Obamacare Premiums Will Fall for
the First Time in 2019 The average premium for Obamacare's benchmark silver plan will decline
by 1.5%. It is the first time average premiums have fallen since the Affordable Care Act exchanges opened in 2014. The decline comes after a 37% spike
for 2018's silver plan. Americans who buy those plans will save
$6 a month over this year's rate, on average. They will still pay $105 more
a month than in 2017. The biggest drop will be in Tennessee, where premiums will fall by
more than 26%. 2019 will be the first time that Americans will not have to pay a penalty
for being uninsured. It will also be easier for people to sign up for alternatives to Obamacare, including short-term health plans and association health plans. These are usually cheaper
but offer skimpier benefits.