Health insurance premiums have increased dramatically over the last decade in response to the rising cost of health care services. The Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) helped make health insurance accessible and affordable to more Americans by creating health insurance markets or “exchanges” and providing government subsidies to low-income Americans.
Until 2021, many Americans discovered that the subsidies did not apply to them or did not know that they qualified for government assistance for their health care coverage. the affordability problem continued, with large numbers of people still living without insurance. however, that changed in March 2021, with the introduction of the US Bailout Act.
Are you eligible for a grant under the American Bailout Act?
President Biden signed the American Bailout Plan (ARPA) Act into law on March 11, 2021. The act is designed to provide government assistance to people struggling under the impact of COVID-19, including help with the health insurance coverage. ARPA changed the way subsidies were calculated so more Americans would qualify for federal assistance with their health plans.
Before the ARPA, people who earned more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) were automatically disqualified from any subsidy. this became known as the “subsidy abyss”. In addition to eliminating the subsidy cliff, the ARPA increased subsidies for those earning between 100% and 400% of the FPL. these changes increased the number of Americans who qualified for subsidies by 20%, or millions of people.
Now, people who earn more than 400% fpl cannot pay more than 8.5% of their income in health insurance premiums for a silver premium plan. People between 100% and 150% of FPL now qualify for a zero-premium silver plan. premiums are also lower for those between 150% and 400% of the poverty line.
If you are one of the millions who now qualify for a subsidy or may receive further assistance under the ARPA, eHealth is ready to help you find a plan that meets your needs and budget. our licensed brokers are ready to work with you to purchase insurance in any state, with 24/7 support and the ability to sign up for a plan online, through our chat, or by phone.
what is the average cost of unsubsidized health insurance in 2021?
Despite the increases, there are still individuals and families who are not eligible for the subsidies and want to know how much they can expect to pay for health insurance without the benefit of government assistance. The good news is that individual health insurance premiums decreased between 2020 and 2021 for Americans of all ages, according to the most recent Electronic Health Index report. however, families did not see the same reduction in the price of their plans.
The recent eHealth ACA Index report tracked costs and purchasing trends among ACA plan members who purchased unsubsidized health insurance on ehealth.com during the national open enrollment period (June 1, 2019). November 2020 to December 15, 2020) for 2021 coverage.
what do you pay if you don’t qualify for subsidies in 2021? The average monthly premium for unsubsidized health insurance for a person in a benchmark plan (i.e., the “silver” plan) was $450 per month in 2021. Monthly premiums for ACA Marketplace plans vary by state and can be reduced by subsidies. actual cost varies based on your age, location, and health plan selection.
what is the average cost of health insurance for a family of 4?
Consumers shopping for a family of 4 pay an average monthly premium of $1,437 for unsubsidized health insurance. the monthly premium cost reflects a modest increase of $1,403 in 2019.
Plan selection may affect monthly premiums. Generally, the more coverage the plan offers, the higher your monthly premium will be. for family coverage (2 or more people), only bronze family plan premiums decreased between 2019 and 2020.
But monthly premiums are only part of the cost of health insurance. Also consider the cost of annual deductibles, the out-of-pocket costs you pay before your health plan pays for most covered services. the average family plan deductible for 2020 (for all family sizes) was $8,439, up 5% from the prior year. the average annual family deductible for 2020 was $7,767 for a family of 4.
the bottom line of unsubsidized health insurance for a family of 4
If you’re shopping for a plan here like unsubsidized health insurance for a family of 4, you can expect to pay around $25,000 per year in premiums and deductibles. That breaks down to an average of $17,244 in annual premium cost for health insurance for families of 4 and $7,767 in deductible expenses.
ehealth recognizes that the rising cost of health care is alarming for most families. But don’t be discouraged by the prospect of finding family health insurance you can afford. we’re here to help you find the best level of coverage for you and your family at the most affordable price. In addition, you can use our subsidy calculator to help you determine if you may be eligible for a tax subsidy. with electronic health:
- You can compare your individual or family health insurance options using our easy-to-use online services 24/7 and chat with an ehealth representative any time you have a question .
- You can talk to a licensed ehealth insurance agent who knows how to help you get affordable health coverage that meets the needs of you and your family.
Explore your individual and family health insurance options today. It costs you nothing to take advantage of eHealth services.
This article is for general information and may not be updated after publication. consult your own tax, accounting or legal advisor rather than relying on this article as tax, accounting or legal advice.
