2/27/18 – The Trump administration’s efforts to loosen health insurance rules will increase premiums for Obamacare plans by double digit premium percentages in most states next year according to a new study by the urban Institute. Monthly payments for a traditional health insurance plans sold through Obamacare will go up by 18% on average in 43 states. Expanding access to short-term health polices which can place limits on benefits and charge higher rates to sick people will draw healthy people out of the insurance pool and drive up costs for everyone else. Also, the tax bill signed in to law in December eliminated the tax penalty for going with out health insurance will drive up costs for those who do purchase health insurance.