 TITLE: How Much Does Health Insurance Cost? CONTENT: What Impacts the Cost of Your Health Insurance Premiums\n-------------------------------------------------------\nThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits the information health insurance companies can consider when setting premium rates. Under the ACA, plans cannot take into account your medical history or pre-existing conditions. They can consider only the following five factors:\n1.  Age: On average, the older you get, the more likely you are to need health care. Under the ACA, premiums for older people may cost as much as triple those for younger ones.\n2.  Location: Health insurance premiums cost more in some states than in others because available insurance plans, Marketplace premium tax credits and the cost of providing health care vary from state to state.\n3.  Tobacco use: Smoking has been shown to increase your risk of cancer and other diseases, so smokers typically pay higher premiums.\n4.  Whether you buy individual, spousal or family coverage: The number of people covered under your plan affects premium costs.\n5.  Plan type: Health insurance plans vary in how they restrict or manage your access to health care and use of providers. Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) all manage care to greater or lesser degrees. For example, some plans require preapproval to see a specialist or won't pay if you see a doctor outside your network. Within these categories, some plans also have higher copays, coinsurance or deductibles. Generally, the more restrictions on providers and the higher your out-of-pocket costs, the lower your premiums will be. If you want more flexibility and lower out-of-pocket costs, your premiums will be higher.\n**Your income**: Insurance companies don't consider your income when setting premiums, but if you're buying insurance through the Marketplace, your income determines whether you qualify for premium tax subsidies to lower the cost of your insurance. END