Health insurers' proposed 2017 rates for Affordable Care Act exchange plans so far exceed 2016 increases, but can vary widely by state, according to a new analysis from consulting firm Avalere that examined rate filings in nine states. Across all silver plans in the states examined, average proposed rate increases range from 44 percent in Vermont to 5 percent in Washington. Premium rates also varied considerably within the silver tier. In most states, the proposed premiums for the lowest-cost silver plans--typically the most popular with consumers--appear to be rising less than for the silver metal level as a whole, Avalere Senior Vice President Elizabeth Carpenter noted in the report. Analysis