What? ObamaCare is working? For New Yorkers buying their own insurance on the perilous individual market, you bet:
Individuals buying health insurance on their own will see their premiums tumble next year in New York State as changes under the federal health care law take effect, state officials are to announce on Wednesday.
...State insurance regulators say they have approved rates for 2014 that are at least 50 percent lower on average than those currently available in New York. Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more for coverage will be able to shop for health insurance for as little as $308 monthly. With federal subsidies, the cost will be even lower.
Supporters of the new health care law, the Affordable Care Act, credited the drop in rates to the online purchasing exchanges the law created, which they say are spurring competition among insurers that are anticipating an influx of new customers. The law requires that an exchange be started in every state [Roni Caryn Rabin and Reed Abelson, "Health Plan Cost for New Yorkers Set to Fall 50%," New York Times 2013.07.16].
Rabin and Abelson report that small businesses already enjoy lower rates, so their cost savings won't be as dramatic. However,
...small businesses will be eligible for tax credits, and the exchanges will make it easier for them to select a plan. Roughly 15,000 plans are available today to small businesses, and choosing among them is particularly challenging.
“Where New York previously had a dizzying array of thousands upon thousands of plans, small businesses will now be able to truly comparison-shop for the best prices,” said Benjamin M. Lawsky, the state’s top financial regulator [Rabin and Abelson, 2013.07.16].
The GOP wants to scare Democrats into running away from ObamaCare, the way they did in 2010. Ask Stephanie Herseth Sandlin how well that worked for her. Don't fall for that trick, Dems: trumpet the fact that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will save regular Americans money on health care.
I'm sure the conservatives will not let facts get in the way of blasting Obamacare.
Now if I was a reporter I'd ask Dr. Bosworth what she thinks about this.
A friend of mine just switched his medicare supplement insurance to another company and is paying 60% less than he was. He was worried about it because the Company he was with decided that they would not sell in South dakota any more, needless to say he is no longer worried and pretty happy with the deal.
I'd ask Mike Rounds what he thinks about it.
Saving money?.....more importantly, it’s saving lives.
Oh, you hippie doctors and your concern for human life....
Obamacare works! It will save a bundle of dough so that the proletariat can keep some more of their meager earnings to use to maybe start up a small business. Small business drives the economy and republicans hate it because it makes sense and takes some of their welfare earnings from them.
With Obamacare, we can have more doctors and health services as well. Now if we can keep grocery stores open, we could send the vision of South Dakota as a place to do business in as well as a place to retire. First thing to retire are republicans, their shelf life has expired long ago.
My agent told me that my rates would go up 40% in July of 2014. How is that cheaper than before?
How can the feds figure out any sort of budget with all of the unknowns?
Facts Barry. Who is the company he switched to and from?
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Facts Kevin, show us the lives saved and include the health costs to those who no longer can afford or will pay the high premiums.
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"Obamacare works! " Facts Jerry, when do the small children get Alice back?
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"My agent told me that my rates would go up 40% in July of 2014. " With insurance companies anticipating the bloated overheads coming my rates have risen 110% without claims, and that's a fact.
One of our insurance providers said we could switch to a lower cost option now, but we would be better off keeping the grandfathered rate we currently have depending on what happens. At least they were apparently honest about it even if the text was far from clear.
"Obamacare" has reduced many rates and simultaneously kept many people insured. The real tragedy is that we haven't moved to a single-provider system with optional additinal coverage similar or the same as Medicare-Medicaid.
Tying health insurance to employment is a leftover gimmick from WWII when health insurance was provided as an addition to worker incentive to work that did not count as a prohibited price increase. The government liked having somebody else pay for medical coverage that the idea continued after the war until now.
Economic downturns show the problems with that. We all end up paying more for medical services at medical care facilities or in our taxes.
Check on the incredible salaries insurance company executives get and compare that with top managers in a government program or with a Canadian program.
I do not understand why under-paid South Dakotans are so eager to pay insurance executives $millions per year so they can be rewarded for high insurance charges.
