To put it simply: Covered California is trying to make consumers think they’re getting more for less when, in fact, they’re just getting the same while paying more.
Yet there are many plans on the individual market in California today that offer a structure and benefits that are almost identical to those that will be available on the state’s health insurance exchange next year. So, let’s make an actual apples-to-apples comparison for the hypothetical 25-year-old male living in San Francisco and making more than $46,000 a year. Today, he can buy a PPO plan from a major insurer with a $5,000 deductible, 30 percent coinsurance, a $10 co-pay for generic prescription drugs, and a $7,000 out-of-pocket maximum for $177 a month.
According to Covered California, a “Bronze” plan from the exchange with nearly the same benefits, including a slightly lower out-of-pocket maximum of $6,350, will cost him between $245 and $270 a month. That’s anywhere from 38 percent to 53 percent more than he’ll have to pay this year for comparable coverage! Sounds a lot different than the possible 29 percent “decrease” touted by Covered California in their faulty comparison.
It sounds like they've jiggered the numbers. I don't know why you'd trust CA government. No conservative in CA does. Keep in mind the same mentality that let 4 people die in Benghazi, used the IRS to eliminate Obama's opposition, and sent guns to narcotraffickers resides in CA as well.
Who says I trust CA government? These are the proposed rates presented by numerous private companies. Regarding your article, people on both sides of the issue can cherry pick individual case studies to support their point of view. All you have to do is ignore or not ignore subsidies, changes in benefits (yet call it "comparable coverage"), pre-existing conditions exclusions, and all that.
Personally, I am not happy with the status quo in health insurance, but sure as hell do not want the Obamunists to design a new one. However, it appears that premium increases in some of these west coast states will not be as high (if any) as feared. YMMV in any other states!
FWIW: the average co-pay for the Bronze level is 40 percent.
So, the article’s comparison is a bit off... but not to the good side. The hypothetical dude is getting less for more.