A rude Obamacare awakening

Washington Post ^ | July 9, 2014 | By Jennifer Rubin

[Brad from Tennessee]

This fall insurance carriers will have to announce next year’s premiums for the Obamacare exchanges. So far it’s looking like big rate increases are ahead.

In New York, for example, the hikes will be huge. The New York Times recently reported:

" Some New Yorkers are in sticker shock after receiving notices from their insurance companies saying that they have asked for significant rate increases through the state’s health exchange next year.

"The exchange, which has prided itself on being affordable, is now facing requests for increases as high as 28 percent for some customers of MetroPlus, a new entry to the individual insurance market and one of the least costly — and most popular — plans on the exchange this year. . . . Over all, including plans inside or outside the exchange, insurance companies asked for average rate increases of 13 percent in 2015, the state’s Financial Services Department said Wednesday."

Given that we don’t have accurate information about who signed up for the exchanges — yet another problem — it’s hard to see exactly how carriers will assess their costs. But contrary to Obama’s promises, the rates for individual plans offered through the exchanges are going up, not down. . .

[JPG]

get in there and raise their rates

[kabar]

That's exactly what we need. Unfortunately it's not happening.

It is happening. And it will lead eventually to a single payer system.

Unions bargaining for "healthcare" as a benefit to circumvent WW2 wage controls started this whole mess. Broke the connection between user and payer. Prices skyrocketed - shocking, right?

Correct. However, the single payer solution is not the answer. We already have 70 million on Medicaid and 47 million on Medicare, both single payer systems. Obamacare will morph into a single payer system.

Here’s a prediction: By 2025, “fewer than 20 percent of workers in the private sector will receive traditional employer-sponsored health insurance.” The source of this claim? Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, in his just-published book, “Reinventing American Health Care.”

In it, Mr. Emanuel argues that in the next two or three years, “a few big, blue-chip companies will announce their intention to stop providing health insurance. Instead, they will raise salaries substantially or offer large, defined contributions to their workers. Then the floodgates will open.” He says that few small businesses will join the SHOP exchanges set up for them and that most of those that offer coverage are even more likely than big companies to drop it, since those who employ fewer than 50 workers face no mandate to offer it in the first place, which Mr. Emanuel thinks is fine.

Mr. Emanuel acknowledges that the fact that workers don’t pay taxes on the premium benefit from their employers is a big obstacle to this vision — the tax break is the second-biggest deduction in the tax code, and employees won’t be eager to give it up. But, he argues, the so-called Cadillac tax on especially generous health plans, set to take effect in 2018, will help pave the way by discouraging companies from offering those plans.

[CatherineofAragon]

"My wife just returned from her hair dresser who works as an independent contractor for a salon with no insurance policy. Her husband is a barber and he too is recognized as as an independent contractor, according to Obamacare. they both have to pay $500/mo for insurance thanks to Obama. They can't be on the same policy"

I'll bet it's a different story for "married" queers who are also independent contractors.

[windsorknot]

I hope and pray that one day the statists will be made to pay for the mess they left us with.

[HChampagne]

I do not blame the libs. At least they voted. Conservatives had better things to do in 2012.

[usconservative]

What's worse than a 28% increase will be the retroactive cancellation of their policies when they get sick and want coverage.

That's happening all over the country. Those who've signed up for Obamacare and actually expect coverage are in for a rude awakening. Get sick? No problem! Your healthcare insurance is cancelled retro-actively. And the best part: the insurance company keeps the money.

How's that hopey-changey crap workin' out for ya?

[Elsie]

Conservatives had better things to do in 2012.

Still in a snit over the LOSER Romney?

[VRW Conspirator]

Look for it to be eliminated altogether

Actually, this should have been done along time ago.

[nascarnation]

I’m much more of a believer in the influence of money rather than ideology in politics.

And insurance companies are among the biggest when it comes to campaign contributions and lobbying jobs for ex-politicians.

So I don’t expect to see them go away in my lifetime.

[kabar]

The penalties are supposed to help pay for Obamacare—around $50 billion a year. Guess who must pick up the shortfall in revenue?

[kabar]

Insurance companies will still be around in single payer systems. 9 out of 10 enrolled in Medicare have supplemental insurance, including me.

[Graybeard58]

But contrary to Obama’s promises, the rates for individual plans offered through the exchanges are going up, not down. . .

I'm shocked!

[2ndDivisionVet]

Christian based healthcare alternatives to Obamacare (HSM exemption)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3138934/posts

Finding a way around Obamacare: Medi-Share a Christian healthcare insurance plan
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3132004/posts

[jospehm20]

I blame the candidate who did absolutely nothing to convince his own base to vote for him. What a tool, it was hard enough to force myself to vote for the wussy so I do not fault others who chose not to.

[Pajamajan]

Bookmark

[cynwoody]

Wouldn’t it be great if only LIBERALS who voted for this moron got rate increases???

What would be great is, if any pol with a D after their name got the blame for these rate increases. Making that happen is the task!