Trump overstates Obamacare premium increases

“When I watch what's happening with some horrible things like Obamacare where your health insurance and health care is going up by numbers that are astronomical: 68%, 59%, 71%.” — Donald Trump

Premium increases for Obamacare plans for 2017 will vary widely around the country, with some insurers saying their premium increases will top 60 percent and 70 percent. But the figures Trump cited are not reflective of average premium increases nationwide, and he didn’t specify which companies are raising their rates by that amount.

The large premium increase figures are also misleading, because the numbers Trump cited do not account for the government subsidies the health care law makes available for those who qualify based on income. On average, subsidies cover three-quarters of the monthly premium, insulating millions of people from large spikes in monthly prices.

Independent estimates have projected that 2017 premiums for individuals purchasing Obamacare plans next year will rise roughly 24 percent on average, which is higher than in past years. But the level of increase varies widely by state and local market.