{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=1562", "Arizona Expected to Have Most Insurance Options, Lowest Average Premiums Nationwide as Affordable Care Act Exchanges Start Up", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Ra\u00fal Grijalva", "G000551", "grijalva.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 A new report released today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) finds that Arizona consumers will be able to choose from an average of 106 health plans (with a high of 111 in Phoenix) in the soon-to-be-established health insurance marketplace known as the exchange. Premiums nationwide will be around 16 percent lower than originally projected by the Congressional Budget Office \u2013 with about 95 percent of eligible uninsured Americans living in states with lower than expected premiums \u2013 even before accounting for financial assistance.\r\n\r\n\tAs Talking Points Memo explained today:\r\n\r\n\tOn average, people will have a choice of 56 different insurance plans -- depending on which state you live in, though, that figure could range from seven (in Alabama) to 106 (in Arizona). The average number of insurers in a state is eight, though that again ranges from one to 13 in different states.\r\n\r\n\tAs for premiums, before tax credits kick in, they will average 16 percent below the Congressional Budget Office's original estimates for a silver-level plan (which covers 70 percent of costs). The number of insurers in a state is directly tied to how low premiums will be, Lambrew noted. Arizona, with an average of 106 plans to choose from, had the lowest average premium for a 27-year-old adult: $166. Wyoming, with an average of 16 plans, had the highest average premium at $342.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThis is the best news Arizona could have heard, and I sincerely hope we start hearing some honesty for a change from certain circles about how this law is designed to help people,\u201d said Rep. Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva, who voted for the Affordable Care Act in 2010. \u201cMore affordable health care is good for Arizonans, good for Americans and good for our economy. The law is getting people affordable insurance, cutting down on medical bankruptcy, and giving some help to a workforce afraid to change jobs because of health insurance instability. The dead-ender opponents of health care reform should explain why they object to Arizonans getting a better deal than they had previously.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWe are excited to see that rates in the Arizona Marketplace are even lower than originally projected,\u201d said Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. \u201cIn the past, consumers were too often denied or priced out of quality health insurance options, but thanks to the Affordable Care Act consumers will be able to choose from a number of new coverage options at a price that is affordable.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tWhen the exchange opens on Oct. 1, consumers will be able to apply for premium assistance and compare plans side-by-side based on pricing, quality and benefits. That date marks the beginning of a six-month open enrollment period that runs through March 2014. The new plans will kick in as early as next Jan. 1.\r\n\r\n\tToday\u2019s report finds that individuals in Arizona will have an average of 106 qualified health plan choices through the exchange. Plans in the Marketplace will be categorized as either \u201cgold,\u201d \u201csilver,\u201d or \u201cbronze.\u201d Young adults will also have the option of purchasing a \u201ccatastrophic\u201d plan, increasing their number of choices.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAccording to HHS data reviewable at http://1.usa.gov/1916bom, a 27-year old living in Arizona who makes $25,000 per year will pay $120 per month for the lowest cost bronze plan and $145 per month for the second-lowest-cost silver plan if he or she takes advantage of available tax credits. For a family of four in Arizona with an income of $50,000 per year, the most affordable bronze plan would cost only $192 per month.\r\n\r\n\tConsumers can get help finding Marketplace coverage through a number of different resources. They can get more information through\u00a0HealthCare.gov or\u00a0cuidadodesalud.gov.\u00a0 They can participate in an online web chat or call 1-800-318-2596 toll free (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to speak with a trained customer service representative with translation services available in 150 languages.\r\n\r\n\tThere will also be people in local communities who can provide in-person help with coverage choices. Those will include Navigators and other assisters, community health centers across the country, local libraries, and hundreds of Champions for Coverage that have signed up to help consumers learn about their options.\r\n\r\n\tTo become a Champion for Coverage, visit http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champion.html.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=13&itemid=1562"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2609097175300121, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}