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Health Insurers Raise Some Rates by Double Digits
New York Times ^ | January 5, 2013 | By REED ABELSON

Posted on 01/06/2013 1:33:22 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee

Health insurance companies across the country are seeking and winning double-digit increases in premiums for some customers, even though one of the biggest objectives of the Obama administration’s health care law was to stem the rapid rise in insurance costs for consumers.

Particularly vulnerable to the high rates are small businesses and people who do not have employer-provided insurance and must buy it on their own.

In California, Aetna is proposing rate increases of as much as 22 percent, Anthem Blue Cross 26 percent and Blue Shield of California 20 percent for some of those policy holders, according to the insurers’ filings with the state for 2013. These rate requests are all the more striking after a 39 percent rise sought by Anthem Blue Cross in 2010 helped give impetus to the law, known as the Affordable Care Act, which was passed the same year and will not be fully in effect until 2014. . .

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; obamacare
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To: Babashane
"How will insurance companies win if they lose a bunch of customers to Obamacare? I’m confused. Common sense says they’d compete with better prices and service for your business."

Obama care is a "Cadillac" policy. It requires, for instance, contraceptives, abortafacients, mental health counseling, zero deductibles, etc. One of the most cost effective insurance policies, of any kind, is a high deductible policy. This puts you in control of day-to-day expenses, where you can make cost effectiveness decisions, and yet covers you for major medical expenses. It also keeps the mountains of paperwork away. It is also illegal under Obamacare. In short, it is illegal for an insurance company to "compete with better prices and service for your business".

41 posted on 01/06/2013 9:00:02 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (Galileo: In science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of one individual)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

My company here in California uses Aetna. The company gives us the bottom tier of coverage (because they’re cheap). Rates have risen 20% for the last 2-3 years. When you take a certain number of ‘potential’ customers from the equation the actuaries provide statistics show your limited growth. Therefore, they raise rates on existing customers (most providers in the state are doing this so a new provider will not reduce your rates) to raise revenue. The company says our rate increased so your rates increase. My pay hasn’t increased in years but my taxes and medical have.

There are 139 takers (government employee, pensioner or welfare recipient) California to every 100 tax payers (see Forbes 11/25/12).


42 posted on 01/06/2013 9:50:16 AM PST by PatriotCause (California Sucks)
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To: sakic

That was my plan...get rid of the insurance companies and issue government backed loans to people who actually get sick...the insurance companies could be brokers for the loans. It would be the cheapest way to provide health care for everyone and wouldn’t take 3000 agencies to run and the details can fit on one piece of paper...

Can someone please tell me what is wrong with this plan? Why can’t Congress think of this?


43 posted on 01/06/2013 9:56:46 AM PST by willyd (Don't shoot, we're Republicans!)
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; ...

Thanks Brad from Tennessee.


44 posted on 01/06/2013 11:23:47 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Quick, in with the groundless 'crony capitalists' accusations!)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
. . . even though one of the biggest objectives of the Obama administration’s health care law was to stem the rapid rise in insurance costs for consumers.

The NYSlimes inserted a lie right into the very first sentence.

45 posted on 01/06/2013 12:20:23 PM PST by Hoodat ("As for God, His way is perfect" - Psalm 18:30)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
~ even though one of the biggest objectives of the Obama administration’s health care law was to stem the rapid rise in insurance costs for consumers.

Outside of obama's minions, did anyone really believe that? We saw the same effect when everyone was forced to buy auto insurance.

46 posted on 01/06/2013 4:19:43 PM PST by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: sitetest

“.... the lone Obama voter.”

Wow, great!


47 posted on 01/06/2013 6:53:36 PM PST by Borax Queen
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To: sitetest

Awesome! Reduced the staff and fixed a couple of problems.


48 posted on 01/07/2013 6:37:31 AM PST by SisterK (Freedom to Fascism. Aaron Russo)
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To: rusty schucklefurd; MyDogAteMyBallot; norwaypinesavage

thank you for your responses!


49 posted on 01/07/2013 9:22:00 AM PST by Babashane
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