Arizonans who want to buy health coverage for next year on the Affordable Care Act’s exchange have four more days to do so. The deadline has been extended to Dec. 19.
Since the healthcare law went into effect, about 410,000 Arizonans have gained coverage. That amounts to a 36 percemt decrease in the uninsured rate since 2010.
But in recent years, Arizona went from having one of the most competitive and robust marketplaces to one with the fewest insurers. The state also saw some of the highest premium hikes in the country this year.
People already enrolled in a plan will be automatically transferred to a similar one with either Blue Cross Blue Shield or Health Net.
Despite rising costs, federal numbers show that about 125,000 moderate and middle income consumers in the state qualified for subsidies equaling about $230, although their network this time around with the HMO plans offered may be more limited.