And, while we are on this type stuff, Republicans of all stripes have claimed that the Obama recovery/stimulus programs are not working, but South Dakota has a large surplus because of the improved economy. Of course SD GOP is already claiming that is only a consequence of their economic policies which have never worked before.
'"I do not understand why under-paid South Dakotans are so eager to pay insurance executives $millions per year so they can be rewarded for high insurance charges." Tell me who these under paid SD's are! I feel underpaid but have enjoyed the cost benefits of being a SD resident. That said I watch these guys who can't wipe your butt get off the Leer Jet and I don't feel a bit happy about paying their way.
Good grief, Les. Do you get out of your basement and look around anything but the ritziest districts? Grocery prices are worse here than in many urban areas. Selection is terrible. With 55% of wives working, most are not very far above minimum wage even if they have worked for many years. Years ago, Ambrose Bierce wrote something like,"Chinese cheap labor is not inexpensive."
That is still true. Minimum wages too low to actually live on don't generate a whole lot of enterprise growth.
"I do not understand why under-paid South Dakotans are so eager to pay insurance executives $millions per year" Read your prose Doug! I want to find those eager under-paid SD's and get some of what they're on. I'm not a bit eager, can probably afford 20K a year in med costs but I'm damn sure at the point of throwing in the towel on continuing with their game.
Les, I'm glad you can afford the 20K in medical expenses and hope you never have to use that money.
What should we do with those hard working people whose total income doesn't even reach the $20K level?
Oh yeah, and Les, I'm thinking those Leer Jet guys not only don't smell very good but also vote Republican.
My problem is even though I think that I am a fairly informed citizen, I don't understand how any of our current health insurance policies will change over the next year. The Obama administration has done a very poor job of getting the word out to the public.
http://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/news/10913493/americans-still-dont-understand-obamacare-health-plans-what-the-different-options-are
"When survey takers were asked, "How will the new ObamaCare Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum health plans differ from one another?" 86 percent of the respondents said they didn't know. Only four percent of those in the poll selected the correct answer: "The percent of medical costs covered by insurance," when listed among five answer options in the survey."
When we have 4 percent that can answer the question correctly, we have a problem as a nation. There is only one word to describe this failure in communication: "incompetent"
I'm betting Tom Daschle doesn't vote Repub Jana and it's not much of a risk to assume he rides a Leer while doing the consulting or whatever it is he gets paid for and prob doesn't smell any different than the rest of us.
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Jana, those whose income doesn't reach 20k or even those whose is in the 50K area and spend all they make have nothing to lose. They walk with me in tandem, I pay and they get treatment without. It is not the bottom you need to worry about Jana, it is you and I and all in the middle who are being taken to the bottom. Many will lose all their property as they slide and become the bottom class. I hope you don't mind stinkin cause we may be working together keeping the poop moving someday.
"The Obama administration has done a very poor job of getting the word out to the public."
That is almost an understatement. For all the initial hype about Obama being a great communicator, I think he lost his touch after the first convention speech he gave. He can use more words to say less than perhaps even John Kerry. His speeches all sound nice, but 10 minutes afterward, it is hard to remember a single phrase or idea. And yes, I know I can churn out some convoluted prose myself....and a few days later wonder what the hell was I thinking when I wrote it.
The NY situation is unique, and isn't representative of Obamacare implementation nationwide. Specifically, NY premiums have been extraordinarily high since the 90s, when new state law required insurance companies to cover anyone wanting insurance, regardless of their health. At the same time, the law didn't require everyone to enroll, so healthy folks could opt out.
This is not common insurance law in the 50 states -- so the kind of savings predicted for New Yorkers is not likely to be as common, either.
"The NY situation is unique," Okay, what about California and Oregon?
Here is an historical fact. Medicare Part D was put into place under president Bush. It was completely unfunded and also had a mandate to purchase. If you chose not to purchase, you were assessed a fine, sound familiar? Republicans loved it and voted for it in mass. When first rolled out, mass confusion and much hair pulling by the seniors. Congress tweaked it to make it work and here we are. Still unfunded but working very well and now with Obamacare, saving seniors billions with a B.
