Exchange plans could cost less than expected

There, the administration estimated that the lowest-cost silver plan will be 18 percent less expensive in 2014, on average, than a comparable plan would cost if the pre-PPACA rules were still in effect.

PPACA calls for HHS to work with states to make exchanges, or health insurance supermarkets, available to individuals and small groups in all 50 states and the District of Columbia by Oct. 1.

The exchanges are supposed to sell four “metal levels” of coverage — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — along with high-deductible catastrophic plans aimed at workers who cannot qualify for PPACA subsidies but have a hard time paying for low-deductible bronze plans.

See also:

• Vermont announces exchange plan rates
• Two insurers trim D.C. small-group exchange rates
• Ohio reveals high exchange rates