'Reform' at your expense: Health premiums to skyrocket

NY Post ^ | November 17, 2009 | SALLY PIPES

[Scanian]

The health-reform bill that the Senate will soon debate may differ markedly from the one written by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that passed the House -- but both would raise the cost of health care for ordinary Americans.

Such an approach is at odds with the chief goal of reform -- to increase access to care by reducing the cost.

The Empire State is ill-equipped to deal with higher health costs. New York's health system is already one of the most expensive in the country, with total private and public health-care spending of more than $6,500 a person a year. Only two other states and the District of Columbia spend more. Meanwhile, 13.6 percent of New York residents are uninsured.

But Congress seems hell-bent on making life harder for ordinary New Yorkers. Several recent reports confirm this. A recent analysis done by PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the large insurer Wellpoint and consulting firm Oliver Wyman (using WellPoint's membership data) showed that an average New York family with two children covered by a basic individual-market policy would see its premiums rise 82 percent under Sen. Harry Reid's version of the bill, which includes new excise taxes on insurers, drug companies and medical-device firms, which would all be passed on to consumers.

(It'd be even worse in other states: A 25-year-old man in Kentucky, for instance, would see his monthly premium rise from $61 to $181 -- nearly a threefold jump.)

[Doogle]

KILL THE BILL

[Landru]

"The health-reform bill that the Senate will soon debate may differ markedly from the one written by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that passed the House -- but both would raise the cost of health care for ordinary Americans...Such an approach is at odds with the chief goal of reform -- to increase access to care by reducing the cost."

>doink<

"The Empire State is ill-equipped to deal with higher health costs."

But--but--the Empire State overwhelmingly voted for hope & change!!
Can't stop it now, can you? LOL

[jersey117]

25-year-old man in Kentucky, for instance, would see his monthly premium rise from $61 to $181 -- nearly a threefold jump

KILL THE BILL, INDEED

[raybbr]

I bet this doesn’t include the addition of 15 million invaders to the system. Wait till that kicks in and they bring madre, padre and all their other familia here to partake of the “reforms”.

[Man50D]

Cost is not the issue! The paramount issue is its unconstitutionality! Article 1 Section 8 does not specifically nor expressly grant Congress the power to regulate health care. Therefore any federal version is unconstitutional! This is the point people should be impressing upon their politicians!

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

RomneyCare more than doubled the cost of a BlueCross policy for my grandson, from $150/month to $360. The original $150/month covered any child in the state from birth to 18, regardless of pre-existing conditions.

Be afraid.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

“25-year-old man in Kentucky, for instance, would see his monthly premium rise from $61 to $181 — nearly a threefold jump”

This is typical social engineering BS from politicians with limited knowledge but big egos. A 25 year old needs catastrophic coverage, in case he/she breaks their leg skiing, or God forbid winds up with Hodgkin's or another major illness that can strike at that age. On the other hand, an annual visit to a physician at that age is certainly enough, maybe more than enough. That said, a 25 year old could pay out of pocket for an annual physician visit for a heck of a lot less money than $181/month. This is nothing more than taking from one group to cover another, i.e. wealth redistribution.

[RU88]

At this point, in my mind the question should be about the consequences to the overall economy and jobs. This bill is a job killer of the first degree. Business will be hit with a +5% excise tax on top of an elimination of the Bush tax cuts next year. Want to talk about joblessness? Businesses will be shedding jobs like a Collie sheds hair in the spring and all we'll hear about is “corporate greed” at which point Bozo will hop on a Air Force One to some far away place to apologize for another American transgression. Augh!!!

[wintertime]

You “get it”.

Sadly, for our government school educated population an appeal to the Constitution is meaningless.

[socialismisinsidious]

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[mojitojoe]

The bill was never about reducing cost. It’s a power grab, a way for them to raise taxes, steal our money and redistribute to others.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

IMPEACH!!!

[your local physicist]

Absolutely. If implemented, this bill would be a fiscal disaster and would end up costing at least 50% more than the budgeted cost. It would also overload the health care system, which is not prepared to cope with a sudden huge increase in demand for medical services. This bill is incredibly expensive and it would make a complete mess out of our health care system. It would dramatically increase health insurance costs for individuals and businesses, which firstly is unfair to individuals and business people, and secondly would hurt consumer spending and further increase mortgage foreclosures. The whole thing is a terrible idea written by economically ignorant leftists. The senate should kill this entire health care "reform" proposal and drop it permanently from the legislative agenda.

[Doogle]

...every time I hear someone from the GOP say that line..."something has to be done", it makes my skin crawl.. They all just brush aside tort reform,fraud,and interstate trade.....that alone would take care of the so-called uncared for....and LOWER THE COST FOR EVERYONE....just KILL THE BILL

[Landru]

"The bill was never about reducing cost. It’s a power grab, a way for them to raise taxes, steal our money and redistribute to others."

Nothing wrong with your reasoning, my friend. LOL

Lame attempt to be facetiousness on my part. ;^)