Health Insurers Seek Hefty Rate Boosts

[Grim17]

Well, it looks like the promises by Obama and the democrats of lower insurance premiums is turning out to be another lie fed to the American people to pass that train wreck known as Obamacare.

Read it and weep America.

OBAMACARE ENTERING THE “JAWS” PHASE
May 22, 2015

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Obamacare rates are about to shoot up, in some cases as much as 40%. The rate increases requested by insurance carriers vary state by state, but the overall picture is bad.

“In New Mexico, market leader Health Care Service Corp. is asking for an average jump of 51.6% in premiums for 2016,” the Journal reports. “The biggest insurer in Tennessee, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, has requested an average 36.3% increase. In Maryland, market leader CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield wants to raise rates 30.4% across its products. Moda Health, the largest insurer on the Oregon health exchange, seeks an average boost of around 25%.”

Why? Because the young and healthy are not signing up for Obamacare, meaning the people who are covered under Obamacare are older and sicker and much more expensive for the insurance companies.

http://radio.foxnews.com/2015/05/22/obamacare-entering-the-jaws-phase/

 

[Threegoofs]

You must not be aware.

We hear this every year. The insurance companies propose high rates, and the reality is that they have to settle for rate increases that tend to be below the average for the last decade or two.

Look in the ACA section a year ago. You'll see the same thing.

As usual, rates are going to SKYROCKET * next* year. Again.

 

[pbrauer]

Well, it looks like the promises by Obama and the democrats of lower insurance premiums is turning out to be another lie fed to the American people to pass that train wreck known as Obamacare.

Read it and weep America.





http://radio.foxnews.com/2015/05/22/obamacare-entering-the-jaws-phase/

The author of piece is a radio talk show host for Christ's sake.

 

[mmi]

These scam artists always cite the largest percentage increase proposal, not the average. And of course they won't be approved. You can also expect that some rates were set too low in the previous year, leading to relatively larger increases in the next. And ya might wanna look at the billions of dollars in profits associated with these rates.

I figure the cries of "Wolf!" are increasingly seen for being just that.

 

[Grim17]

The author of piece is a radio talk show host for Christ's sake.

Taken from a story in the Wall Street Journal, which I'm not a subscriber.

 

[mmi]

Taken from a story in the Wall Street Journal, which I'm not a subscriber.

A story written by Louise Radnofsky, basically a spokesperson for the GOP.

That’s the message congressional Republicans tried to send via a Wall Street Journal article by Louise Radnofsky. — "Just Don’t Call It a 'Fix,' Please," Washington Monthly, Jan 30, 2015​

She's been writing these same stories for years.

Louise Radnofsky of the Wall Street Journal looked at insurance rates in eight states, and found that while some sicker people will get a better deal, "healthy consumers could see insurance rates double or even triple when they look for individual coverage." — "WSJ: Health Insurance Rates Could 'Double Or Even Triple' For Healthy Consumers In Obamacare's Exchanges," Jul 1, 2013​

 

[Grim17]

A story written by Louise Radnofsky, basically a spokesperson for the GOP.

That’s the message congressional Republicans tried to send via a Wall Street Journal article by Louise Radnofsky. — "Just Don’t Call It a 'Fix,' Please," Washington Monthly, Jan 30, 2015​

She's been writing these same stories for years.

Louise Radnofsky of the Wall Street Journal looked at insurance rates in eight states, and found that while some sicker people will get a better deal, "healthy consumers could see insurance rates double or even triple when they look for individual coverage." — "WSJ: Health Insurance Rates Could 'Double Or Even Triple' For Healthy Consumers In Obamacare's Exchanges," Jul 1, 2013​

Ah, so you're claiming she is lying then... If so, then you should have some proof of that, right?

Well let's see it then?

 

[sangha]

Another "Obamacare is going to be a disaster next year" right wing prediction :roll:

 

[ludin]

You must not be aware.

We hear this every year. The insurance companies propose high rates, and the reality is that they have to settle for rate increases that tend to be below the average for the last decade or two.

Look in the ACA section a year ago. You'll see the same thing.

As usual, rates are going to SKYROCKET * next* year. Again.

in 2014 premiums shot up 40+% nation wide.
in 2015 premiums went up 20%

and these were exchange plans.

so it looks like you are wrong as usual.

this is for Maryland but as the next open enrolment gets closer we will continue to see
20-40% increases in premiums.

