‘Obamacare’ users to see an average 13.6 percent rate increase next year

Residents who have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in Washington’s individual market will pay an average of 13.6 percent more for their plans next year, according to the state office of the insurance commissioner.

A rate change by one insurer is as high as 24.7 percent.

2017 individual and family health plans and premiums

The announcement was made on Wednesday morning.

Washington is one of several states that saw double digit increases.

Insurance companies asked the state insurance commissioner for permission to increase rates by 13.5 percent. The commissioner’s office said the average increase in 2017 will be 13.6 percent, but the increase varies depending on the insurer and factors like where the insured person lives, their age, whether or not they smoke, which plan they select, and how many people are covered.

KIRo 7 reporter Jeff Dubois looked up some numbers to help illustrate the increase.

For people who choose Regence Blue Shield, a 35-year-old paid an average of $354 a month last year.

If that’s increased by 13.5 percent, it goes up to $400 a month.

For Group Health, rates would go from $317 to $359 a month.

But it’s important that people understand the rate increases announced Wednesday will only affect people in Washington who are self-insured and use the Washington Healthplanfinder.

Those who get insurance through their employer won’t be affected directly by the increases, though deductibles will likely rise.

The increase is the largest in ACA healthcare rates since “Obamacare” went into effect.

In 2015, rates went up 1.8 percent, 3.8 percent in 2016 and now an average of 13.6 percent in 2017.

But Washington residents aren’t alone in the rate increases.

Nationally, the cost for the most popular, mid-level Obamacare plan is going up 22 percent and some other states’ rates are much higher.

For instance, some customers in Arizona are seeing a 145 percent increase in their insurance rates next year.