Pennsylvanians who buy health insurance through the state online marketplace face an even higher sticker shock than earlier predicted next year with an average monthly premium spike for individual coverage of 21.5% statewide, while average rates will more than double in some parts of the eight-county Pittsburgh metro area.

The rates announced Tuesday by the state Insurance Department for Affordable Care Act plans sold through the Pennie website were, in some cases, even higher than insurers had initially requested — with the surge driven by a combination of reduced federal tax credits, rising drug costs and other factors.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys called the new rates approved by his department “shocking,” and called for federal officials to take steps to ease

See Full Page