average number of carriers: 1 – Alabama BlueCross BlueShield
- Alaska
- Average rate increase: 7.3%
- Average number of carriers: 1 – Premera
- Arizona
- Average rate increase: 49%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Health Net, and AmBetter
- Arkansas
- Average rate increase: 49%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Blue Cross Blue Shield, QualChoice, QCA Health Plan, and AmBetter
- California
- Average rate increase: 13.2%
- Average number of carriers: 11 – Anthem Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Chinese Community Health Plan, Health Net, Kaiser Permanente, L.A. Care Health Plan, Molina Healthcare, Oscar Health Plan of California, Sharp Health Plan, Valley Health Plan, and Western Health Advantage
- Colorado
- Average rate increase: 17.65%
- Average number of carriers: 10 – Cigna, Colorado Choice, Denver Health, Freedom Life Insurance, Golden Rule, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado, National Foundation Life, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Bright Health Plans
- Connecticut
- Average rate increase: 17.4-22.4%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Anthem and ConnectiCare
- Delaware
- Average rate increase: 30%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Aetna Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield
- District of Columbia
- Average rate increase: 19%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Aetna Health, Inc., CareFirst, Kaiser, and United Healthcare
- Florida
- Average rate increase: 14%
- Average number of carriers: 7 – Cigna, Humana, Florida Blue, Florida Health Care Plan Inc., AmBetter (Celtic), Molina, and Health First Health Plans
- Georgia
- Average rate increase: 27%
- Average number of carriers: 5 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, AmBetter from Peach State Health Plan, and Alliant
- Hawaii
- Average rate increase: 35%
- Average number of carriers: 2 –Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hawaii Medical Service Association
- Idaho
- Average rate increase: 24%
- Average number of carriers: 5 – Blue Cross of Idaho, BridgeSpan, Mountain Health Co-op, SelectHealth, and Pacific Source
- Illinois
- Average rate increase: 43%
- Average number of carriers: 5 – Celtic Insurance company, CIGNA Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Health Alliance Medical Plans, Inc., Health Care Service Corporation, and Humana Health Plan, Inc.
- Indiana
- Average rate increase: 18%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, CareSource Indiana, Celtic, and MDwise
- Iowa
- Average rate increase: 28%
- Average number of carriers: 6 – Wellmark Value Health Plan, Wellmark Synergy Health, Inc., Gundersen Health, Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa, Medica Insurance Company, and Sanford Health Plan
- Kansas
- Average rate increase: 28-47%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Medica Insurance Company, BlueCross BlueShield of Kansas Solutions, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
- Kentucky
- Average rate increase: 24%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, CareSource Kentucky, and Humana
- Louisiana
- Average rate increase: 27%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, HMO Louisiana, Humana, and Vantage Health Plan
- Maine
- Average rate increase: 24%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Maine Community Health, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Maryland
- Average rate increase: 25%
- Average number of carriers: 5 – CareFirst BlueChoice, CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Evergreen Health, and Kaiser Permanente
- Massachusetts
- Average rate increase: 7.5%
- Average number of carriers: 11 – AmBetter from CeltiCare Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Blue, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, Fallon Health, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Health New England, Minuteman Health, Neighborhood Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan – Direct, and Tufts Health Plan – Premier
- Michigan
- Average rate increase: 17%
- Average number of carriers: 12 – Alliance Health and Life Insurance Company, Blue Care Network of Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Harbor Health Plan, Health Alliance Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Inc., McLaren Health Plan Community, Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan, Physicians Health Plan, Priority Health, and Total Health Care USA
- Minnesota
- Average rate increase: 56.6%
- Average number of carriers: 7 – Blue Plus, Group Health, Health Partners, Medica Insurance Company, Medica Health Plans of Wisconsin, PreferredOne, and Ucare
- Mississippi
- Average rate increase: 16%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Humana and AmBetter (Magnolia Health)
- Missouri
- Average rate increase: 16%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, and Humana
- Montana
- Average rate increase: 50%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, Montana Health Co-op, and PacificSource
- Nebraska
- Average rate increase: 35%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Medica Insurance Company and Aetna Health, Inc.
