Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) — Most Americans are avoiding the lowest-priced health plans on the Obamacare insurance exchanges, taking advantage of government subsidies to seek more protection against high treatment costs.
Only 19 percent of enrollees chose the coverage with the cheapest premiums, called bronze, while 7 percent picked the most expensive, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said in a report. Mid-level silver plans drew 62 percent. The lower the plan level, the higher the out-of-pocket costs.
That's good news for insurers who were concerned that too many people would pick the cheapest premiums, then discover they couldn't pay the plans' higher deductibles for medical care, said Michael Mahoney of GoHealth LLC, a private online platform that helps people enroll. The popularity of the silver plans shows consumers are selecting the best package of financial assistance offered through the government exchanges.
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