INDIANA (WOWO): Premiums for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act – or “Obamacare” – are about to be less affordable for many.

The federal government says premiums for the benchmark “silver” plan will be going up an average of 22 percent for 2017. Paul Ashley of benefits advisory firm First Person in Indianapolis tells WOWO News if that’s not bad enough, some people are finding themselves with only one insurer to choose from:

“There are less insurers on the exchange, so consumer choice is decreasing at the same time we’re seeing costs go up,” he says.

The White House says the increase in premiums affects mid-level Affordable Care Act plans in 39 states next year. The increase is more than three times larger than this year’s price increases.