A new report from Employee Benefits Network surveyed more than 11,000 employees across the United States and found health insurance varies from state to state.
Here are six things to know:
1. The five states where health insurance was the most expensive were:
• Alaska
• Wyoming
• New York
• Vermont
• New Jersey
2. The four states where health insurance was the least expensive include:
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Utah
• Arkansas
• Mississippi
3. Premium costs were up 22 percent in New Mexico for individuals and 30 percent for families; by contrast, costs were down 7 percent for single coverage in Hawaii in 2016. In Wyoming, the monthly premiums were up 24 percent for single coverage and 10 percent for family coverage.
4. Businesses could use health insurance cost information to expand in places where healthcare is less costly.
5. President Donald Trump has committed to eliminating regulations when possible and potentially rolling back regulations requiring employers to purchase health insurance could be helpful. Additionally, allowing states to handle insurance issues could alleviate some of the stress on premiums.
6. Allowing health insurance companies to sell insurance across state lines may not lower costs, according to the report, because insurance premium prices depend on various state-level factors.
"You can lift the barrier allowing people to purchase insurance in other states. It doesn't really matter that I buy my insurance from Blue Cross of Alaska or Blue Cross of Idaho. My cost of care here is a certain dollar amount, and Blue Cross of Idaho better charge me a correct premium to reflect my cost of care, or all that they've accomplished is allowing the good people of Idaho to pay for my care," said Director of Health and Welfare Service for UBA partner firm Wilson Albers Jennifer Bundy-Cobb.