Ohio health care changes

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) - Beginning with the New Year, sick people in Ohio should have an easier time buying health insurance, and at less expense.

Newly enacted changes going into effect Friday include a cap on premiums for those shopping for a health plan on their own and who have a preexisting medical condition.

Until now, the state allowed an insurer to charge people with illnesses up to four times the company's usual base rate. The new limit will be two times the base rate.

The trade-off is that others will likely end up covering the difference. Critics say that means higher premiums for everyone else as insurance companies pass the costs on to others.