Feds release Pa. insurance premium rate change data: 418 individual plans with an average premium decrease of 21.4 percent and 1,115 small-group plans with an average premium decrease of 1.3 percent.

The federal government has released 2015 premium rate change data on all individual and small-group health insurance plans.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the data late Friday, in advance of the Obamacare marketplace open enrollment period that began Saturday and so far appears to be proceeding without major glitches.

The data includes plans inside and outside of the Obamacare marketplace and "does not take into account tax credits that will make premiums more affordable for the majority of consumers," CMS said.

For Pennsylvania, the data show 418 individual plans with an average premium decrease of 21.4 percent and 1,115 small-group plans with an average premium decrease of 1.3 percent.

CMS said in a news release that it "is committed to increasing transparency in the marketplace" and also released downloadable public use files "so that researchers and other public stakeholders can access marketplace data" and detailed information for researchers "on certified QHP and SADPs for all states that use the HealthCare.gov eligibility and enrollment system."

Source: Central Penn Business Journal