Obamacare to Cost Trillions Less than Originally Forecast

my work pays for mine, and i know it went up a lot last year. it went up so much that the company considered switching providers. the one we had was still "cheaper"

RollTide1017 said:

What's funny is that the company I work for just informed us that monthly premiums for family coverage will be increasing by $198 starting in September.

Why are they going up? Well, according to HR, there is a provision in the ACA that says that all employees must receive equal benefits. Currently the company pays 50% of everyone's premiums. The government doesn't consider everyone getting 50% equal because the dollar amounts are different for single vs family coverage. So, the company is now going to pay the same dollar amount for everyone. Now they are going to pay 76% of the monthly premium for singles but, only 33% for families. It's great that those on the single plan will save some money but, they all need to thank us families because we are the ones paying for it.

Come September, the ACA will have reduce my paycheck by almost $300/month since it was enacted (this doesn't include the increase in co-pays and skyrocketing deductibles).

Click to expand...

I understand that this affects you personally, but I'm not in total disagreement with the company paying a set dollar amount for insurance premiums. Its sort of cafeteria style. In fact, as an employee, I'm ok with it. And yes, I have three kids so trust me, the family portion kills us. My employer pays 80% of the employee's premium. Any couple, family or dependent coverage is left up to the employee to cover.

CharminTide said:

I'm betting you're used to being wrong.

Look, I never expect agreement here whenever I post something positive about Obama or the current administration. But I do think it's a worthy goal to disrupt the groupthink that often surrounds us. And this is true on both sides of the political spectrum--why else do I read this board after watching, say, MSNBC? Certain stories are emphasized or downplayed depending on your source, I feel that a broader perspective will always be better than a narrow, curated view.

Personally, Obamacare has been great for me and my family. But much of your experience depends on where you live, and how much the state and private insurers within your state have embraced the program.

Click to expand...

This article isn't really positive, though. Spending/costs are still up, just not as much as projected. And what about this snippet from the article?

But another factor that Levitt and Hempstead pointed to was the increase in deductibles. Research has shown that patients with high-deductible health plans simply avoid the use of health care altogether while they are on the hook for their health care costs.
If that's what's happening, it could look good for reining in spending in the short term, but may not save money in the long run — or be good for people's health.

Click to expand...

So deductibles and out of pocket expenses are up so much that many people simply aren't seeking care at all. Sounds positive to me, sure.

Special K said:

...
So deductibles and out of pocket expenses are up so much that many people simply aren't seeking care at all. Sounds positive to me, sure.

Click to expand...

I see the blue, but I wouldn't have necessarily used it. I would hope the deductibles would force the behavior crimsonaudio refereed to.

IMO that may be the only silver lining in the ObamaCare super cell cloud. If allowed to continue this may cause the revert I referred to earlier. There are already some "doc in a box" type clinics starting to fill the void, and maybe just maybe a real market correction will be allowed.

I will also say that the forced provision on insurance companies to keep kids up to the age of 26 really hit our family at the right time. It's not something I supported or would have supported, but my family did (and continue to) benefit from it.

CharminTide said:

I'm betting you're used to being wrong.

Look, I never expect agreement here whenever I post something positive about Obama or the current administration. But I do think it's a worthy goal to disrupt the groupthink that often surrounds us. And this is true on both sides of the political spectrum--why else do I read this board after watching, say, MSNBC? Certain stories are emphasized or downplayed depending on your source, I feel that a broader perspective will always be better than a narrow, curated view.

Personally, Obamacare has been great for me and my family. But much of your experience depends on where you live, and how much the state and private insurers within your state have embraced the program.

Click to expand...

While not in favor of the ACA I do think it is valuable to see all sides of any debate. I appreciate everyone's input.

My experience with ObamaCare has been completely positive. I buy my own insurance and always have except for the 4 years my wife worked for the school system--now that was some good insurance!

I was able to manipulate my income ala Trump and Romney to maximize my government subsidy. My total out of pocket per year was capped at $700. Paid $350 per month for two people. Pretty good policy.

However the price kept going up. I'm on Medicare now but if I wasn't the premium with subsidy would be $700/month. Without a subsidy I would be paying $1400/month. Too much. If I were still on ObamaCare but not getting a subsidy I would be very aggravated.

Blue Cross, according the the Huntsville Times, is considering a 28% rate increase. The article also said that the Insurance Commission has not reviewed rates since the inception of the ACA. They may review rates this year--nice of them. In some states the Insurance Commission has to actually approve any increase, others like Alabama have no approval authority but can write a letter of protest concerning the rate increase. Ain't that wimpy?

ObamaCare has some good and some bad. On to single payer!!

The fact that our own government officials and their families doesn't have to use Obamacare tells me all I need to know...

Jessica4Bama said:

The fact that our own government officials and their families doesn't have to use Obamacare tells me all I need to know...

Click to expand...

Actually Jessica they do.

http://obamacarefacts.com/congress-obamacare/

Just like everyone else members of congress and their staff must purchase their coverage through the small businesses part of the health insurance marketplace.

Congress did hold meetings in regards to ObamaCare, but it was not in regards to exemption. The meetings were an effort to fix a drafting error that prevents the federal government from paying into insurance exchanges on behalf of congressional staffers who got caught up in a political controversy.
The federal government is the largest employer in the country. So Grassley’s amendment means that the largest employer in the country is required to put some of its employees — the ones working for Congress — on the exchanges.

