jtssrx Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 Obama administration confirms double-digit premium hikes WASHINGTON (AP) — Premiums will go up sharply next year under President Barack Obama's health care law, and many consumers will be down to just one insurer, the administration confirmed Monday. That's sure to stoke another "Obamacare" controversy days before a presidential election. Before taxpayer-provided subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan will increase an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the federally run online market, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Some states will see much bigger jumps, others less. Moreover, about 1 in 5 consumers will only have plans from a single insurer to pick from, after major national carriers such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana and Aetna scaled back their roles. "Consumers will be faced this year with not only big premium increases but also with a declining number of insurers participating, and that will lead to a tumultuous open enrollment period," said Larry Levitt, who tracks the health care law for the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. Republicans pounced on the numbers as a warning that insurance markets created by the 2010 health overhaul are teetering toward a "death spiral." Sign-up season starts Nov. 1, about a week before national elections in which the GOP remains committed to a full repeal. "It's over for Obamacare," Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said at a campaign rally Monday evening in Tampa, Florida. Trump said his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, "wants to double down and make it more expensive and it's not gonna work. ... Our country can't afford it, you can't afford it." He promised his own plan would deliver "great health care at a fraction of the cost." The new numbers aren't too surprising, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who chairs a committee that oversees the law. It "does little to dispel the notion we are seeing the law implode at the expense of middle-class families." HHS essentially confirmed state-by-state reports that have been coming in for months. Window shopping for plans and premiums is already available through HealthCare.gov. Administration officials are stressing that subsidies provided under the law, which are designed to rise alongside premiums, will insulate most customers from sticker shock. They add that consumers who are willing to switch to cheaper plans will still be able to find bargains. "Headline rates are generally rising faster than in previous years," acknowledged HHS spokesman Kevin Griffis. But he added that for most consumers, "headline rates are not what they pay." The vast majority of the more than 10 million customers who purchase through HealthCare.gov and its state-run counterparts do receive generous financial assistance. "Enrollment is concentrated among very low-income individuals who receive significant government subsidies to reduce premiums and cost-sharing," said Caroline Pearson of the consulting firm Avalere Health But an estimated 5 million to 7 million people are either not eligible for the income-based assistance, or they buy individual policies outside of the health law's markets, where the subsidies are not available. The administration is urging the latter group to check out HealthCare.gov. The spike in premiums generally does not affect the employer-provided plans that cover most workers and their families. In some states, the premium increases are striking. In Arizona, unsubsidized premiums for a hypothetical 27-year-old buying a benchmark "second-lowest cost silver plan" will jump by 116 percent, from $196 to $422, according to the administration report. But HHS said if that hypothetical consumer has a fairly modest income, making $25,000 a year, the subsidies would cover $280 of the new premium, and the consumer would pay $142. Caveat: if the consumer is making $30,000 or $40,000 his or her subsidy would be significantly lower. Dwindling choice is another issue. The total number of HealthCare.gov insurers will drop from 232 this year to 167 in 2017, a loss of 28 percent. (Insurers are counted multiple times if they offer coverage in more than one state. So Aetna, for example, would count once in each state that it participated in.) Switching insurers may not be simple for patients with chronic conditions. While many carriers are offering a choice of plan designs, most use a single prescription formulary and physician network across all their products, explained Pearson. "So, enrollees may need to change doctors or drugs when they switch insurers," she said. Overall, it's shaping up to be the most difficult sign-up season since HealthCare.gov launched in 2013 and the computer system froze up. Enrollment has been lower than initially projected, and insurers say patients turned out to be sicker than expected. Moreover, a complex internal system to help stabilize premiums has not worked as hoped for. Nonetheless Obama says the underlying structure of the law is sound, and current problems are only "growing pains." The president has called for a government-sponsored "public option" insurance plan to compete with private companies. Republicans are united in calling for complete repeal, but they have not spelled out how they would address the problems of the uninsured. Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed an array of fixes, including sweetening the law's subsidies and allowing more people to qualify for financial assistance. The law makes carrying health insurance a legal obligation for most people, and prohibits insurers for turning away the sick. It offers subsidized private plans to people who don't have coverage through their jobs, along with a state option to expand Medicaid for low-income people. Largely as a result, the nation's uninsured rate has dropped below 9 percent, a historically low level. More than 21 million people have gained coverage since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010. ___ Online: www.healthcare.gov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 24, 2016 Share Posted October 24, 2016 I complained about double digit hikes a decade ago.....what's your point? It's called corporate greed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 51 minutes ago, Mainecat said: I complained about double digit hikes a decade ago.....what's your point? It's called corporate greed. fucking idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 52 minutes ago, Mainecat said: I complained about double digit hikes a decade ago.....what's your point? It's called corporate greed. SMH, but you also championed for ACA. So now you admit you were grubered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 I championed for a national health plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 3 hours ago, Mainecat said: I complained about double digit hikes a decade ago.....what's your point? It's called corporate greed. Yeah , government s so efficient... you pathetic liar.