WASHINGTON — Residents of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are among the Americans who will pay higher premiums next year under The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

In Maryland, rates will increase by at least 20 percent, and perhaps up to 29 percent. That’s close to the average increase of 25 percent across 39 states, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The rate increase in Virginia is expected to be in the 10 to 19 percent range.

The pain will be less in the District of Columbia, which, along with seven states, is expected to see a rate hike of less than 10 percent.

Some insurance companies have stopped offering insurance on the exchanges. One of them is UnitedHealthcare, in Maryland.

In Maryland, state officials say a streamlined website and new mobile app should make it easier for people to sign up during open enrollment between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31.