Obamacare is a federal program, but what many Americans don't know is that costs will remain different from state to state. In fact, a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services shows some huge differences in premium costs depending on where you live.
In the following video, Dan Caplinger, The Motley Fool's director of investment planning and author of the special free report "Everything You Need to Know About Obamacare," talks with Motley Fool health-care bureau chief Max Macaluso about these cost differences and why they're so big. Dan notes that in comparing costs in different states, minimum coverage in the highest-price state, Wyoming, costs three times as much in Minnesota, the lowest-price state. He points out that some states have more than a hundred different options for residents to consider, while those in other states have fewer than 10. Moreover, demographic differences between states also contribute to disparities in average premiums, and those of different ages and in different cities should also expect to see variability in costs.
Max and Dan then discuss how the future could play out for Obamacare. If UnitedHealth Group (UNH 1.61%), Cigna (CI), and Aetna (AET) reverse their hesitation to participate in Obamacare health-insurance exchanges, then their presence could add competition to the mix and reduce premiums in some high-cost areas. On the other hand, if Health Management Associates (NYSE: HMA), Universal Health Services (UHS 2.49%), and other health-care providers raise their prices in some areas, it could send rates there rising even higher.
