Just got my bill for January's heath insurance, it more than doubled to $733, thanks.

[carolkoh]

When I first moved to San Diego my neighbor was a self insured day trader who would tell me his rates
would as much as DOUBLE every few months. This predates so called Obamacare by 8 years my friend.

I believe that! I was self-insured for a short period in Virginia - about 20 years ago now. My rates went up by about 20% - 50% every quarter without my ever USING the insurance. At that time, I was in my early 30s and as healthy as a young woman could be.

What did I do? I went back working for someone. LoL. I could not afford to be self employed and still be covered medically.

 

[DaveyF]

.....as a result of the ACA. If the law hadn't been passed, do you think that the government would allow such a drastic hike in premiums?

Tom

I guess you don't live in Calif, LOL.
The government couldn't and didn't do anything when one of the dear insurance companies ( Anthem Blue Cross) decided a few years ago to arbitrarily increase their premiums by over 40% in one day. Public outcry hit them hard and they retreated...only to continue to increase at the next earliest opportunity. Uncle Sam...not a peep!
Like I said earlier, as long as we have these heinous insurance companies looking after the public health care system...we have a perfect "wolf looking after the sheep pen ( or hen house )" scenario. Oh, last time I talked to my insurance rep, she was placing the blame on the "greedy" providers...hmmm

 

[Andre Marc]

I believe that! I was self-insured for a short period in Virginia - about 20 years ago now. My rates went up by about 20% - 50% every quarter without my ever USING the insurance. At that time, I was in my early 30s and as healthy as a young woman could be.

What did I do? I went back working for someone. LoL. I could not afford to be self employed and still be covered medically.

Thank you Carol. My neighbor was also a healthy 30 something. This nonsense about the rate hikes being tied to Obamacare is offensive.

It is pure and utter gauging and profiteering, with insurance companies using the political climate to their advantage.

 

[DaveyF]

My neighbor was also a healthy 30 something. This nonsense about the rate hikes being tied to Obamacare is offensive.

It is pure and utter gauging and profiteering, with insurance companies using the political climate to their advantage.

+10000

 

[Andre Marc]

+10000

Davey, the thread title should have been:

Just got my bill for January's heath insurance, it more than doubled to $733, thanks...you greedy executives who run health insurance companies for the benefit of your shareholders and to collect your ridiculous bonuses.

 

[BlueFox]

.....as a result of the ACA. If the law hadn't been passed, do you think that the government would allow such a drastic hike in premiums?

I guess I am missing something here. I didn't know the government had any control over insurance rates before the ACA. My understanding was the out of control insurance rates, dropping sick ratepayers when they try to use the insurance, denying insurance to others, and other abuses by the insurance companies were some of the reasons for the ACA.

Whatever the reason, put me in favor of the ACA. While it certainly can be improved, it is better than what was before.

 

[Peter Breuninger]

Here is the other thing I don't get-if you had some insurance coverage whether your own plan or an employer's plan and your rates doubled, I would think that you had some pretty marginal coverage. This is especially true if you purchased your own plan outside of an employer. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Sometimes you get lucky and you get more than what you paid for and sometimes you get less than what you paid for. On average, you probably get what you pay for if you do your homework.

I thought I had posted this but I can't find the needle in the haystack
Aetna Old premium: $310
Co-pay Doc visits: $10
Deductibles: out of pocked per annum: 1500/3000 (the $3,000 is for out-of-network providers, my providers are all in network)

Aetna under Obamacare: $733 (forced to take)
Co-pay Doc visit: $20
Deductible: out of pocket per annum $3,000

Platinum ACA Obamacare:
Keystone Blue Cross: $789
Co-pay Doc visit: $20
Deductible: out of pocket per annum $3,000

The least costly "new plan" that offers less coverage will cost me $423 plus the deductible increase (1500/12=125)= to a 548 per month increase (assumes I need it). The percentage increase from 310 is a 170% increase. Mep, what are your coverage's and premiums?

BTW, I was born the son of a minister who died when I was 23. I inherited no assets or family business opportunities upon his death or my Mom's death of three weeks ago. I paid for my own education. I worked hard my whole life, I took my first job at age 15 to pay for a McIntosh amp that my Dad co-signed for.

 

[Andre Marc]

I thought I had posted this but I can't find the needle in the haystack
Aetna Old premium: $310
Co-pay Doc visits: $10
Deductibles: out of pocked per annum: 1500/3000 (the $3,000 is for out-of-network providers, my providers are all in network)

Aetna under Obamacare: $733 (forced to take)
Co-pay Doc visit: $20
Deductible: out of pocket per annum $3,000

Platinum ACA Obamacare:
Keystone Blue Cross: $789
Co-pay Doc visit: $20
Deductible: out of pocket per annum $3,000

The least costly "new plan" that offers less coverage will cost me $423 plus the deductible increase (1500/12=125)= to a 548 per month increase (assumes I need it). The percentage increase from 310 is a 170% increase. Mep, what are your coverage's and premiums?

BTW, I was born the son of a minister who died when I was 23. I inherited no assets or family business opportunities upon his death or my Mom's death of three weeks ago. I paid for my own education. I worked hard my whole life, I took my first job at age 15 to pay for a McIntosh amp that my Dad co-signed for.

Peter, I am still wondering, what are your options as far as finding new coverage from another Insurance Provider?

You say you were "forced" take a certain premium..