CareFirst seeks 28 percent average increase to 2016 individual health plan premiums - Baltimore Business Journal

 

[iguanaman]

in 2014 premiums shot up 40+% nation wide.
in 2015 premiums went up 20%

and these were exchange plans.

so it looks like you are wrong as usual.

this is for Maryland but as the next open enrolment gets closer we will continue to see
20-40% increases in premiums.

CareFirst seeks 28 percent average increase to 2016 individual health plan premiums - Baltimore Business Journal

According to your link YOU are wrong. 4 of the 7 listed providers are LOWERING their rates or raising them under 5%.

All Savers Insurance* -3.2 $310.71
CareFirst BlueChoice Inc. 26.7 $306.11
CareFirst of Maryland and GHMSI 30.4 $365.89
Cigna -2.9 $317.26
Evergreen Health Cooperative 9.7 $251.66
Kaiser Foundation 4.8 $231.88
UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic -0.5 $248.62
*Indicates UnitedHealthcare company

 

[SlevinKelevra]

IS this from the same story where they report 0.7% monthly cost inflation (which if compounded is like 8.7% annually)? how in the world do they then justify these absurb hikes?


ps, I love how RW'ers are complaining about pro-business policies .

 

[Threegoofs]

in 2014 premiums shot up 40+% nation wide.
in 2015 premiums went up 20%

and these were exchange plans.

so it looks like you are wrong as usual.

this is for Maryland but as the next open enrolment gets closer we will continue to see
20-40% increases in premiums.

CareFirst seeks 28 percent average increase to 2016 individual health plan premiums - Baltimore Business Journal

LOL.
This was dismantled already, so I won't bother.

It's become screamingly obvious at this point that insurance rate increases and overall costs for Medicare have been kept to almost historic lows.

That's why all the complaints about 'next year' are made....because nothing horrible has happened yet, so teabaggers have to push the ACA boogeyman off to the future.

 

[ludin]

According to your link YOU are wrong. 4 of the 7 listed providers are LOWERING their rates or raising them under 5%.

wow way to not read.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region's largest health insurer, is seeking an average premium price increase of 28 percent for individual health plans in 2016.
Proposed individual rate changes ranged from a 3.2 percent decrease to a 30.4 percent increase.
Small group rate increase requests ranged from a 16.6 percent decrease to a 14 percent increase.

CareFirst BlueChoice Inc. 26.7 $306.11
CareFirst of Maryland and GHMSI 30.4 $365.89
Evergreen Health Cooperative 9.7 $251.66
Kaiser Foundation 4.8 $231.88


wow increases amazing look at that. so your dishonesty proves you wrong yet again.

 

[ludin]

IS this from the same story where they report 0.7% monthly cost inflation (which if compounded is like 8.7% annually)? how in the world do they then justify these absurb hikes?


ps, I love how RW'ers are complaining about pro-business policies .

this is what happens when you demand that insurance cover everyone no matter what their ailements are.
it is also what happens when those people that don't feel they need insurance don't get it just like we said would happen.

It is cheaper for that 27-34 year old to simply pay the government fine.

it costs them more than they are willing to pay. in fact they pay more because they are young and healthy.
this is why Ponzi scheme are illegal to begin with yet the government continues to promote them against the law.

 

[Threegoofs]

wow way to not read.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region's largest health insurer, is seeking an average premium price increase of 28 percent for individual health plans in 2016.
Proposed individual rate changes ranged from a 3.2 percent decrease to a 30.4 percent increase.
Small group rate increase requests ranged from a 16.6 percent decrease to a 14 percent increase.

CareFirst BlueChoice Inc. 26.7 $306.11
CareFirst of Maryland and GHMSI 30.4 $365.89
Evergreen Health Cooperative 9.7 $251.66
Kaiser Foundation 4.8 $231.88


wow increases amazing look at that. so your dishonesty proves you wrong yet again.

'Requests'. 'Seeking'.

You apparently don't understand negotiating strategy- ask for a lot and then you will get negotiated down to what you want.

As it was clearly pointed out, this happened last year too, and the insurers generally got small rate hikes.

 

[ludin]

LOL.
This was dismantled already, so I won't bother.

It's become screamingly obvious at this point that insurance rate increases and overall costs for Medicare have been kept to almost historic lows.

That's why all the complaints about 'next year' are made....because nothing horrible has happened yet, so teabaggers have to push the ACA boogeyman off to the future.

since nothing was dismanted you have no idea what you are talking about how are 20+% increases in premiums making them cheaper for people. increases are the opposite of decreases.