I think that the confusion comes in because Congress created a loophole so that staff members could be treated like employees of a large business and not have to pay for !00% of their health insurance.

Not exactly , congress is covered by an employee plan along with other federal employees. They have their own special ACA exchange (us peons need not apply) and yes we pay the majority of their premiums (72 to 75%) through our taxes. They also get to carry their coverage into retirement with the tax payer still paying their subsidy. Sweet deal if you can get it.

Looky here !

https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43194.pdf

CharminTide said:

I'm betting you're used to being wrong.

Look, I never expect agreement here whenever I post something positive about Obama or the current administration. But I do think it's a worthy goal to disrupt the groupthink that often surrounds us. And this is true on both sides of the political spectrum--why else do I read this board after watching, say, MSNBC? Certain stories are emphasized or downplayed depending on your source, I feel that a broader perspective will always be better than a narrow, curated view.

Personally, Obamacare has been great for me and my family. But much of your experience depends on where you live, and how much the state and private insurers within your state have embraced the program.

Click to expand...

These are individuals telling their stories. You might be familiar with group think.
Mine's up from 190 to 427 with an increase in deduct from 500 to 6000.
I've not been to a doc in 6 years.
This chart is to promote group think and you took hook line and sinker.

seebell said:

...
ObamaCare has some good and some bad. On to single payer!!

Click to expand...

Talk about playing into a stereotype

Bubbaloo said:

Not exactly , congress is covered by an employee plan along with other federal employees. They have their own special ACA exchange (us peons need not apply) and yes we pay the majority of their premiums (72 to 75%) through our taxes. They also get to carry their coverage into retirement with the tax payer still paying their subsidy. Sweet deal if you can get it.

Looky here !

https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43194.pdf

Click to expand...

Thanks for that very informative link. I see nothing there that changes anything in my statement.

The 72% seems to be in line with the business average:
On average,large employers contributed 81% of the cost of self-only coverage and 73% of the cost of familycoverage. Twenty-three percent of large employers that offer health benefits to their employees offer retiree coverage. Among firms with 5,000 or more workers, 49% offer retiree coverage

Other federal employees are covered by FEHB. The Federal Employees Health Benefit plan. Congress and staffers can not join this plan until after retirement.

However, Section 1312(d)(3)(D) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L.111-148, as amended) states,(i) Requirement.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, after the effective date of thissubtitle, the only health plans that the Federal Government may make available to Membersof Congress and congressional staff with respect to their service as a Member of Congress or congressional staff shall be health plans that are—(I) created under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act); or(II) offered through an Exchange established under this Act (or an amendment made by this Act).(ii)

On October 2, 2013, OPM issued a final rule that amends FEHB eligibility to comply withSection 1312(d)(3)(D) of the ACA.6 Under the rule, Members and designated congressional staffwere no longer able to purchase a health plan offered under FEHB beginning January 1, 2014;however, if they enroll in a health plan offered through an appropriate small business health options program (SHOP) exchange,7 they remain eligible for an employer contribution toward coverage. Additionally, Members and staff who obtain coverage through a SHOP exchange under this arrangement may purchase a FEHB plan upon retirement from the federal government,provided they otherwise meet the criteria to do so. This report summarizes the provisions of the final rule and discusses how they affect current and retired Members and designated congressional staff.

Every business has its own SHOP plans and we can't apply to them either. I can't apply to become a member of my plumbers SHOP plan. Peon or not.

It has become so expensive to go to the doctor now for me in my situation, that I have been purposely ignoring signs that tell me that I probably need to get checked out. It seems like doctors today can't diagnose squat without 2 or 3 trips back to them, or without sending you all over hell and creation to different "specialists", and every time you walk through the door, it's another copay, irregardless if it's for the same problem again and again. I remember when I was a kid, a doctors appointment usually meant spending a lot of time/tests DURING THE FIRST VISIT to try their best to get it right the FIRST TIME! Now it seems like they go through the motions, prescribe what most likely will treat the symptoms, and send you on your way...telling you if that doesn't work, then come back.

I think this trend is due to the fact that insurance companies undercut the doctor's charges and they accept it, because they'll lose a ton of patients if they don't. Ever looked over the statements at the amount billed, vs the amount paid by your insurance? I believe (although unethical IMHO) that the way they run people in and out without really taking the time they should is because of the reimbursement they get, and make it up by multiple visits.

My ex-MIL has been on the dole since I've known her. Her new man has a job with full benefits, but she refuses to degrade her coverage to get on one of the best BC/BS plans, because with the dole she doesn't pay one red cent in copays.....Good ole US of A!!! Work your arse off, and about bankrupt yourself when you get sick......Sit on your Arse, and get the best medical care absolutely free!!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think it is one big cost shifting exercise from the insurance companies and the government to the public. The lesson here is, don't get sick.

I wonder if the government also overestimated health insurance enrollments (and underestimated the number of uninsureds as a result), which I assume could depress healthcare spending as well.

Anybody that believes the government is their long lost buddy probably has a long lost mind. jmho

CharminTide said:

I see you ignored the billions saved with the reduction in hospital readmissions.

The reality is that no major public policy is going to be perfect, and trying to paint Obamacare as either entirely black or white is a fool's errand.

Click to expand...

New Trump campaign slogan: