People who get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act may see an increase in rates next year, but insurance officials say the increase will be minimal and there will be more options than ever.

The requested rate filings for health insurance plans were released this week. For 2019, plans on the individual market will see a rate increase of 0.7 percent and plans on the group market will see a 2.9 percent increase.

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman said some people could even see a decrease.

“There will actually be plans available that are $70 to $80 less this year compared to last year,” Altland said.

The decrease could partly be due to more competition. Thirty-one counties in the state will see more insurers offering coverage than last year.

“It means more choice, and in many cases it’s going to mean more affordability,” Altland said.

Elizabeth Stelle of the conservative Commonwealth Foundation said the increases are proof the ACA isn’t working. She said there are things that can be done on the state level to bring costs down, like reforming Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.

“And help people in that program earn more money so that they can eventually afford private insurance, which is much higher quality,” Stelle said

But Altman encourages Pennsylvanians to take a look at the coverage options for themselves.

“Just go see what your options are because there may be something better than what you have or even better than what you thought would be available,” she said.

The requests aren’t the final rates for 2019. Those will be released in the fall.