Posted on 08/01/2013 4:16:20 PM PDT by steve86
Not all companies that applied to sell new individual insurance plans inside Washingtons online exchange marketplace will be able to do so, the states insurance commissioner said Thursday. . . . But the 31 new plans available from four companies will give people in most counties plenty of choices, the insurance office said. And the approved rates are 1.8 percent lower than what the companies originally requested, for a total savings of more than $10 million. . . . Citizens and legal immigrants who make up to $45,960 and families of four making up to $94,200 a year may be eligible for subsidies if they buy their plans through the Health Benefit Exchange, which will be open to consumers on Oct. 1.
The plans take effect in 2014, and cover a wider range of benefits than most individual plans today, including those rarely covered now, such as prescription drugs, and maternity and newborn care.
New rules under the ACA limit out-of-pocket costs in most plans to $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for families, including deductibles but not premiums. Plans can no longer have annual or lifetime coverage caps for essential health services. . . .
In some counties, those under age 30 also could choose a catastrophic limited-coverage plan offered by Group Health that would be less expensive than some others.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.com ...
On the plus side, our “better” coverage probably covers abortions and sex changes.
The big question is going to be the subsidies. A family of four making 50k is supposed to be eligible for a subsidy that takes their monthly premiums down to around $450. That would be comparable to a low grade federal employees health benefit. The problem is that if the breadwinner in that family of four is offered individual coverage at less than 9.5% of his wages then his family isn't eligible for a subsidy. He is going to be paying the whole premium himself.
Here's the first shot folks. Share this with your lib friends who thought it was all going to be free!
I know my plan has included abortion since we joined in 2003 and it has made me sick thinking about it all these years (I thought health insurance was supposed to help heal you, not make you sick).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3049245/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3044257/posts
This idea is worth your look-see, a HSA combined with Concierge Service @ 1/2 the Cost of the Obama Exchanges...
Phased out?! LOL! Why? Because healthcare is now so “affordable?” What a joke!
Australia has something similar to single payer. The people are pretty happy with the healthcare they receive and the cost. I’m on a private healthcare scheme paid for by my employer.
I know that good ole Debbie Senn chased a bunch off years ago when she was Insurance Commish and whatshername was still Attorney General. What a nightmare if that twit had become AG when whatshername became Governor...
I think you’re referring to Princess Gregoire.
I just couldn’t justify expending the energy to google her name. Thanks!
With those deductibles, a family would never collect on the insurance unless someone was seriously ill or injured. Obamacare insurance is nothing but what used to be called, major medical. Most employer plans that are intended to accompany an HSA have lower deductibles than the Obamacare plans and Obama is doing away with the tax benefit of the HSAs.
Something else that WA residents might be interested, the State Dept of Ecology announced yesterday that the State would take an extra two years to consider the impact of the expansion of rail traffic in the whole state in regard to the approval of the Cherry Point coal terminal.
The developers were almost speechless because they thought that they had a sure thing, but since Gregoire left office, the mood in the state agencies has changed direction.
Yeah, I see the silver plan given as an example has a deductible of $3,000. That’s pretty high, not like a catastrophic plan, but pretty high. Bronze is no doubt higher. Thought I’d seen that California silver plans have a deductible of $2,000. I guess the amount isn’t standard?
How long will it take to get appointments?
Will your doctor be an Affirmative Action general practitioner?
How many months before you finally get to see a specialist who can actually diagnose and treat your problem?
Medicaid and King County Clinics are already like Third World medical treatment. Just imagine what will happen when hundreds of thousands of new enrollees show up!
I'm sure they are. Over here in eastern WA not bad at all so far but our clinics will be stressed next year also. Regarding the providers, I have had several Filipino doctors at my own clinic and they have been fine. Very thorough and not stand-offish like some of the U.S. medical school graduates.
Will Obamacare grow more popular in time?
26% - Yes, after more people begin using it (53,916 votes)
68% - No, people will never like it (143,124 votes)
6% - I'm not sure (14,026 votes)
Total Votes - 211,066
They are studying the Columbia Gorge traffic/Vancouver, WA terminal also.
I really couldn’t even answer that poll. No idea how things are going to turn out.
I have been reading some of the state insurance commissioner’s disposition reports on the insurance company applications — some of the mistakes were hilarious and incompetent and the applications were denied. If you want an example of an affirmative action hire look at the applications submitted by the smaller insurance networks. Literally, you could find someone in a bingo parlour that could write a more professional proposal.
bkmrk
>> limit out-of-pocket costs in most plans to $6,350 for individuals and $12,700 for families
Ha! That’s a $10,700 annual premium with a $2k deduction.
FWIW, proprietors prior to Obamacare pay up to $18k and with high additional deductibles. And small corps pay about $6k less for families (prior to Obamacare.)
Welcome to the real world, all you employees that voted for ExpensiveCare.
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