ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - An analysis for The Associated Press shows Maryland consumers next year will have more choices than consumers in many other states in health insurance markets created by President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
The analysis by Avalere Health finds Maryland among nine states that will have three or more participating insurers in its counties.
From 2014 to 2016, all of Maryland's counties and the city of Baltimore had three or more participating insurers. That will continue into 2017.
Virginia
Virginians are facing fewer choices- or none at all - when buying health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Next year, only one insurer will sell the coverage in 28 of Virginia's independent cities or counties, many of them rural, The Associated Press has found. Currently, at least two insurers, if not more, offer plans.
That lack of competition could lead to more expensive premiums, experts say. And some people may find doctors suddenly out of their network.
The situation in Virginia reflects a nationwide trend as insurance companies face increasing costs. The analysis found that about one-third of U.S. counties will have only one health marketplace insurer next year. That's more than 1,000 counties in 26 states.
And it's double the number that had only one from 2014, which was the first year of coverage through the program.
Sign-up season starts Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 31.
