Posted on 05/26/2013 11:24:17 AM PDT by HawkHogan
Yesterday, Covered California—the name given to the healthcare exchange created pursuant to the Affordable Care Act that will serve the largest population of insured citizens in the nation—released the premium rates submitted by participating health insurance companies for the three health insurance program categories (bronze, silver and gold) established by the Affordable Care Act, along with the catastrophic policy created for and available to those under the age of 30.
Upon reviewing the data, I was indeed shocked by the proposed premium rates—but not in the way you might expect. The jolt that I was experiencing was not the result of the predicted out-of-control premium costs but the shock of rates far lower than what I expected—even at the lowest end of the age scale.
So, why the all too popular narrative that Obamacare would mean unaffordable healthcare premium costs for so many Americans?
Setting aside the never-ending nonsense peddled by the opponents of healthcare reform, everyone from the Congressional Budget Office to numerous private actuaries have warned that premium shock could be expected to set in once the public began to see the reality of what Obamacare would mean to their pocketbooks. And yet, the only real jolt to the system being felt by these public and private prognosticators today is utter amazement over just how reasonable the California prices have turned out to be.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
For me to start to believe this guy, he would have to demonstrate that the coverage is comparable or better, which he can’t. The Obamoids are trying to start a meme, “Obamacare really is what we said it would be,” which will come to an abrupt dead end when people start getting the bill.
If you think she is a babe, you need to see your optician. In Kansas they call her “Stinkeye.”
http://www.bbsradio.com/webbbs/images/main/pic4801.jpg
are these rates, ‘offered rates’, if so by who,
or are theses prices... maximums set by Cal?
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!
It will be interesting to see just how many physicians accept the new exchange rates. Already stretched thin from low Medicare payments because there has been no increase in payments since 2002 much of the reported rates are below the current Medicare rates. In addition the new rules and regulations along with reporting requirements will undoubtedly create a new class of insured patients the ones that have a card but can’t find a doctor. And where will they end up? In the ER a problem the ACA was supposed to solve.
In my state the average FP is 55 years old and all of us are frustrated by the lack of payment increased regulations and the fact that after thirty years of medical practice things are going to get worse before those rosy predictions of Mr Obama ever materialize
Why do Americans need to have families? Why not just import the next generation from the third world?
*Yuck* I say with my 4 kids in tote.
>>Why do Americans need to have families? Why not just import the next generation from the third world?
According to pop culture, we don’t need families—except when two gay men want to adopt a baby boy, or an illegal Mexican couple pops out a child on our side of the border—and then families are all-important.
This was borne out years ago in the auto insurance market where the more libertarian states had lax enforcement on mandatory collision coverage. Rates were comparatively higher in those states.
One uncertainty for these Covered California rates is that ObamaCare creates a unique market that includes people who aren't accustomed to having insurance. I read somewhere that roughly 40 percent of users will be subsidized. Then there is an unknown number who will refuse to participate and others who enroll but later drop out. No doubt the insurers in the exchange have modeled all this.
and just when I thought they were going to say obamacare was going to cost too much and we should just forget the whole idea and stay with whatever private insurance we choose.
>>and just when I thought they were going to say obamacare was going to cost too much and we should just forget the whole idea and stay with whatever private insurance we choose.
Yeah, I wish!
The plan from the start was to make it too expensive and then provide “subsidies” (and I hear that they will go up to people making 400% of the poverty rate) so that they can force working people onto the government dole.
Making new slaves everyday is their motto.
These “lower premiums” assume that a high percentage of younger healthier adults will gladly enroll.
But younger, healthier adults tend to think that they’re bulletproof and are more willing to take the risk of going without coverage and that is what will lead the rates to skyrocket!
Anytime you get something that somebody else is paying for you could consider it “affordable” and a good deal.
Google Covered California to get the hard-to-find calculator where you can plug in the numbers for your situation. The premium for hubby and I, both turning 60 this year, is $1249 for the silver plan, which is 70/30. He was terminated in March, so I’ve been looking into private coverage since then, with the premiums for the 2 of us averaging between $700 to $900. We live in Arizona, and those premiums don’t include maternity and pediatric care, which (fingers crossed!) we don’t need. We will definitely be much worse off with Zerocare, so he’s a liar! Needless to say, we have decided to forego health insurance for the next 5 years until Medicare kicks in.
I forgot to mention that we’re not eligible for any subsidies because we make too much with our 2 part-time jobs, as the income cutoff for subsidies is something like $62,000. If you make $61,500, you only pay about $500/month, but if you make $62,500, you pay $1249! Of course, if the unsubsidized premium is more than 8% of your income, you aren’t required to buy it or pay the tax/penalty either....but you also aren’t insured and are therefore SOL! So how exactly does Zerocare help out the middle class?
It’s all good if you never get sick. I’m reading a novel now that has a plot about a new agency called Dept Homeland Health.
Basically what this dept does is go around collecting people who are unhealthy and sending them to a boot camp for health. Mandatory exercises and dieting. The goal is to reduce the governments cost of health care.
That is the cheapest policy there is....
to maintain similar coverage to what I have now, my premium out of pocket cost would double and some of the coverages that I take advantage of now would decrease.
Of course I am in MN, so that might be part of the differential; however, the only affordable option is the lowest cost (most affordable) bronze plan with about 6.35K out of pocket max and fairly exorbitant co-pays and visit fees. Family out of pocket max is 12.7K in this tier.
There’s no way I would survive under this type of system, which is what (I am convinced) they are after - to eradicate a large segment of the population...
I hope somehow it works out for you. Don’t lose all hope. After having to stop working in ‘99 I have gone into deep funks several times partly on worry about health insurance and yet somehow it worked out. Lots of prayer. Best wishes.
I’m trying to remain hopeful, but layoffs are looming and right now I am recovering from surgery out on leave from work. I feel like there’s been a target on my back for a long time, so I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Having said all of that, I appreciate your kind words. Lots of prayer for you as well FRiend. Best wishes...
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