Nov 17, 2014 | Cynthia Cox and Larry Levitt and Gary Claxton and Rosa Ma and Robin Duddy-Tenbrunsel
ADDED Nov. 17 – New MAP shows premium changes in every county in the country, and an updated TABLE captures changes in benchmark premiums for largest cities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The map and 50-state table are updates to our September analysis, which examined premium changes for the lowest-cost bronze plan and the two lowest-cost silver plans in 16 major cities. The second-lowest cost silver plan in each state is of particular interest as it acts as a benchmark that helps determine how much assistance eligible individuals can receive in the form of federal tax credits. Although premium changes vary substantially across and within states, premium changes for 2015 in general are modest when looking at the low-cost insurers in the marketplaces, where enrollment is concentrated.
Change in Benchmark Silver Premiums, 2014 – 2015
Silver and Bronze Premium Changes from 2014 to 2015
The tables below were first published in the Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of 2015 premium changes in September, 2014. They were updated in November, 2014 with the most recent premium data available.
Benchmark Silver Plans
This table presents the premiums and percent change in benchmark silver plans in a major city in each state. In addition to an enrollee’s income and family size, their second-lowest priced silver plan is used as the benchmark to determine the amount of financial assistance he or she can receive through the Marketplace.
| State |
Major City |
2nd Lowest Cost SilverBeforeTax Credit |
2nd Lowest Cost SilverAfterTax Credit |
| Alabama |
Birmingham |
$258 |
$264 |
2.5% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Alaska |
Anchorage |
$380 |
$488 |
28.4% |
$165 |
$164 |
-0.8% |
| Arizona |
Phoenix |
$197 |
$177 |
-10.0% |
$197 |
$177 |
-10.0% |
| Arkansas |
Little Rock |
$306 |
$299 |
-2.3% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| California |
Los Angeles |
$255 |
$257 |
0.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Colorado |
Denver |
$250 |
$211 |
-15.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Connecticut |
Hartford |
$328 |
$312 |
-5.0% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Delaware |
Wilmington |
$289 |
$301 |
4.1% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| DC |
Washington |
$242 |
$242 |
-0.2% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Florida |
Miami |
$269 |
$274 |
1.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Georgia |
Atlanta |
$251 |
$255 |
1.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Hawaii |
Honolulu |
$183 |
$200 |
9.3% |
$181 |
$179 |
-0.8% |
| Idaho |
Boise |
$231 |
$210 |
-9.3% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Illinois |
Chicago |
$212 |
$215 |
1.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Indiana |
Indianapolis |
$354 |
$329 |
-7.0% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Iowa |
Cedar Rapids |
$255 |
$246 |
-3.5% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Kansas |
Wichita |
$198 |
$218 |
10.3% |
$198 |
$208 |
5.1% |
| Kentucky |
Louisville |
$205 |
$212 |
3.2% |
$205 |
$208 |
1.1% |
| Louisiana |
New Orleans |
$311 |
$296 |
-4.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Maine |
Portland |
$295 |
$282 |
-4.4% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Maryland |
Baltimore |
$229 |
$235 |
2.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Massachusetts |
Boston |
$278 |
$257 |
