The most expensive US insurance markets: Kaiser

All plan pricings offered through public insurance exchanges are not created equal. In these 10 areas, clients pay more.

Life & Health

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The advent of the Affordable Care Act was meant to lower premium costs for the vast majority of Americans, and while some studies signal that that particular goal has been achieved, some areas of the country are suffering from extraordinarily high rates.

According to a recent report from Kaiser, 10 regions of the country are paying more for the “silver plan,” the mid-level plan the majority of consumers are purchasing.

Judging by monthly premiums for a 40-year-old individual, these areas are the most expensive in terms of health insurance. Kaiser notes that the regions vary vastly in terms of geographic location, population and size.



In Colorado’s Aspen and Vail regions, where average monthly premiums near $500, the area’s “resort region” classification may have a lot to do with rates so much higher as compared to other parts of the country.

In a meeting in El Jebel, Colo. Saturday, Insurance Commissioner Marguerite Salazar also said the region’s frequency of insurance use and the difficulty of providing medical care to residents also factor into the high costs.

Sarah Vaine, CEO of Summit Community Care Clinic, said the high rates will cause residents to reconsider enrolling in an exchange plan and seeking needed care.

“Summit County has one of the highest rates of uninsured residents in the State, Vaine told Colorado House Rep. Jared Polis. “Many people have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to purchase health insurance for themselves and their families. It is worrisome and disappointing that rates in our area may be priced beyond our residents’ ability to pay. We are hopeful that something can be done to make products on the exchange more accessible.”

In other cases, like Vermont’s, state laws prevent insurers from charging more to older people and less to younger residents.

Counties and cities where residents face some of the highest premiums in the country include:

Colorado: Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin and Summit counties
Southwest Georgia: Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Crisp, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Randolph, Schley, Sumter, Terrell and Worth
Rural Nevada: Esmerelda, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Elko, Mineral, Pershing, White Pinea and Churchill counties
Far western Wisconsin: Pierce, Polk and St. Croix counties
Southern Georgia:  Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Decatur, Early, Echols, Grady, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Seminole, Thomas, Tift and Turner counties
Most of Wyoming: All counties except Natrona and Laramie
Southeast Mississippi: George, Harrison, Jackson, Stone and Hancock counties

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