California releases Obamacare exchange prices - And there's barely any increase at al

[mercury14]

Told ya'.

Republicans were wrong. Wrong on health care, wrong on finances, wrong on affordability. Wrong on everything. Costs for a lot of people are going to come way down.

http://news.yahoo.com/california-reveals-prices-health-insurance-under-obamacare-221300803.html

California reveals prices for health insurance under Obamacare
ReutersBy Sharon Bernstein | Reuters – 3 hrs ago

By Sharon Bernstein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California unveiled prices on Thursday that consumers will pay for a selection of health plans offered through the state under the Affordable Care Act, providing a glimpse into how health care reform may look as it is rolled out across the nation.

Under the federal health care reform law, Californians who do not get or cannot afford health insurance through their jobs can buy coverage through an exchange, at a group rate negotiated by state regulators.

The cost to a 40-year-old who needs coverage would vary from about $40 to $300 per month for a mid-level plan, depending on the person's income. Some young adults, who are less expensive to cover, could pay nothing, depending on how much they earn.

The prices in California, along with those announced in Washington, Vermont and other states, show that premiums under Obamacare can be more affordable than had previously been thought. Consumer advocates welcomed the new exchange.

"It's a revolutionary improvement to move from a broken market where people are charged by how sick they are, to a competitive market where people pay what they can afford, based on a percentage of their income, on a sliding scale," said Anthony Wright, executive director of advocacy group Health Access.

"Most consumers buying coverage in the individual market will get financial help and see their premiums go down," he said.

The sweeping federal reform law known as Obamacare seeks to extend health insurance to many of the 49 million Americans without it, and alter how care is delivered so as to curb what has been an inexorable rise in healthcare spending.

Congressional Republicans who oppose the law had warned that high premiums would sink Obamacare as the uninsured would not be able to afford coverage even with federal subsidies.

Even the modest rates announced Thursday do not really signal that the program will work, said California Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue.

"This is like a shell game to me," said Logue, co-chair of the assembly health committee, who predicted that taxes would go up to pay for the subsidies, forcing other prices to rise.

"They're not going to tell you that you're going to pay for it in your gas or your food or going to the show," he said.

About a dozen states have set up these exchanges, or large group plans, which are a key element of the massive national health reform effort. Several have already released rates for monthly premiums, and most say the cost will not go up as high as skeptics had feared.

In California, a 40-year-old who makes less than four times the federal poverty level - that is, $95,000 for a family of four or $46,000 for an individual - would pay as little as $40 per month for a mid-level plan in which about 70 percent of medical costs and all preventive care is covered. This excludes additional costs to cover children or a spouse.

The same plan for a person who makes too much to qualify for a subsidy would run about $300 per month on average, the state said. In addition, the total amount consumers would have to pay each year for co-payments and other out of pocket costs would be limited to $6,350 or less, depending on income.

Patients could choose plans that offer lower co-pays if they wished, but would pay higher premiums. In some cases, particularly for low and moderate income workers in their 20s, the premiums are free once a federal subsidy is factored in.

PLAN OPTIONS

The exchange will also offer what it calls platinum plans, in which co-payments are very low or non-existent. These plans would cost $500 for those who do not qualify for subsidies, but as little as $300 per month for low-wage earners.

The biggest subsidies go to people who make less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $17,000 for a single person.

Peter V. Lee, a longtime health advocate recruited by the state to help set up and run its program, said costs had been expected to skyrocket because the Affordable Care Act requires health plans to offer more benefits and cover more people than they might otherwise have done.

For example, the plans must cover people with or without pre-existing conditions that would make their care more expensive. The actuarial firm Millman had predicted a 30 percent rise in the cost of monthly premiums for individuals in California under the new exchange.

But Lee said that did not happen. While rates without subsidies may be moderately higher for some consumers next year, most will pay less, he said. The rates announced on Thursday must still be approved by state regulators.

Democratic Congressman Henry Waxman, who backed the health reform act, said the program would protect millions from bankruptcy due to medical costs.

"Californians buying coverage on their own will now have access to the same quality coverage that people get through their employers at the same or lower rates," he said.