-7.5% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Michigan |
Detroit |
$224 |
$234 |
4.4% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Minnesota |
Minneapolis |
$154 |
$183 |
18.5% |
$154 |
$183 |
18.5% |
| Mississippi |
Jackson |
$410 |
$305 |
-25.5% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Missouri |
St Louis |
$263 |
$276 |
4.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Montana |
Billings |
$258 |
$241 |
-6.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Nebraska |
Omaha |
$271 |
$264 |
-2.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Nevada |
Las Vegas |
$238 |
$237 |
-0.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| New Hampshire |
Manchester |
$289 |
$247 |
-14.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| New Jersey |
Newark |
$322 |
$316 |
-1.9% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| New Mexico |
Albuquerque |
$194 |
$171 |
-11.8% |
$194 |
$171 |
-11.8% |
| New York |
New York City |
$365 |
$372 |
1.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| North Carolina |
Charlotte |
$307 |
$328 |
7.0% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| North Dakota |
Fargo |
$271 |
$272 |
0.3% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Ohio |
Cleveland |
$249 |
$247 |
-0.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Oklahoma |
Oklah. City |
$201 |
$219 |
8.8% |
$201 |
$208 |
3.2% |
| Oregon |
Portland |
$201 |
$213 |
6.1% |
$201 |
$208 |
3.4% |
| Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia |
$300 |
$268 |
-10.7% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Rhode Island |
Providence |
$293 |
$260 |
-11.2% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| South Carolina |
Columbia |
$269 |
$276 |
2.7% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| South Dakota |
Sioux Falls |
$264 |
$257 |
-2.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Tennessee |
Nashville |
$188 |
$203 |
7.8% |
$188 |
$203 |
7.8% |
| Texas |
Houston |
$238 |
$250 |
5.3% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Utah |
Salt Lake City |
$209 |
$215 |
2.7% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Vermont |
Burlington |
$413 |
$436 |
5.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Virginia |
Richmond |
$253 |
$260 |
2.7% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Washington |
Seattle |
$281 |
$254 |
-9.8% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| West Virginia |
Huntington |
$254 |
$277 |
9.1% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Wisconsin |
Milwaukee |
$315 |
$333 |
5.7% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Wyoming |
Cheyenne |
$395 |
$401 |
1.6% |
$209 |
$208 |
-0.8% |
| Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of premium data from Healthcare.gov and insurer rate filings to state regulators. For more information see “Analysis of 2015 Premium Changes in the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplaces” September, 2014 |
Benchmark Bronze Plans
The table below presents the premium and percent change for the lowest-cost bronze plan in a major city in each state. These plans represent the lowest-cost option available to most shoppers on the Marketplaces.
| State |
Rating Area
(Major City) |
Lowest Cost BronzeBeforeTax Credit |
Lowest Cost BronzeAfterTax Credit |
| Alabama |
Birmingham |
$208 |
$218 |
4.9% |
$160 |
$162 |
1.3% |
| Alaska |
Anchorage |
$310 |
$396 |
27.7% |
$95 |
$72 |
-24.2% |
| Arizona |
Phoenix |
$170 |
$153 |
-9.8% |
$170 |
$153 |
-9.8% |
| Arkansas |
Little Rock |
$231 |