Fast forward to October 1, 2013 open enrollment for Obamacare for real. In three states mentioned in this blog so far, the savings have been huge and real. Remember, your insurance agent has a real conflict of interest in your being foolish enough to believe them. When they trot out that nonsense about a 110% increase, ask them to tell you the story of Medicare Part D or better yet, ask a senior. Your elders know how it all works and they know they like it very very much. Hey, did I tell you that Obama is a Black man? That may have something to do with this dislike, just sayin...
" Hey, did I tell you that Obama is a Black man?" Playin ur trump card huh Jerry? Don't have much faith in your lack of fact.
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Kind of like the first to invoke Hitler, you lose.
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"and now with Obamacare, saving seniors billions with a B." I'm a senior. Tell me how crazy I am for telling you the real numbers are 110% increase without claims for me in SD. Think they're going to back that out as we turn the corner? I'm told I won't be able to keep my 7.5K deduct I've recently moved to as well, 5K max.
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I agree with you Jerry, you are just sayin...no facts.
Those increases are not promises of a greater good to come Jerry, it is 110% over the past 3-4 years. I moved to 7.5K deduct from a 5K policy and dropped it to about a 80% increase. No promises Jerry, other than to drop my insurance if I don't pay their premiums. Those increases are all due to the Ins Co's anticipation of the bloated overheads coming with O care.
My Les, you have kind of thin skin, be careful of the state bird here, the mosquito or they will drain you.
Always remember this fact Les, the hospitals bill the insurance company and the insurance company must pay the bills. Real simple. The state will not approve of a 110% increase unless it is warranted by the bills and the amount of insureds. So if you think that you are getting skinned, ask Denny why he is allowing that, don't blame that on Obamacare. You did not address the Medicare Part D that was brought up, why is that?? Puzzling that republicans seem to develop amnesia when that unfunded mandate they voted for and supported in mass is brought into light. In three states so far, it is a proven fact that Obamacare saves moolah and lives. Starting October 1, 2013, we start seeing the same here, I can't wait! To your good health sir, and to your good coverage!
Those increases did not happen overnight, but the last which did was a 37% increase and it happened statewide.
If the state allows the increases due to the bloating of the bills:insureds, it goes right back to the med industry preparing for the bloated overheads coming. Why do you blame Denny for bills generated by the health care industry moving into a time when the government control engine alone will exacerbate our med costs? Where is his control on this other than legislatively?
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I did not address Med Part D because Im not eligible age wise but since you have, it's caring for under 30 Mil and is just another excuse to push drugs. Go big pharma!
Cars increased in price as well along with all other things except our wages, Democrats to the rescue. There is no if about the state allowing the increases as the insurance industry has the bills from the health industry that demands payment. You may want to ask why do uninsured people only get seen at the emergency room? Well maybe you do not want to know that, so I will tell you anyway. It is through mandate. Yepper, President Bush put into law that all folks must be seen at an emergency room, regardless if it is an emergency or not. Compassionate conservatism, my what a load. So here we are, loads and loads of costs that must be transferred someplace and that is the real secret of why things cost so much to you dear consumer. You are footing the bill for another unfunded mandate, but in this case, you get to see the funding each month in your premiums. Ain't that grand? By the way, Obamacare is funded and has the CBO score to go along with it. I think that is just another sneaky reason they called it the Affordable Care Act, just an opinion of course.
Just because you are not now eligible age wise (lets hope you are not eligible ever for being disabled), does not mean that you should be ignorant about what the program does or does not do. First off, it does not push drugs. What it did have was a thing called a doughnut hole and in that hole falls many far to many of our seniors and disabled folks. Thanks to what Obamacare has already done, our seniors and disabled will no longer fall into that nightmare. Yep, Obamacare saves the day on those folks as well with the elimination of the doughnut hole. Soon we will see the same negotiations with the drug manufacturers that the VA now enjoys. It will all be good Les and you sir will finally be able to rest knowing that government actually works.
Here is a press release on Obamacare from a few minutes ago. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/07/20130718a.html
Obamacare works!