Don't you have the ability to shop around?

 

[edorr]

Thank you Carol. My neighbor was also a healthy 30 something. This nonsense about the rate hikes being tied to Obamacare is offensive.

It is pure and utter gauging and profiteering, with insurance companies using the political climate to their advantage.

I work in professional services. The mantra after the 2008-2009 recession was "never let a good crisis go to waste". My neighbor was let go at IBM after 20 years of service, and they rehired the same role for half the salary. Shareholder value uber alles. The same is happening with Obamacare.

The reality is the root cause of out of control health care cost is the general public is getting shafted by private sector service providers and insurers. Our insurance company was billed $25,000 for removal of a splinter (45minutes procedure) in my wife's finger. I have a shoulder injury - my doctor strongly advises me against getting an MRI, because he says the orthopedic surgeon will inevitably see a $20,000 operation opportunity, that I probably won't need. The system is screwed up beyond believe. Obamacare is a godsend for the free market champions to divert attention from the true root causes of why this is the case.

 

[DaveyF]

Davey, the thread title should have been:

Just got my bill for January's heath insurance, it more than doubled to $733, thanks...you greedy executives who run health insurance companies for the benefit of your shareholders and to collect your ridiculous bonuses.

So very true, Andre.

 

[Andre Marc]

I work in professional services. The mantra after the 2008-2009 recession was "never let a good crisis go to waste". My neighbor was let go at IBM after 20 years of service, and they rehired the same role for half the salary. Shareholder value uber alles. The same is happening with Obamacare.

The reality is the root cause of out of control health care cost is the general public is getting shafted by private sector service providers and insurers. Our insurance company was billed $25,000 for removal of a splinter (45minutes procedure) in my wife's finger. I have a shoulder injury - my doctor strongly advises me against getting an MRI, because he says the orthopedic surgeon will inevitably see a $20,000 operation opportunity, that I probably won't need. The system is screwed up beyond believe. Obamacare is a godsend for the free market champions to divert attention from the true root causes of why this is the case.

edorr, your post illustrates what we all know..things are OUT OF CONTROL. While there are health care providers who put profits first, it must be said
that the overwhelming majority treat their patients ethically and are not procedure driven. I have been luck in this regard at least.

 

[Steve williams]

Health Insurance companies that raise their premiums DO SO BY CHOICE, and have been for years.

I can't disagree Andre and profit for the share holders is all important but having said that I do believe that there has been an unusual upward spiral of medical insurance presumably related to these companies having to insure patients that otherwise would not be insured. IOW these offset what they say will be rising costs based on taking these higher risk patients

Perhaps I'm wrong but Andre is correct to an extent. I believe other factors have added fuel to the fire

 

[edorr]

edorr, your post illustrates what we all know..things are OUT OF CONTROL. While there are health care providers who put profits first, it must be said
that the overwhelming majority treat their patients ethically and are not procedure driven. I have been luck in this regard at least.

No doubt - most physicians I deal with are fine and ethical professionals. But a system designed to maximize revenue / profit will yield outcomes consistent with that incentive. Profit / revenue maximization on one side of the ledger is highest cost by far in the western world on the other side.

 

[ddk]

No, I'm not knocking everything and responses like yours are why threads like this one get shut down.

I still don't see anything in defense of obamacare.

david

 

[Steve williams]

No doubt - most physicians I deal with are fine and ethical professionals. But a system designed to maximize revenue / profit will yield outcomes consistent with that incentive. Profit / revenue maximization on one side of the ledger is highest cost by far in the western world on the other side.

Can't disagree completely however I can tell you that the fraudulent billing by doctors in Canada under the socialized medicine plan is just as bad.

There are scum bags in every profession everywhere

 

[edorr]

Can't disagree completely however I can tell you that the fraudulent billing by doctors in Canada under the socialized medicine plan is just as bad.

There are scum bags in every profession everywhere

Compared to divorce lawyers, healthcare providers are saints

 

[Steve williams]

Compared to divorce lawyers, healthcare providers are saints

now the lawyers are the ones who refuse to take on anyone without a large retainer and/or the ability to pay unless court ordered or this is what they do. How many times in court have I heard an attorney tell a judge when he was asked if they are ready to proceed and have the lawyer say that they are waiting for Mr Green

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Can't disagree completely however I can tell you that the fraudulent billing by doctors in Canada under the socialized medicine plan is just as bad.

There are scum bags in every profession everywhere

Pretty sad isn't it. No matter where it occurs the user ends up paying.

 

[Steve williams]

Pretty sad isn't it. No matter where it occurs the user ends up paying.

I read the hot sheet that comes out from the Medical Board of California and most of the accusations filed against doctors and healthcare providers if not for egregious acts are related to false billing. Not only do these doctors lose their licenses but they also go to jail

 

[Andre Marc]

I can't disagree Andre and profit for the share holders is all important but having said that I do believe that there has been an unusual upward spiral of medical insurance presumably related to these companies having to insure patients that otherwise would not be insured. IOW these offset what they say will be rising costs based on taking these higher risk patients

Perhaps I'm wrong but Andre is correct to an extent. I believe other factors have added fuel to the fire

Steve, I believe you are correct, they are raising premiums in ANTICIPATION of rising costs..but has that happened yet? That is absurd.

Would a cable manufacturer raise prices in anticipation of rising silver or copper costs?