Affordable Care Act Plans

Affordable Care Act Plans

In March 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which reformed health insurance. This law refers to a series of policies aimed at expanding access to health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans and is known as Obamacare.

To combat some of the many devastating effects of America’s uninsured rates, the Act implemented many healthcare initiatives. These included expanding Medicaid eligibility, implementing exchanges, requiring everyone to purchase health insurance (a provision which has since been annuled by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, although some states still have penalties in place), and prohibiting insurance companies from refusing to provide coverage to individuals with preexisting conditions. It also forbade insurance companies from dropping coverage from individuals whose healthcare became too expensive.

Affordable Care Act Plans Price from 2017 to 2021

In 2020 and 2021, the number of insurers participating in the Marketplace increased from 166 in 2017 to 224 in 2021. Policies like reinsurance programs helped slow the rise in premiums. Furthermore, the expansion of Medicaid and the effects of COVID-19 on the Marketplace have not yet been seen in premiums.

Nonetheless, the Urban Institute says these events have left insurers with surpluses, even though Americans have delayed some non-essential medical care.

STATE20172018201920202021
Alabama$468$556$544$551$550
Alaska$927$727$714$721$674
Arizona$539$517$464$438$411
Arkansas$302$364$380$365$387
California$335$424$446$426$397
Colorado$340$438$496$374$351
Connecticut$436$541$472$565$519
Delaware$423$591$685$548$522
District of Columbia$298$324$393$414$384
Florida$336$476$485$472$449
Georgia$320$489$457$438$442
Hawaii$347$456$503$471$467
Idaho$355$479$486$521$494
Illinois$356$488$474$425$413
Indiana$275$344$338$392$398
Iowa$332$756$731$689$474
Kansas$362$485$528$486$469
Kentucky$266$401$433$460$444
Louisiana$413$487$461$497$492
Maine$378$575$531$499$430
Maryland$309$456$419$397$339
Massachusetts$252$315$330$354$355
Michigan$265$368$373$351$335
Minnesota$442$380$333$312$292
Mississippi$332$520$521$484$457
Missouri$369$520$491$479$439
Montana$450$522$553$472$462
Nebraska$474$757$747$676$434
Nevada$303$431$412$379$579
New Hampshire$267$475$402$405$387
New Jersey$339$411$348$389$325
New Mexico$255$424$366$346$367
New York$454$498$566$591$329
North Carolina$540$618$611$543$575
North Dakota$334$309$396$333$489
Ohio$263$364$367$360$410
Oklahoma$503$658$661$546$358
Oregon$321$395$433$439$485
Pennsylvania$369$526$457$440$440
Rhode Island$261$311$336$332$328
South Carolina$390$524$557$509$471
South Dakota$457$495$526$562$575
Tennessee$41$741$546$509$451
Texas$287$404$419$415$410
Utah$311$550$539$481$463
Vermont$492$505$517$662$574
Virginia$318$524$558$517$470
Washington$247$336$388$389$374
West Virginia$462$532$585$622$641
Wisconsin$359$524$519$478$432
Wyoming$501$861$860$877$782

The Affordable Care Act has made healthcare more accessible and affordable for millions of Americans. It’s important to understand all the options available so you can make an informed decision about your coverage. Click here to find more information on the Affordable Care Act plans.