By Lucas Sullivan, The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS – Ohioans insured through the Affordable Care Act will have fewer providers to choose from next year and will pay more for coverage.
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People insured through the federal exchange in Ohio will see premium increases of 12.6 percent or more in 2017 over what they paid this year, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance.
And the 17 insurance companies that offered coverage on the federal exchange will dwindle to 11 in 2017, according to the department.
Those numbers were released Wednesday as President Barack Obama’s administration tries to calm fears about rising health-care costs and fewer providers established by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also released an analysis Wednesday that said even if rates increase by double digits next year, nearly 60 percent of Ohioans pay less than $75 a month for coverage.
Actual premium costs won’t be finalized for about two more months. Open enrollment is scheduled to start November 1, a week before the presidential election.
There are 212,046 Ohioans who receive insurance through the federal exchange.