• Over the first three years of Obamacare, per capita monthly premiums in Alaska increased by 171%, from $342 in 2013 to $928 in 2016. Alaska is 1 of 3 states that currently have in effect federal waivers from Obamacare that make it easier to put in place risk mitigation programs. As a result, for the 2018 plan year, the average rate for plans offered by Alaska's one remaining individual market insurer decreased 26.5%.
• Over the first five years of Obamacare, 75% fewer insurers offered Exchange coverage in Alaska, from 4 in 2013 to 1 in 2018.
• 2019 Rate Request Submission:The only insurer providing individual market coveragein Alaska,Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, isproposing average rate reductions of 7.03% and 10.31% for itstwo plans.
• 2019 Rate Finalized: Finalized by mid-October

Health care remains a major focus of the public discussion as premium prices rise and choices dwindle. Throughout the summer and into the fall, Obamacare insurers will announce decisions about the prices they want to charge and plans they want to offer next year, submitting them to regulators for review and approval. Research shows prices have been rising steadily since Obamacare was first implemented, more than doubling in some places because of its failed policies and regulations.

The best way to provide relief for Americans struggling under these heavy burdens is to replace Obamacare with free-market solutions that put patients and doctors—not federal bureaucrats—in charge of health care decisions and dollars.

The three states that have begun to provide this kind of relief – after being granted federal waivers from Obamacare - are seeing rate reductions. Congress should go farther and make it easy for states to take these actions.

This piece was authored by Ed Haislmaier.