Price drop on ‘benchmark’ insurance plan

Nationally, the average price increase for the “benchmark” silver plan on the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace is a modest 2 percent. But in Kansas, the price of the silver plan, which is the second-lowest level, is 5 percent less, according to a report released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The drop is because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas added a new plan, Kansas Public Radio reported. Nationally, nearly 80 percent of marketplace consumers can find a plan costing $100 or less per month, after tax credits, according to HHS. In Kansas this year, 78 percent of marketplace consumers received financial assistance. – Phillip Brownlee

This story was originally published December 5, 2014 at 6:06 PM.