Despite sharply higher premiums, the number of people buying health insurance through the Massachusetts exchange increased during the open-enrollment period.
The Massachusetts Health Connector reported that almost 235,000 people purchased coverage for 2018, an increase of about 6,000 from last year.
Less than a month before open enrollment began in October, premiums for popular plans shot up an average of 24 percent when federal subsidies were cut.
Connector Executive Director Louis Gutierrez urged people to shop around.
" We support that shopping whether it is on our exchange or whether we can help you find the right plan off-exchange. We believe in coverage," said Gutierrez.
About 20,000 people ended up leaving the exchange to find health insurance coverage elsewhere.
