It’s Obamacare Sign-Up Time: How to Untangle Coverage Choices

Despite efforts by President Trump and congressional Republicans to hobble the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance marketplace it created is still standing.

Open enrollment started Thursday — in most places it runs through Dec. 15 — and people in at least a dozen states who want to buy or renew policies have more choices than they did last year.

After skyrocketing last year, premium prices in many places have stabilized , as insurers adjust overpriced policies and more competitors enter, orreturn, to themarket.

But what you pay will still vary greatly based on your income, location and plan level. Premiums for a benchmark “silver” plan are expected to dip 1.5 percent onaverageafter rising sharply for two years. The variation is so wide, though, that people in Tennessee could see double-digit declines while those in North Dakota may see steep increases.

That’s why simply renewing an existing policy could cost you plenty, and spending time comparison-shopping and digging into plan details will most likely yield more savings.

“The biggest trend this year is that there are major differences state by state and even county by county when it comes to plans and prices,” said Noah Lang, chief executive of Stride Health , an online broker that helps consumers pick and buy plans compliant with the law and available on HealthCare.gov and state health exchanges.