Umm yes have you seen why? hospitals are not admitting older people. they are sending them to observation instead and medicare doesn't cover the majority of costs for observation.
so the costs are being dumped onto seniors.

actually it is happening and well people like you will continue to deny that they aren't.

still waiting on my 2500 premium reduction still hasn't happened, but guess what has? my insurance costs are going up next year as well.

 

[ludin]

'Requests'. 'Seeking'.

You apparently don't understand negotiating strategy- ask for a lot and then you will get negotiated down to what you want.

As it was clearly pointed out, this happened last year too, and the insurers generally got small rate hikes.

yep they are requesting it and they will still get their INCREASES. you obviously don't know the difference between a decrease and an increase.

 

[Threegoofs]

yep they are requesting it and they will still get their INCREASES. you obviously don't know the difference between a decrease and an increase.

They will get increases- just like virtually every year in modern history. I don't know where anyone said 'decrease'.

But chances are they won't be anywhere near what the request.

It's called 'negotiation'.

 

[Helix]

Health Insurers Seek Hefty Rate Boosts

they've been jacking up my rates by double digit percentages every year since i started working in 1999. we should have single payer like other first world countries.

 

[ludin]

They will get increases- just like virtually every year in modern history. I don't know where anyone said 'decrease'.

But chances are they won't be anywhere near what the request.

It's called 'negotiation'.

I thought costs and premiums were supposed to be going down? I mean after all that is what the Affordable Care Act was all about wasn't it?
making insurance premiums affordable?

I guess only if you are lucky enough to get free government money then it might be more affordable if not sucks to be you. you get slapped with the increases.
since Obamacare has gone into effect insurance rates continue surge upwards by wider margins than before.

this is what happens when you arbitrarily mandate insurance coverage for people more so when they don't need said coverage.

 

[ludin]

they've been jacking up my rates by double digit percentages every year since i started working in 1999. we should have single payer like other first world countries.

feel free to move and pay 40% of your check to the government + private insurance cost for what the government won't cover.
I don't have that kind of money.

 

[Helix]

feel free to move and pay 40% of your check to the government + private insurance cost for what the government won't cover.
I don't have that kind of money.

do you have the money to pay for primary care to be delivered to the uninsured and underinsured at emergency rooms?

 

[ludin]

do you have the money to pay for primary care to be delivered to the uninsured and underinsured at emergency rooms?

that is on them to pay not me.

you didn't address what I said. you can move to a place that has UHC single payer and pay your 40% of your check and on top of that pay for private insurance since
the government won't cover everything.

I don't have that kind of money to spend. I can't afford paying 40% of my check to the government on top of everything else.
maybe you can and good for you. then on top of that have to pay for private insurance go fill in the gap of what the government won't cover.

so please by all means move.

 

[buck]

in 2014 premiums shot up 40+% nation wide.
in 2015 premiums went up 20%

and these were exchange plans.

so it looks like you are wrong as usual.

this is for Maryland but as the next open enrolment gets closer we will continue to see
20-40% increases in premiums.

CareFirst seeks 28 percent average increase to 2016 individual health plan premiums - Baltimore Business Journal

In at least 5 states, the largest carrier in that state is seeking very large increases. As they are the largest carrier in that state, it is likely they are also among the price leader.

So, next year when all information is in, the supporters will claim the average prices came in as moderate increases.. ignoring of course, that the largest (and cheaper) carriers increased their rates a lot and the smaller (and more expensive) companies raised their prices only a little or even decreased a tad.

They may not get the increases they are looking for, but that just means the companies will lose even more money on the exchanges - as many of the companies did this year.

As has happened with many of the exchange sold plans so far:

The Tennessee insurer said it lost $141 million from exchange-sold plans, stemming largely from a small number of sick enrollees. “Our filing is planned to allow us to operate on at least a break-even basis for these plans, meaning that the rate would cover only medical services and expenses—with no profit margin for 2016,” said spokeswoman Mary Danielson. The plan’s lowest monthly premium for a midrange, or “silver,” plan for a 40-year-old nonsmoker in Nashville would rise to $287 in 2016 from $220.

 

[Helix]

that is on them to pay not me.

no, you're paying it in the form of premiums.

you didn't address what I said. you can move to a place that has UHC single payer and pay your 40% of your check and on top of that pay for private insurance since
the government won't cover everything.

I don't have that kind of money to spend. I can't afford paying 40% of my check to the government on top of everything else.
maybe you can and good for you. then on top of that have to pay for private insurance go fill in the gap of what the government won't cover.

so please by all means move.

so you're saying that you can afford to pay for the underinsured to seek primary care at emergency rooms?

More patients flocking to ERs under Obamacare