Colorado's health plan price differences and the PPACA

As the second enrollment period continues for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Colorado's health plan price differences underscore the health law's limits and intentions, according to The New York Times.

To provide an example, the report cites an analysis by The New York Times, which shows "the cost of one midlevel silver plan in Colorado rose 36 percent west of the Rocky Mountains this year, while another dropped nearly 40 percent in the northeastern plains."

The report attributes the price differences to the fact that many insurers are seeking to draw more customers with pricing plans that are as low as they can get them, although those prices may not be sustainable.

Across the U.S., some health plans that were least expensive last year "raised premiums sharply" for coverage in 2015, according to the report.

The report also attributes the price differences to "what the insurer-friendly healthcare law permits."

"Insurers can target territories, choosing areas within a given market where they can attract enough members and put together provider networks that will negotiate on price," the report reads. "In addition, insurers were given some protection by the federal government to reduce possible losses in the early years, so some are experimenting with very low prices that may not be sustainable over the long term."

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