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MNsure's low premiums mean many Minnesotans won't qualify for tax credits
Pioneer Press ^ | 11-7-13 | Chrissy Snowbeck

Posted on 11/07/2013 9:33:16 AM PST by TurboZamboni

click here to read article


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where my free healthcare at!!
1 posted on 11/07/2013 9:33:16 AM PST by TurboZamboni
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To: TurboZamboni

America...Land of the “FREE” and home of the Brave...


2 posted on 11/07/2013 9:35:12 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
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To: TurboZamboni

Why would low premiums be a problem?


3 posted on 11/07/2013 9:46:28 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOP warnings')
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To: TurboZamboni

Low premiums, but what about the level of deductibles and co-pays?


4 posted on 11/07/2013 9:48:26 AM PST by kabar
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To: TurboZamboni

So... They actually have policies on there now?

Last week when I looked they had NOTHING.


5 posted on 11/07/2013 9:49:16 AM PST by Dead Corpse (I will not comply.)
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To: sickoflibs

Speaking from experience, I live on a razor-thin budget, and even with these “low premiums,” it’s going to break me and my family. I have to decide between feeding my family and buying unnecessary (at this point) health insurance, I’m going to buy food. To hell with the MNSure. I will not comply.


6 posted on 11/07/2013 9:49:39 AM PST by Thorliveshere (Minnesota Survivor)
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To: sickoflibs

Read the article.


7 posted on 11/07/2013 9:50:46 AM PST by kabar
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To: kabar

the deductibles are high 3-6k copays are around $30-$40 at least they were when i check for my daughter.


8 posted on 11/07/2013 9:51:33 AM PST by markman46 (engage brain before using keyboard!!!)
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To: Thorliveshere
RE :”Speaking from experience, I live on a razor-thin budget, and even with these “low premiums,” it’s going to break me and my family. I have to decide between feeding my family and buying unnecessary (at this point) health insurance, I’m going to buy food. To hell with the MNSure. I will not comply.”

So the problem is that the premiums are too low to qualify for a tax credit but they are still significantly higher than what you pay now?

That would be a problem.

9 posted on 11/07/2013 9:53:28 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOP warnings')
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To: sickoflibs

I don’t have ANY health insurance right now. It’s been cash only. We’re all relatively healthy. I would prefer some catastrophic policy.


10 posted on 11/07/2013 9:55:53 AM PST by Thorliveshere (Minnesota Survivor)
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To: kabar

I did read it. Doesn’t say. Did you read it?


11 posted on 11/07/2013 9:56:30 AM PST by Principled
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To: markman46
If you have high deductibles and co-pays, what good is it to have low premiums in terms of out of pocket expenses. People could probably have done better under the old system. Depending on one's personal circumstance, you could have paid a lower premium for some sort of catastrophic insurance with a similar level of deductibles.

These "good deals" are not so good when you look at your real out of pocket exposure.

12 posted on 11/07/2013 9:58:03 AM PST by kabar
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To: sickoflibs

An “affordable” premium, subsidized by taxpayers, does NOT mean affordable coverage when out-of-pocket expenses are added in.


13 posted on 11/07/2013 10:02:10 AM PST by TurboZamboni (Marx smelled bad & lived with his parents most his life.)
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To: Thorliveshere
RE :”I don’t have ANY health insurance right now. It’s been cash only. We’re all relatively healthy. I would prefer some catastrophic policy.”

Then there is no reason to comply. And being uninsured under Obamacare is a better deal .....get sick?? then sign up.

14 posted on 11/07/2013 10:04:05 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOP warnings')
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To: TurboZamboni

I GOT ZERO’ED!!

Nice bumper sticker


15 posted on 11/07/2013 10:04:41 AM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: TurboZamboni
RE :”An “affordable” premium, subsidized by taxpayers, does NOT mean affordable coverage when out-of-pocket expenses are added in.”

Then the Premiums are low and so no subsities for them, but their out of pockets like deductibles are high (compared to current insurance) ??

So its a problem for those who get sick?

16 posted on 11/07/2013 10:08:25 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOP warnings')
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To: Principled
Yes, I read it. I can't believe you think it doesn't answer, "Why would low premiums be a problem?

"The premiums are so low that some people at higher income levels and some in lower age groups -- they don't qualify for the tax credit," Todd-Malmlov said in an interview.

"But they still are getting coverage that is more affordable than what they would get in other states."

The tax credit discussion came during a meeting in which MNsure's directors officially set at 1.5 percent the amount of premiums the state agency will "withhold" from all health insurance policies sold through the exchange.

Republicans promptly dubbed the assessment a "premium tax," saying it was too high for what consumers are getting.

In low-premium regions like much of Minnesota, some consumers are finding that their benchmark premium is lower than the affordability cap. So, they don't need a tax credit to get affordable coverage.

A second factor is Minnesota's decision to expand the Medicaid health insurance program and maintain MinnesotaCare, a state-run program that provides coverage for people with slightly higher income than those who qualify for Medicaid. The programs will catch Minnesotans with incomes below roughly $23,000.

In both cases, Minnesota's decision means that those consumers will be covered through a government program. In other states, they will be tapping tax credits applied against the cost of a policy purchased on a health exchange.

Expanding Medicaid parameters means pushing more people into Medicaid, which is inferior healthcare. 40% of doctors don't accept Medicaid patients now because the reimbursement rate is too low to cover expenses.

Low premiums are possible at the expense of those covered. Fewer subsidies and more people driven into inferior healthcare.

17 posted on 11/07/2013 10:10:04 AM PST by kabar
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To: Thorliveshere

The “low premiums” are relative to other states, but are still an increase over what has been paid in the past, and with higher deductibles and co-payments.

My sister had to have a much higher deductible at a cost of over $1,200.00 per year more, and now pays $7,200.00 for insurance which will almost never pay unless she is seriously ill. She will never be able to afford the deductibles.

I think we are going to see many more bankruptcies in the near future.


18 posted on 11/07/2013 10:10:36 AM PST by LachlanMinnesota
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To: TurboZamboni

“I think there’s something wrong with the system — I’m supposed to be getting a tax credit, but I’m getting a zero.”

Wait until they find out they get ZEROCARE.


19 posted on 11/07/2013 10:17:17 AM PST by UCANSEE2 (The monsters are due on Maple Street)
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To: Dead Corpse

Sounds that way. I have not attempted.


20 posted on 11/07/2013 10:19:25 AM PST by TurboZamboni (Marx smelled bad & lived with his parents most his life.)
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