
After four straight years of premium declines, Affordable Care Act policies will be more costly in 2023. However, most enrollees won’t feel the increase thanks to enhanced federal subsidies that congressional Democrats were able to extend.
The average monthly premium for the benchmark silver plan in 2023 will rise by 4% in the 33 states participating in the federal exchange, healthcare.gov, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report released Wednesday. That compares to a 3% drop for this year.
The increase in Obamacare premiums mirrors the trend in employer-sponsored coverage for 2023. Most workers can expect to see premiums and out-of-pocket costs increase at a faster rate than in recent years due to inflation, experts said.
Consumers will be able to start comparing Affordable Care Act plans Wednesday when the federal exchange opens for window shopping. Open enrollment launches November 1 and runs through January 15, though folks must sign up by December 15 if they want coverage to begin at the start of the year.
The Biden administration is heavily touting the generous subsidies, which will allow four out of five enrollees to select plans that cost less than $10 a month and save enrollees an average of $800 a year in premiums.