Federal report: Ohio ACA premiums among the highest, though consumers can save by switching

Ohioans who switched Obamacare plans this year will save an average of $648, according to a new federal report that seeks to emphasize the value of shopping for plans on healthcare.gov (Source: “Obamacare report: consumers save by switching plans, but Ohio's premiums still among nation's highest,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jan. 26, 2016).

The report by the Health and Human Services Department indicates that 49,462 Ohioans have switched plans during the open enrollment period and will save an average of $54 on their monthly premiums.

The average premium for people who switched plans in Ohio is $192 after tax credits, according to the HHS report. That's fourth highest among the 38 states that use healthcare.gov, behind only New Hampshire ($207), West Virginia ($201), and New Jersey ($200).

Several factors likely contribute to Ohio's higher premium costs, but one of the culprits is the consolidation of larger health care providers whose dominance gives them leverage over insurers, according to J.B, Silvers, a professor of healthcare finance at Case Western Reserve University.