California's exchange will offer coverage from 13 insurers - down from more than 30 that had applied to participate.

Among them are some of the biggest names, including Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield and Kaiser Permanente. Coverage will also be offered by some companies that had previously limited their activity to the Medicare and Medicaid markets.

Paul Markovich, president of Blue Shield of California, which is offering coverage under the plan, said that to keep prices low, doctors and hospitals had lowered some of their rates. Some insurers also agreed to limit profits, Lee said.

The policies vary in their provider networks, but Lee said consumers would have access to about 80 percent of doctors in the state, and some of its premier medical centers.

Consumers will be able to begin signing up on October 1 for plans that will go into effect in January. Next month, the California exchange will reveal plans and prices for insurance that small business owners can purchase for their employees.

 

[mercury14]

Congressional Republicans who oppose the law had warned that high premiums would sink Obamacare as the uninsured would not be able to afford coverage even with federal subsidies.

Patriot math fail.

 

[koalabear]

California is already broke, this should help.

 

[coastal-boy]

California is already broke, this should help.

Are you saying California should have increased the cost to make money?

 

[koalabear]

Are you saying California should have increased the cost to make money?

You just said that, stupid.

 

[coastal-boy]

California is already broke, this should help.

Are you saying California should have increased the cost to make money?

You just said that, stupid.

I know...it sucks when your comment is shot down so quickly.

 

[koalabear]

I know...it sucks when my comment is shot down so quickly.

Try posting when you are sober. You seem to forget what you post as soon as you hit the button.

 

[mercury14]

I know...it sucks when your comment is shot down so quickly.

Turns out the Affordable Care Act is looking affordable. Take it easy on the marsupial, his narrative is crumbling before his very eyes.

Also:

The Clap is Killing the Koalas
The Atlantic WireBy Ted Mann | The Atlantic Wire – Sat, Dec 17, 2011


Chlamydia isn't the only concern for your average koala. Overdevelopment is threatening the marsupial's habitat, and climate change presents its own risks. But sexual disease is now a driving factor in the animal's path toward extinction.

Times are tough.

 

[coastal-boy]

Turns out the Affordable Care Act is looking affordable. Take it easy on the marsupial, his narrative is crumbling before his very eyes.

Also:



Times are tough.

If he had decent health care he wouldn't have to worry in his old age.

 

[koalabear]

If he had decent health care he wouldn't have to worry in his old age.

You MORONS seem to need the healthcare, I don't.

 

[coastal-boy]

I'm just trying to figure out what the means at the end of his comment. To me and my "stupid" mind, it looks as if he is trying to say the the State of California is broke and that this will make it worse. Yet in the State I live in, Obamacare was implemented before it was Obamacare and we have some of the cheapest rates in the nation. Go figure? I can't explain it.

 

[koalabear]

I'm just trying to figure out what the means at the end of his comment. To me and my "stupid" mind, it looks as if he is trying to say the the State of California is broke and that this will make it worse. Yet in the State I live in, Obamacare was implemented before it was Obamacare and we have some of the cheapest rates in the nation. Go figure? I can't explain it.

Impossible.

 

[phrodeau]

You MORONS seem to need the healthcare, I don't.

You said the same thing about education yesterday.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Times are tough.

I hope the United States Marine Association would hurry up and open up a Faggot Auxilliary in San Diego soon. Then Vetteman can come out of the closet and give Koalabear that reach-around he's been begging for before he dies.

 

[coastal-boy]

Impossible.

Look up the health care requirements for the State of Hawaii...you know...the state that implemented health care reform in 1985.

Funny thing. I moved here last year, kept the exact same provider, exact same policy, and my rates were cut by 40% (well actually it was 38.7%). I just can't figure it out why that would happen...

 

[koalabear]

Look up the health care requirements for the State of Hawaii...you know...the state that implemented health care reform in 1985.

Funny thing. I moved here last year, kept the exact same provider, exact same policy, and my rates were cut by 40% (well actually it was 38.7%). I just can't figure it out why that would happen...

Then it was Hawaii healthcare, obama had nothing to do with it, fool.

