KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – An analysis for The Associated Press shows Missouri consumers next year will have dramatically fewer choices in health insurance markets created by President Barack Obama’s overhaul launched in 2014.

The analysis by Avalere Health finds Missouri among just eight states with only one participating insurer in most of its counties.

In 2014, 98 percent of Missouri’s 115 counties had two participating insurers in the program. This year, that same percentage of counties had at least three insurers. The analysis shows that next year, 84 percent of the counties will have just one insurer, with 14 percent having two.

The analysis shows that premiums for a benchmark plan will rise at least 20 percent in 68 Missouri counties.
Sign-up starts Nov. 1 and ends Jan. 31.