Premium Affordability, Competition, and Choice in the Health Insurance Marketplace, 2014

As an initial step to understanding how the Health Insurance Marketplace is working in its first year of operation, this report provides an overview of health insurance plan premiums available in the Marketplace and the important role of the advanced premium tax credit (“tax credit”) in helping families afford coverage. The report analyzes data on the change in the premium cost associated with the tax credit for plans selected through the Federally-facilitated Marketplace during the initial open enrollment period. It also examines over 19,000 Marketplace plans for 2014 within the four metal levels (bronze, silver, gold, and platinum) for each of the 501 rating areas across 50 states and the District of Columbia. The analysis shows how differences in plan and market characteristics are associated with differences in premiums across the nation.