The Big Story

Idaho a precursor in continuing ACA debacle

While the battle over the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits is stalemated in Congress, Idahoans are the canary in the coalmine for the rest of the country for how much insurance will cost if an extension doesn’t come through.

© Patrick Sison, The Associated Press

Idaho’s open enrollment began on Oct. 15, and premium hikes were noticeable.

“On average, gross premiums, or the overall cost of the premium, has gone up about 10 percent. And the net premium, or the amount the consumer pays after the tax credit has been applied, has increased about 75 percent” or $1,200 a year, said Pat Kelly, executive director of Your Health Idaho.

“So, those are averages across all of our enrollees, but it does give an indication

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