The average family of four could face more than $25,000 annually in premium and deductible costs, according to a new report on Affordable Care Act health care costs for unsubsidized consumers, according to a new report by health insurance marketplace operator eHealth, Inc.

The average family of four has an average monthly premium of $1437 per month, or $17,244 annually and an average deductible of $7,767.

The full report, "ACA Index Report on Unsubsidized Consumers in the 2020 Open Enrollment Period," was issued this month by eHealth, Inc. which operates a health insurance marketplace on the sites eHealth.com and eHealthMedicare.com.

"Many people who buy Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage receive federal subsidies to make it more affordable, but a significant and often overlooked number of consumers are asked to shoulder the full burden of costs without assistance," said eHealth CEO Scott Flanders.

"The ACA may be working for those who receive federal subsidies but many middle-income consumers are being priced out of coverage just when the coronavirus pandemic is reminding everyone of the value of a quality, comprehensive health insurance plan," he continued.

For the 2020 coverage year, two-person families paid an average monthly premium of $983, 2% lower than they paid in 2019. But the $1,437 average monthly premium paid by four-person families was 2% higher than last year.

A look at costs for individuals

According to the report, individuals without subsidies have seen average monthly premium costs rise substantially over six years, from $271 in 2014, the year of the ACA's first nationwide open enrollment period, to $456 for the 2020 plan year, a 68% increase. (But between 2019 and 2020, average individual premium costs increased just 2% between, per the report.)

As for average annual deductible costs, they were $4,364 for individual plans, a 1% increase over 2019. The average annual deductible rose just 5% from 2014 to 2020, the report found.

The report states that individuals who receive federal subsidies under the ACA pay an average of about $80 per month to maintain their coverage.

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Instant Insights /

$25,000: Cost of premiums and deductibles for a family ACA plan in 2020

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