October 29th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

State lawmakers heard from consumer advocates Wednesday on how to slow premium increases for those buying health insurance on the state exchange, proposals that might also moderate costs for the majority getting coverage through an employer. Nearly 163,000 Marylanders got their insurance this year through the online health exchange created under the Affordable Care Act, and the majority get federal subsidies to help pay for it. But some must pay the full freight of increases ranging from 20 percent to 30 percent next year, and lawmakers were concerned about the long-term sustainability of the insurance program and the affordability of health care generally. The hearing came as the federal health law, informally known as Obamacare, became an issue in the presidential campaign after federal regulators said midlevel health plan costs nationally would rise about 25 percent.