Health Care Plans Attracting More Older, Less Healthy People

New York Times ^ | JAN. 13, 2014 | ROBERT PEAR and MICHAEL D. SHEAR

[Second Amendment First]

People signing up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s federal and state marketplaces tend to be older and potentially less healthy, officials said Monday, a demographic mix that could cause premiums to rise in the future if the pattern persists.

But officials expressed optimism that more young people will sign up in the months ahead, calling it “solid, solid news” for the health care law. They said demand for insurance through the marketplaces was increasing sharply across all age groups and they said youth outreach will become more aggressive in the months ahead.

“We’re pleased to see such a strong response and heavy demand,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services. “Among young adults, the momentum was particularly strong.”

Officials for the first time released basic demographic information about the people signing up for insurance. Of those who signed up in the first three months, 55 percent are age 45 to 64, officials said. Only 24 percent of those choosing a health insurance plan are 18 to 34, a group that is usually healthier and needs fewer costly medical services. People 55 to 64 – just below the age at which people qualify for Medicare -- represented the largest group, at 33 percent.

[Second Amendment First]

But officials expressed optimism ...

[Purrcival]

“Health Care Plans Attracting Older, Less Healthy People”

Well, DUH! And in other news, water is still wet...

[kabar]

Of those who signed up in the first three months, 55 percent are age 45 to 64, officials said. Only 24 percent of those choosing a health insurance plan are 18 to 34, a group that is usually healthier and needs fewer costly medical services. People 55 to 64 – just below the age at which people qualify for Medicare -- represented the largest group, at 33 percent.

Or put another way, 76% of the people signing up are 35 to 64.

[SampleMan]

So more “subsidized” volunteers than “full-pay +” volunteers.

I don’t know who could have predicted this.

[1Old Pro]

And I think most are medicaid plans where they won’t be contributiong any premium dollars.

[ZULU]

I’m older, I have a group health plan AND I WANT TO KEEP IT!!!!!

[SIRTRIS]

Wasn’t FR talking about this long before and suddenly now MSM is making news about it?

[JSDude1]

But officials expressed optimism

---

But officials are delusional like the early 20th Century “scientific progessives”.

[Tzimisce]

It’s okay: in a few years when the massive penalties kick in, the young will sign up.

They’ll have too.

[TexasFreeper2009]

doesn’t matter, any losses will be covered by the federal government with our tax dollars.

A big insurance bailout was written into Obamacare so it can’t fail.

The insurance companies could lose 1 trillion and it wouldn’t matter, they will just hand the government a bill for their losses.

We are screwed.

[Second Amendment First]

Of those who signed up, about 54 percent are women and 46 percent are men. Nearly 80 percent of those who selected a plan qualified for federal subsidies to reduce their premiums, officials said.

[Nervous Tick]

>> But officials expressed optimism ...

I’d like to express THEM.

It the way that one would express an olive to get the oil out.

[LibsRJerks]

Hmmm, all “enrollees are older, less healthy” ....perfect subjects for the Death Panels.

For the first time I really feel a twinge of sadness for these people, that they NEED to sign up for such crap, and/or they are so vulnerable and stupid to do so.

Our government has no need for these people. Their healthcare will be costly and unaffordable. What else will our government do but make it so hard on them they’ll just give up.

I just truly DESPISE our government, and the liberals who have promoted this. Such a scourge on this country.

[MrB]

How is it that the left can’t ever understand that this is going to happen with ALL of their policies?
The takers sign up in droves, those who pay for it will avoid it.

Maybe they do understand it, and that’s why they implement everything under the threat of force (government).

[Mr. K]

"“We’re pleased to see such a strong response and heavy demand,” said Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of health and human services. “Among young adults, the momentum was particularly strong.” "

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ~!!!!!

Now I can see why the puppet masters picked this good little Apparatchik functionary to run it.

Apparatchik /ˌɑːpəˈrɑːtʃɪk is a Russian colloquial term for a full-time, professional functionary of the Communist Party or government

[grania]

People will sign up. Have you noticed all of the news reports about the "increase in deadly flu, one that is particularly dangerous for younger people"? Next you'll be seeing "news reports" about quarantined people and how expensive their health care was because they weren't insured, and couldn't get insurance one they had the flu.

People will be scared into signing up. And once they're in and use it, I wonder how easy it will be for them to drop out.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Our government has no need for these people.

Not so! The government needs the reliable VOTES of these recipients of government handouts. And the government isn’t above bribes to get them!

(And extortion if the bribes fail.)

[Mr. K]

Was ANYONE (besides us) paying attention when they said that 7 million lost their policies already and 80 million more will lose them this year??

[VRWCarea51]

Rubes! Daddy gubmint just was put in place as claimant #1 on any assets said enrollee had at death.

[MrB]

Make no mistake, the people that Obamacare hurts are precisely the people that his administration WANTS to hurt.