Study: Impact of ACA cost-sharing reduction varies widely by Marketplace plan

Out-of-pocket costs for people who qualify for reduced cost-sharing through the Health Insurance Marketplace vary substantially by health plan, according to a study released this week by the Commonwealth Fund. People earning between 100% and 250% of the federal poverty level qualify for reduced cost-sharing for silver-tier plans purchased through the Marketplace. For the largest city in the 38 states using HealthCare.gov for 2016 enrollment, the average limit on out-of-pocket costs for a 40-year-old, non-smoking man eligible for reduced cost-sharing and earning $17,000 a year ranged from $500 to $2,250, for example, the study found. The average out-of-pocket limit for a similar man who doesn’t qualify for reduced cost-sharing was $6,500. “This study shows that features of the Affordable Care Act are working to make health care more affordable for many Americans,” said Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, M.D. “But we must continue to find ways to ensure that those with limited resources have adequate protection against the high cost of health care.”