HHS and Sebelius do not offer me proof of anything. As to government working, or ACA coming to rescue me in Oct 13, I await with as much anticipation as I do for my ride on the Shuttle. Time will tell Jerry and you will be the first to hear when I get my 110% reduction in costs back.
I hope that you speak some Russian so you can go on that ride Les, it seems that republicans are still stuck in the horse and buggy days and do not want to fund what has made this country great. They are too busy wanting to start perpetual wars that they do not wish to pay for either.
Here is the fact sheet from the White House released today Les. I know that you are all about facts so here are some for you to enjoy.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/17/fact-sheet-middle-class-americans-saving-billions-under-health-care-law-
Here are the rebates from 2012 from the insurance industry. South Dakota did pretty well as we seem to be pretty well regulated and their is not a lot of overcharges. All in all, over 8.5 million rebates, not hard to see why the insurance lobby has the republicans in their pockets.
http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Data-Resources/Downloads/2012-mlr-rebates-by-state-and-market.pdf
Yes Jer, SD did well in 12, I picked up a $3300 increase and overlooked my $70.00 rebate. Is a great world we're in.
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Facts from this White House? I won't believe a word unless it comes from a teleprompter.
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No Russian for me Senor.
les, what keeps you from dropping your insurance and paying the penalty?
That will be a consideration when it becomes an option. Therein lies and issue of who will pay the dues on those choosing the penalty. My cousin is considering that with his 125 employees. With current costs to his company at over 800,000 the formula says: 125-30X$2000=$190,000. Why not pay the penalty?
His is a large group. Different that what you tell us you have Senor. Groups up to 50 are different than those that have more and as noted by recent releases, that will not go into play for one more year. In your cousins case, his penalty depends on if his employees qualify for Medicaid or if they are higher paid. Only believe what you wish to believe and always argue with a sign or teleprompter. What facts are to believe in, the ones from Fox news?
MJL: I dunno, tell me about California and Oregon. How's it going there?
Food for thought: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/17/obamas-last-campaign-inside-the-white-house-plan-to-sell-obamacare/
It's a careening juggernaut, presently. Anyone who imagines that a non-nimble, inchoate bureaucracy is in any kind of control of this, likely thinks unicyclists can switch canoes in white water while juggling wolverines. ;-)
More here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2013/07/18/the-new-york-times-tries-and-fails-to-save-obamacare-from-health-insurance-rate-shock/
Obamacare beats the hell out of what we have now, that is for sure. With Obamacare, it is the law that 80% of your premiums pay the claims, without it, you all are talking about 110% increases and act as though that is how a business plan works. So by that logic, if nothing happens and the republicans succeed at killing Obamacare down the road, you can kiss any type of coverage bye bye, unless your name is Rounds or Koch or some other bazillonaire. The fat lady is singing.
Easy does it Jer, Detroit today, Cali tomorrow?
If Jerry's not employed with this administration...why isn't he?
Put him on the tele (sans prompter) and give him a whirl at selling this to public.
It was easier for Bush to convince you to kill people than it is for this administration to convince you to live.
I have a job, but thanks for your support and recommendation Taunia. My wife is a customer and we just know how to read the information that has been provided. You can be just as knowledgeable as me by doing that little trick of going from left to right and down the page. All of this information has been available for years. Americans have become to lazy to do much of anything regarding their well being and seem to be content in getting spoon fed information by the tee vee. News flash, that one eyed bandit is stealing your ability to think for yourself.
Regarding President Bush, he did not convince me to kill anyone, he did however, convince my son. He pays for that each and every day and will for as long as he lives. War is not the answer as I found out myself, long before Bush. We are a father son team of veterans that know the VA quite well and are very thankful that we have it. (Government run healthcare)
In October, there will be open enrollment for this health care reform. If you like what you have, keep it. If you would like to see competition in this marketplace, then take a look at one of the plans being offered. They will save you money and help with your good health, that is a fact. As you are a woman, surely you must agree that the new wellness programs that now exist for you at no cost are appreciated, no? Thank Obamacare for that as well. It just gets better, don't be afraid to live.