(CNN) It will likely cost a little less to buy the benchmark Obamacare plan next year. The premium for the benchmark silver policy on the federal exchange is expected to decline by 2% for 2019, Health Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday. The predicted decline for next year comes after a 37% spike for this year's benchmark silver plan, upon which premium subsidies are based. BREAKING: We are announcing today that, for the very first time under the ACA, the premium for a typical federal exchange plan will actually drop. — Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) September 27, 2018The number of insurers on the federal exchange also will grow for the first time since 2015, Azar said.

Source: CNN September 27, 2018 19:52 UTC