 

[koalabear]

I hope the United States Marine Association would hurry up and open up a Faggot Auxilliary in San Diego soon. Then Vetteman can come out of the closet and give Koalabear that reach-around he's been begging for before he dies.

Look! It's morbidly obese fat-ass and his weird fantasies.

 

[mercury14]

Look up the health care requirements for the State of Hawaii...you know...the state that implemented health care reform in 1985.

Funny thing. I moved here last year, kept the exact same provider, exact same policy, and my rates were cut by 40% (well actually it was 38.7%). I just can't figure it out why that would happen...

Whenever it's mentioned that employers didn't drop health insurance under Romneycare or Hawaiicare conservatives lose their shit.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Whenever it's mentioned that employers didn't drop health insurance under Romneycare or Hawaiicare conservatives lose their shit.

They need a reason to lose their shit?
Who knew?

 

[unregistered]

 

[drtyyoleman]

Told ya'.

Republicans were wrong. Wrong on health care, wrong on finances, wrong on affordability. Wrong on everything. Costs for a lot of people are going to come way down.

http://news.yahoo.com/california-reveals-prices-health-insurance-under-obamacare-221300803.html

Yep. I agree with you that there are lot of scare tactics being played out in politics.
I disagree that republicans are wrong about everything. Both sides have a lot of good ideas but they are so polarized that they can't even get together and have a decent comversation let alone do the job they are hired to do. Make decisions and come to agreements. SO disfunctional.
As you acn already see, most comments you get will either be supportive or insulting and laced with profanities aimed at perpetuating the division our nation now enjoys.
I think we should all reserve our opinions until we see what really transpires in the future instead of making snap judgements about things we know little about.

 

[muffguy]

Yep. I agree with you that there are lot of scare tactics being played out in politics.
I disagree that republicans are wrong about everything. Both sides have a lot of good ideas but they are so polarized that they can't even get together and have a decent comversation let alone do the job they are hired to do. Make decisions and come to agreements. SO disfunctional.
As you acn already see, most comments you get will either be supportive or insulting and laced with profanities aimed at perpetuating the division our nation now enjoys.
I think we should all reserve our opinions until we see what really transpires in the future instead of making snap judgements about things we know little about.

Palousy said the almost identical thing ("we'll have to pass the law to see whats in it")

 

[dan_c00000]

California is already broke, this should help.

Wow koala I know you were a fucking dumbass but I didn't know you were that dumb. GUN FAIL!

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) - California is enjoying a revenue surplus for a change. Gov. Jerry Brown is reaping the benefits of an economic turn-around and higher taxes as he prepares to release his update Tuesday for the coming fiscal year’s budget.

The stock market is surging, home prices are up and the unemployment rate is down, contributing to a revenue surge of $4.5 billion more than expected from personal income taxes.

 

[mercury14]

~Big Yawn~

Three major health insurers flee California’s ObamaCare exchange
POSTED AT 10:41 AM ON MAY 23, 2013 BY ED MORRISSEY

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/05/...insurers-flee-californias-obamacare-exchange/

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-health-insure-20130523,0,1895918.story

A few thoughts to carve through your crap:


1) Nobody gives a shit if three insurance companies aren't participating in California's exchanges. If they can't cut it cost-wise in that forum they weren't going to get many customers anyway. Right now there are 13 insurance companies on the exchanges and they're about to do battle to see who can get to the lowest price point. And that will decrease cost.

2) The exchanges aren't making anyone change insurance providers. If you have UHC and you like it you can keep paying for it just like always. You just won't be eligible to receive a subsidy because of UHC's decision not to participate.

3) Yes I agree with you that Obama should have put an asterisk after his comment about keeping your plan if you like it: "*may not apply to people with plans that fall below the minimum requirement". Or course Obama said that long before the ACA was passed and was not referring to the existing law but still.

4) The lack of interstate sales line is tired and just dumb. Cali has 30-40 health insurance companies and doesn't make sense to say that adding a few more would cause prices to fall significantly.

5) California's initial price premiums via the exchanges have been published and they barely increased. With subsidies people's cost will dramatically decrease. Just wait till that sinks in and then try to repeal Obamacare. I'm sure Americans will love to see their health care costs double because of its repeal.

 

[unregistered]