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Mainecat said: I championed for a national health plan. While dodging tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtssrx Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 9 hours ago, Mainecat said: I complained about double digit hikes a decade ago.....what's your point? It's called corporate greed. No you claim we have to most covered with the lowest increases. You are wrong and instead of being a man and owing the fact that your wrong you say this. The one thing you and every democrat continues to ignore is the reason insurance increase has nothing to do with greed. The cost of the care is the issue. Health insurance is used improperly. Obamacare didn't address the cost of the care. There is a reason for that and if you took the time to pull your head out of your asshole you'd see it's because the Feds want single payer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 3 hours ago, jtssrx said: No you claim we have to most covered with the lowest increases. You are wrong and instead of being a man and owing the fact that your wrong you say this. The one thing you and every democrat continues to ignore is the reason insurance increase has nothing to do with greed. The cost of the care is the issue. Health insurance is used improperly. Obamacare didn't address the cost of the care. There is a reason for that and if you took the time to pull your head out of your asshole you'd see it's because the Feds want single payer The one thing you and every democrat continues to ignore is the reason insurance increase has nothing to do with greed. The cost of the care is the issue. Obama wanted a single payer plan but that would have taken profits out of health care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ez ryder Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 12 hours ago, Mainecat said: I championed for a national health plan. why am I not surprised. I hope we get it under hill and I need a experimental cancer treatment .i really do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleepr2 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, Mainecat said: The one thing you and every democrat continues to ignore is the reason insurance increase has nothing to do with greed. The cost of the care is the issue. Obama wanted a single payer plan but that would have taken profits out of health care. This is the kind of shit that elite politicians love. They can convince some of the people that they wanted one thing, yet totally voted for, or in this case signed into law, something different. manipulation! Edited October 25, 2016 by racer254 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Clue....healthcare was NOT affordable a decade ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 This would be a great debate if any of you had a fucking clue how this shit works. What do you think happens to premiums and cost of services if 12 million people lose their insurance or cant afford adequate insurance? Do you think prices will go down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted October 25, 2016 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted October 25, 2016 2 hours ago, Mainecat said: The one thing you and every democrat continues to ignore is the reason insurance increase has nothing to do with greed. The cost of the care is the issue. Obama wanted a single payer plan but that would have taken profits out of health care. Yes, just like there are no profits in military or any other govt spending. You can't be this naive can you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtssrx Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) 2 minutes ago, Anler said: This would be a great debate if any of you had a fucking clue how this shit works. What do you think happens to premiums and cost of services if 12 million people lose their insurance or cant afford adequate insurance? Do you think prices will go down? No one is claiming the cost will go down. I've maintained all along Obamacare didn't address the real issue which was cost. plus more original point was MC was wrong about Obamacare lowering cost Edited October 25, 2016 by jtssrx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Highmark Posted October 25, 2016 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted October 25, 2016 5 minutes ago, Anler said: This would be a great debate if any of you had a fucking clue how this shit works. What do you think happens to premiums and cost of services if 12 million people lose their insurance or cant afford adequate insurance? Do you think prices will go down? With all these new people added to the insurance doles how has your insurance costs been? Ours is going up 15% AGAIN this year. I've seen no savings in HCI since Obamacare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 When I complained our family premiums were 20K a decade ago everyone here poo pooed it. A family premium is now 24.5K a year. It adds almost 12 bucks an hour to labor costs. Thats more than minimum wage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 30 minutes ago, jtssrx said: No one is claiming the cost will go down. I've maintained all along Obamacare didn't address the real issue which was cost. plus more original point was MC was wrong about Obamacare lowering cost Nobody has ever addressed the costs of health care. EVER... And Trump talks about repealing and replacing but is very short on specifics. In the meantime I everyone should expect continued double digit increases and less coverages going forward. Because nobody is proposing any real solutions and any real solution will be so violently lobbied against that it will take an act of God to get passed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 27 minutes ago, Highmark said: With all these new people added to the insurance doles how has your insurance costs been? Ours is going up 15% AGAIN this year. I've seen no savings in HCI since Obamacare. up 14%. I dont expect to see any savings any time soon. But if they repeal Obamacare I expect massive increase for same or similar coverages. Time for some real talk about this shit without all of the political hackery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArcticCrusher Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 8 minutes ago, Anler said: up 14%. I dont expect to see any savings any time soon. But if they repeal Obamacare I expect massive increase for same or similar coverages. Time for some real talk about this shit without all of the political hackery... You guys are paying 2-3 times the G8 average for HC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 1 hour ago, Anler said: Nobody has ever addressed the costs of health care. EVER... And Trump talks about repealing and replacing but is very short on specifics. In the meantime I everyone should expect continued double digit increases and less coverages going forward. Because nobody is proposing any real solutions and any real solution will be so violently lobbied against that it will take an act of God to get passed. Romney never addressed the cost either. I stated that fact many years ago. It was a start but the costs were never capped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 1 hour ago, ArcticCrusher said: You guys are paying 2-3 times the G8 average for HC. Its a huge profit maker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecat Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Non profits are a huge scam. Here is a good read. http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/04/13/the-five-things-hospitals-dont-want-you-to-know-about-obamacare/ Here is a story from 2010- http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-health-insurance-premiums-rise-while-insurers-sit-on-piles-of-cash/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 16 minutes ago, ArcticCrusher said: You guys are paying 2-3 times the G8 average for HC. Yeah no shit. But fuck that universal health care, thats socialism brah... We like to pay 3x and get less so we can bitch about it and blame the black guy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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