$240 |
3.7% |
$135 |
$149 |
10.5% |
| California |
Los Angeles |
$188 |
$210 |
11.7% |
$142 |
$161 |
12.9% |
| Colorado |
Denver |
$186 |
$167 |
-10.0% |
$145 |
$164 |
13.0% |
| Connecticut |
Hartford |
$232 |
$196 |
-15.5% |
$113 |
$92 |
-19.0% |
| Delaware |
Wilmington |
$247 |
$239 |
-3.4% |
$167 |
$146 |
-13.0% |
| DC |
Washington |
$166 |
$181 |
8.8% |
$134 |
$147 |
10.1% |
| Florida |
Miami |
$198 |
$224 |
12.9% |
$138 |
$158 |
13.8% |
| Georgia |
Atlanta |
$202 |
$205 |
1.5% |
$161 |
$158 |
-1.9% |
| Hawaii |
Honolulu |
$145 |
$166 |
14.5% |
$143 |
$145 |
1.4% |
| Idaho |
Boise |
$192 |
$184 |
-3.9% |
$169 |
$182 |
7.3% |
| Illinois |
Chicago |
$152 |
$170 |
11.7% |
$150 |
$163 |
8.5% |
| Indiana |
Indianapolis |
$271 |
$251 |
-7.5% |
$127 |
$130 |
2.0% |
| Iowa |
Cedar Rapids |
$161 |
$182 |
12.9% |
$116 |
$144 |
24.1% |
| Kansas |
Wichita |
$148 |
$173 |
17.0% |
$148 |
$163 |
10.0% |
| Kentucky |
Louisville |
$162 |
$135 |
-16.8% |
$162 |
$131 |
-19.4% |
| Louisiana |
New Orleans |
$208 |
$202 |
-2.7% |
$106 |
$114 |
7.1% |
| Maine |
Portland |
$235 |
$218 |
-7.1% |
$149 |
$144 |
-3.6% |
| Maryland |
Baltimore |
$146 |
$165 |
12.8% |
$127 |
$138 |
8.7% |
| Massachusetts |
Boston |
$242 |
$210 |
-13.1% |
$173 |
$161 |
-7.3% |
| Michigan |
Detroit |
$168 |
$181 |
7.8% |
$153 |
$155 |
1.0% |
| Minnesota |
Minneapolis |
$115 |
$140 |
21.4% |
$115 |
$140 |
21.4% |
| Mississippi |
Jackson |
$242 |
$226 |
-6.6% |
$42 |
$129 |
208.4% |
| Missouri |
St Louis |
$179 |
$198 |
10.6% |
$125 |
$130 |
3.7% |
| Montana |
Billings |
$206 |
$211 |
2.6% |
$157 |
$178 |
13.2% |
| Nebraska |
Omaha |
$197 |
$203 |
3.0% |
$135 |
$147 |
8.4% |
| Nevada |
Las Vegas |
$183 |
$201 |
10.1% |
$154 |
$172 |
11.8% |
| New Hampshire |
Manchester |
$227 |
$188 |
-17.1% |
$147 |
$149 |
1.3% |
| New Jersey |
Newark |
$280 |
$279 |
-0.3% |
$167 |
$171 |
2.1% |
| New Mexico |
Albuquerque |
$154 |
$131 |
-15.2% |
$154 |
$131 |
-15.2% |
| New York |
New York City |
$307 |
$308 |
0.3% |
$151 |
$144 |
-4.7% |
| North Carolina |
Charlotte |
$224 |
$249 |
11.3% |
$126 |
$129 |
1.7% |
| North Dakota |
Fargo |
$213 |
$223 |
4.5% |
$151 |
$159 |
4.7% |
| Ohio |
Cleveland |
$185 |
$196 |
5.8% |
$146 |
$157 |
7.2% |
| Oklahoma |
Oklah. City |
$129 |
$148 |
15.0% |
$129 |
$137 |
6.2% |
| Oregon |
Portland |
$165 |
$175 |
5.8% |
$165 |
$170 |
2.6% |
| Pennsylvania |
Philadelphia |
$238 |
$219 |
-7.9% |
$147 |
$159 |
8.1% |
| Rhode Island |
Providence |
$210 |
$201 |
-4.3% |
$127 |
$149 |
17.5% |
| South Carolina |
Columbia |
$202 |
$201 |
-0.4% |
$142 |
$133 |
-6.9% |
| South Dakota |
Sioux Falls |
$239 |
$217 |
-9.3% |
$184 |
$168 |
-9.0% |
| Tennessee |
Nashville |
$139 |
$153 |
10.3% |
$139 |
$153 |
10.3% |
| Texas |
Houston |
$162 |
$188 |
15.8% |
$134 |
$146 |
8.5% |
| Utah |
Salt Lake City |
$152 |
$168 |
10.3% |
$152 |
$161 |
5.5% |
| Vermont |
Burlington |
$336 |
$360 |
7.1% |
$132 |
$131 |
-0.7% |
| Virginia |
Richmond |
$170 |
$173 |
1.8% |
$126 |
$121 |
-4.4% |
| Washington |
Seattle |
$186 |
$194 |
4.3% |
$114 |
$148 |
29.5% |
| West Virginia |
Huntington |
$215 |
$234 |
8.9% |
$170 |
$165 |
-3.4% |
| Wisconsin |
Milwaukee |
$244 |
$261 |
7.1% |
$138 |
$136 |
-1.7% |
| Wyoming |
Cheyenne |
$331 |
$346 |
4.7% |
$145 |
$153 |
5.1% |
| Source: Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of premium data from Healthcare.gov and insurer rate filings to state regulators. For more information see “Analysis of 2015 Premium Changes in the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplaces” September, 2014 |