Delaware begins open enrollment under Affordable Care Act

DOVER, Del. (AP) - Open enrollment is under way for Delawareans wanting to enroll in the state’s health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act.

Delawareans are again facing steep price increases, with an average rate increase of 32.5 percent in the individual market for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, which has the vast majority of the individual market share in Delaware. Aetna Life Insurance and Aetna Health Insurance Co. were approved for average rate increases of about 23 percent.

With Tuesday’s start of open enrollment, state officials are stressing that residents who do not have employer-sponsored health insurance, or who are not eligible for public programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, can take advantage of taxpayer-funded subsidies to help them pay for private plans through the exchange, also known as Obamacare.