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Workers paying more for health insurance, but getting fewer benefits
Chiago Tribune ^ | Janaury 7, 2015 | Noam N. Levey

Posted on 01/07/2015 10:34:40 PM PST by grundle

Although the Affordable Care Act has not led to soaring insurance costs, as many critics claimed it would, the law hasn't provided much relief to American workers either, according to a new study of employer-provided health benefits.

Workers continue to be squeezed by rising insurance costs, eroding benefits and stagnant wages, the report from the nonproNationwide, the average contribution an employee made to an insurance premium in 2013 and the average deductible together represented 9.6% of the median income of American households with members under age 65.

That is up from 8.4% in 2010 and nearly double the 5.3% that households were paying for employer-provided health coverage in 2003.

"Workers are paying more but getting less protective benefits," the report's authors noted. "Although the Affordable Care Act offers a platform from which to build, securing a more affordable future will likely require action beyond those reforms, focusing on costs of care, particularly for the privately insured."fit Commonwealth Fund found.

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


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; obamacare; obamacaredeductibles; obamacarepremiums

1 posted on 01/07/2015 10:34:40 PM PST by grundle
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To: grundle
Eventually--when the flaws of ObamaCare become so glaring that they simply can no longer be ignored, or explained away--there will probably be a move afoot to go to Universal Healthcare (UHC).

I am certainly no proponent of UHC--to put it mildly!--but even that would probably represent a fairly large step up from ObamaCare...

2 posted on 01/07/2015 10:43:35 PM PST by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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To: grundle

Single payer.

The poor and working class are being pushed into Medicaid.

They cannot afford private health insurance.

The insurance industry got too greedy when it jumped on the Obamacare bandwagon and dug its own grave.

Private health insurance is on its way out in this country.


3 posted on 01/07/2015 10:56:57 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: AmericanExceptionalist
From the article:

"Supporters of the law hoped it would also modulate skyrocketing costs, which had dramatically pushed up premiums and cost-sharing through the 2000s."

Sure, EMTALA (mandating care be provided in the ER to the uninsured) which passed in 1986 caused the cost problem in the first place. So, why not try it again by just giving the uninsured "free" insurance for everything. What could possibly go wrong? Morons.

4 posted on 01/07/2015 11:00:16 PM PST by garandgal
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To: garandgal

Where’s that story about Boner buying all the health insurance stocks in 2008, thus explaining his support for ZeroCare. Still waiting for that to be the Fox lead story...


5 posted on 01/07/2015 11:09:37 PM PST by TigerClaws
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To: TigerClaws
Well, I can only say this. We have an acquaintance whose Dad was a Mafia guy (really...like a famous one). My husband occasionally will tease him..."Hey, how's the Mob business lately?"

His reply..."Ehhh...the Feds took all of the good business 30 years ago." Look at the goons running things...think he's kidding?

6 posted on 01/07/2015 11:20:20 PM PST by garandgal
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To: grundle

whattya mean, reduced care??? I can now get a free sex change. I’ve been waiting 64 years for that!


7 posted on 01/07/2015 11:21:45 PM PST by llevrok (I fear the US government more than I do al Qaeda)
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To: grundle

This from the paper who sued to open Ryan’s child custody documents to help Obama win!


8 posted on 01/07/2015 11:40:52 PM PST by Lockbox
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To: grundle
Obama lied.
Repeatedly.
Period.
9 posted on 01/08/2015 3:34:43 AM PST by Amagi (Lenin: "Socialized Medicine is the Keystone to the Arch of the Socialist State.")
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To: grundle
"Although the Affordable Care Act has not led to soaring insurance costs..."

Disingenuous from the start as PPACA has not been fully implemented yet (Delaying the poop hitting the fan from egregious legislation as far as the Executive Branch can). Also has the author not been paying attention? Insurance costs have multiplied due to conforming to the law the democrats created.

People are either paying more or dropped coverage against their will. The alternative is cheaper medical insurance that does not provide adequate coverage like their previous insurance (Before PPACA) did. Again instituted by democrats, maintained by Statist.
10 posted on 01/08/2015 3:48:24 AM PST by rollo tomasi (Working hard to pay for deadbeats and corrupt politicians.)
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To: grundle

Not news


11 posted on 01/08/2015 4:11:12 AM PST by SMARTY ("When you blame others, you give up your power to change." Robert Anthony)
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To: grundle

WHY do people always end up, up to their eyeballs in the quicksand before they realize, “hey.. we’re in quicksand!”


12 posted on 01/08/2015 4:23:58 AM PST by VideoDoctor
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To: grundle

Yeah, all I know is that we are paying more for insurance, and more on deductibles. Every time the premiums go up, the service goes down. Now that the government is cutting back on Medicaid payments, we can expect another premium rise, and higher deductibles. Somebody has to pay the doctors.


13 posted on 01/08/2015 4:32:30 AM PST by pallis
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To: goldstategop

You are correct. The insurance industry eagerly signed on to it’s own extinction in exchange for a few quarters of fat profits and huge bonuses. I blame MBA programs.


14 posted on 01/08/2015 6:23:27 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: TigerClaws
Where’s that story about Boner buying all the health insurance stocks in 2008...?

Every time I see the name, "Boner," I think the reference is to the mayor of Nashville (where I used to reside) between 1987 and 1991 (and previously, a US Congressman from Tennessee's 5th District).

Bill Boner was a liberal Democrat--one of the last of his breed to be elected in the Volunteer State...

15 posted on 01/08/2015 11:14:01 PM PST by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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