- Nevada
- Average rate increase: 11%
- Average number of carriers: 10 – United Healthcare, HMO Nevada, Prominence HealthFirst, Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., Aetna Health, Inc., Freedom Health Insurance Company, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Hometown Health Plan, Inc., Hometown Health Providers Insurance Company, and Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company
- New Hampshire
- Average rate increase: 4-60%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – AmBetter from New Hampshire Healthy Families, Anthem, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Minuteman Health
- New Jersey
- Average rate increase: 9%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – AmeriHealth and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
- New Mexico
- Average rate increase: 39%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, New Mexico Health Connections, Molina, and CHRISTUS Health
- New York
- Average rate increase: 17.3%
- Average number of carriers: 14 – Affinity Health Plan, Capital District Physician’s Health Plan, Empire HealthChoice HMO, Excellus Health Plan, Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York, Healthfirst PHSP, HealthNow New York, Independent Health Benefits Corporation, Metro Plus Health Plan, MVP Health Plan, Fidelis Care New York, North Shore-LIJ CareConnect Insurance Company, Oscar, and United Healthcare of New York
- North Carolina
- Average rate increase: 24.3%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Cigna
- North Dakota
- Average rate increase: 7.85-14.3%
- Average number of carriers: 4 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Sanford Health Plan, and Medica Insurance Company
- Ohio
- Average rate increase: 12.6%
- Average number of carriers: 11 – AultCare Insurance Company, Buckeye Community Health Plan, CareSource, Community Insurance Company, Consumers Life Insurance Company, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Medical Health Insuring Corp. of Ohio, Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Inc., Paramount Insurance Company, Premier Health Plan, Inc., and Summa Insurance Company
- Oklahoma
- Average rate increase: 76%
- Average number of carriers: 1 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Average rate increase: 24.22%
- Average number of carriers: 7 – Atrio Health Plans, BridgeSpan, Kaiser Permanente, Moda Health, PacificSource Health Plans, Providence Health Plan, and Zoom Performance Health Insurance
- Pennsylvania
- Average rate increase: 23.6%
- Average number of carriers: 18 – Aetna Health, Inc., Capital Advantage Assurance Company, Capital Advantage Insurance Company, Keystone Health Plan Central, First Priority Health HMO, First Priority Life Insurance Company, Highmark, Inc., Highmark Choice Company, Highmark Health Insurance Company, Highmark Select Resources, Inc., Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Quality Options, Keystone Health Plan East, QCC Insurance Company, UPMC Health Coverage, Inc., UPMC Health Options, Inc., Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, and National Foundation Life Insurance Company
- Rhode Island
- Average rate increase: 5.9%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island and Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Average rate increase: 14%
- Average number of carriers: 1 – Blue Cross Blue Shield
- South Dakota
- Average rate increase: 37%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Avera Health Plans and Sanford Health Plan
- Tennessee
- Average rate increase: 56%
- Average number of carriers: 5 – Aetna Health, Tennessee Rural Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Cigna Health and Life Insurance, and Human Insurance
- Texas
- Average rate increase: 35%
- Average number of carriers: 12 – Allegian, AmBetter (Celtic), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, CHRISTUS Health, Community First, Community Health Choice, FirstCare (SHA), Humana, IdealCare (Sendero), Molina, Oscar, and Prominence Health First
- Utah
- Average rate increase: 30%
- Average number of carriers: 3 – Molina Healthcare, SelectHealth, and University of Utah Health Plans
- Vermont
- Average rate increase: 7-7.3%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and MVP Health Plan, Inc.
- Virginia
- Average rate increase: 18.4%
- Average number of carriers: 10 – Aetna Health, CareFirst Blue Choice, Cigna Health and Life Insurance, Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Health Keepers, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic, Optima Health Plan, Piedmont Community Healthcare (and Piedmont HMO), and UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic
- Washington state
- Average rate increase: 13.5%
- Average number of carriers: 9 – BridgeSpan, Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care, Group Health Cooperative, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest, LifeWise (a Premera affiliate), Molina Healthcare of Washington, Premera Blue Cross, and Regence Blue Shield
- West Virginia
- Average rate increase: 31.82-49.8%
- Average number of carriers: 2 – Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Caresource
- Wisconsin
- Average rate increase: 5-40%
- Average number of carriers: 13 – Children’s Community Health Plan, Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative, Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation, Dean Health Plan, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, Gundersen Health Plan, Inc., Health Tradition Health Plan, Medica Health Plans, MercyCare HMO, Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin, Network Health Plan, Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., and Unity Health Plans Insurance Corporation
- Wyoming
- Average rate increase: 7.4%
- Average number of carriers: 1 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming
You’ll also have the option of enrolling in a short-term health plan. These plans don’t typically meet the minimum coverage requirements mandated by the ACA, which means you’ll still be liable for a tax penalty. However, if you’re healthy and looking for an affordable alternative to Obamacare these could be a great option. To compare plans, both Obamacare and short-term, visit HealthMatchup.com or call (866) 684-7324.