Posted on 05/08/2016 10:52:32 AM PDT by PROCON
Insurers -- who might not be allowed the huge rate increases they need to stay solvent --- are looking to save money by eliminating so-called Bronze-level plans.
Fierce Health Player reports on an Inside Health Policy (subscription only) warning from earlier this week:
One problem, according to the article, is risk adjustment--as CMS data indicate bronze is the only metal level for which insurers of all sizes in the individual and group markets had to pay into the program. Federal officials are considering some changes to the risk adjustment program, which some say unfairly penalizes smaller insurers.
Already, filings show a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield subsidiary in Virginia will transform its bronze plans into silver-level plans for 2017, according to Inside Health Policy, and experts tell the publication this could set a troubling precedent for the industry.
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
“....and experts tell the publication this could set a troubling precedent for the industry.”
I thought ACA did that.
The bronze plan premium determines the maximum Obamacare penalty.
(i.e., the perecnt-of-income penalty is capped at the cost of a bronze plan.)
This has insane. Has it occurred to anyone that the horrific rise in pain killer abuse and the associated use of illegal drugs is caused by too much access to medical care?
The idea of risk/reward analysis for medical care came up in a "semi-satire" posting yesterday. It's not a bad idea. It would make more sense to limit folks access to medical care than to force more people to pay for and thus over-use medical "care". (the third largest cause of death in the US)
“If you like your health care plan, you get to keep your health care plan.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpa-5JdCnmo
I just hung up with my daughter who is trying to negotiate the morass called Obamacare.
She turned 26 a couple weeks ago and is apparently not eligible for Obamacare because the enrollment window was in January. Apparently they expected her to pony up case for four months prior to her actual enrollment time.
Not happening.
She’s a strong conservative. If she wasn’t, just this mess would change her mind.
Has it occurred to anyone that the horrific rise in pain killer abuse and the associated use of illegal drugs is caused by too much access to medical care?
_______________________
Just in case it has, there are stories out in the past few days blaming the manufacturers of OxyContin because it doesn’t last 12 hours and the pharma company told docs to just up the dosage.
Never mind that docs have to navigate a minefield if they even think about prescribing these painkillers.
Fall guys have been designated.
This is anecdotal from personal experience. I detoxed (chemical and additive free choices, pure food) over five years ago, to boost my immune system. I've had two situations....a tooth extraction and a shoulder injury where I was prescribed pain killers. I said I didn't want them. I was given a lecture about how I wouldn't properly heal if I DIDN'T take them They're still sitting on the shelf. It was totally manageable pain. Is it really good for people to never experience pain from medical situations? It's part of making good judgements during the healing process.
Then there's the meds for ADD, ADHD and other conditions that may not exist. There are some doctors who could rightfully be charged as serial killers for prescribing those poisons.
What about the tin and aluminum plans?
Obamacare only works if you’re not working.
If you’re working, a $5,000 dollar deductible Bronze policy comes with a monthly premium of around $500.00. In other words, it doesn’t pay out anything until you’ve spent $5,000 dollars out of pocket.
Young, healthy employed people have already figured out that it’s cheaper just to pay the penalty than to pay for a policy they will probably likely never use.
I retire next year, for the second time.
My lowest cost insurance under the ACA looks like $1200/mo with $5K deductible for two, eyes and teeth included.
My corporate group policy for everything is only $400/mo.
President Trump better fix this crap in a hurry.
Good option if you're in Oklahoma or finding yourself needing surgery and have no insurance
She’s working but at retail. Doesn’t earn a ton so she would be subsidized. One plan was cheaper than the penalty so she was going to do that and never use it.
$500 per month for an unsubsidized bronze plan means your in your mid to upper 50's in my area of fly over country. Silver plans push $700 per month unsubsidized. I would think the death spiral would accelerate if rates continue to rise faster than inflation...
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