Kaiser Foundation survey on Obamacare

[Bob78164]

Two key takeaways from this survey.

First, among all those purchasing insurance through the exchanges, 57% were previously uninsured.

Second, among those who used to have non-compliant insurance and now have compliant insurance, 46% say their premiums are lower, whereas 39% say their premiums are higher.

Both of these figures omit people who obtained insurance thanks to the Medicare expansion.

Seems to me that this is solid evidence Obamacare is getting more people insured at lower cost. --Bob

[silverscreenselect]

First, among all those purchasing insurance through the exchanges, 57% were previously uninsured.

Second, among those who used to have non-compliant insurance and now have compliant insurance, 46% say their premiums are lower, whereas 39% say their premiums are higher.

Premiums themselves are definitely higher, although how much of that is due to Obamacare's mandates and how much due to the normal increase year-to-year in healthcare costs is somewhat questionable. This year insurance companies have the Obamacare straw man to blame for anything and everything that people feel is bad about their policies. And many Obamacare plans have narrower networks than other plans offered by the same insurer (again there's no guarantee under any plan that any particular doctor or hospital will remain on the plan from year to year).

The reason what many people pay is lower are the subsidies. Families that do not qualify for subsidies (which is over $62,000 a year for a couple or $94,000 for a family of four) are hit with the full premium cost, which can be substantial. Since premiums increase by age, moderate income empty nest couples in their 50s and early 60s can easily face a huge premium with no subsidy available.

The truth is that it's a badly flawed system that needs fixing, but in this political climate, that's not likely to happen.

[Bob Juch]

Two key takeaways from this survey.

First, among all those purchasing insurance through the exchanges, 57% were previously uninsured.

Second, among those who used to have non-compliant insurance and now have compliant insurance, 46% say their premiums are lower, whereas 39% say their premiums are higher.

Both of these figures omit people who obtained insurance thanks to the Medicare expansion.

Seems to me that this is solid evidence Obamacare is getting more people insured at lower cost. --Bob

All most people have to do to know this is to look at their own and their friend's insurance if they don't have employer-paid plans.

I'm about to go from paying 100% for my own plan to employer-paid. The employer-paid plan has higher caps, deductibles, and copays but will be about $1000 a month less from my pocket.

[smilergrogan]

This chart of healthcare costs shows that you are wrong:

Spoiler

[Bob Juch]

First, among all those purchasing insurance through the exchanges, 57% were previously uninsured.

Second, among those who used to have non-compliant insurance and now have compliant insurance, 46% say their premiums are lower, whereas 39% say their premiums are higher.

Premiums themselves are definitely higher, although how much of that is due to Obamacare's mandates and how much due to the normal increase year-to-year in healthcare costs is somewhat questionable. This year insurance companies have the Obamacare straw man to blame for anything and everything that people feel is bad about their policies. And many Obamacare plans have narrower networks than other plans offered by the same insurer (again there's no guarantee under any plan that any particular doctor or hospital will remain on the plan from year to year).

The reason what many people pay is lower are the subsidies. Families that do not qualify for subsidies (which is over $62,000 a year for a couple or $94,000 for a family of four) are hit with the full premium cost, which can be substantial. Since premiums increase by age, moderate income empty nest couples in their 50s and early 60s can easily face a huge premium with no subsidy available.

The truth is that it's a badly flawed system that needs fixing, but in this political climate, that's not likely to happen.

Actually Obamacare narrowed the rate differences based on age.

I don't know what you mean by, "And many Obamacare plans have narrower networks than other plans offered by the same insurer," as all plans are Obamacare plans.

[christie1111]

Well, Obamacare or whatever the CT version is saved Daughter1111s boyfriend a ton of money. Previously uninsured but signed up before the deadline. Luckily his appendicitis was after that.

[silverscreenselect]

I don't know what you mean by, "And many Obamacare plans have narrower networks than other plans offered by the same insurer," as all plans are Obamacare plans.

By "Obamacare plans," I meant plans that are offered through the various state and federal exchanges and that qualify for subsidies. Many carriers are still offering their own individual plans outside the exchanges. Some of these are the so-called "grandmothered" plans that were exempted from full compliance for one year, and others are new plans these companies are offering that must comply with all the PPACA mandates for coverage.

It appears that a number of companies that chose to sit out 2014 as far as the exchanges will be getting involved more heavily for 2015, so the problem of narrow networks won't be as bad next year.

[geoffil]

I am one of the unlucky ones. My premium went up thousands and the deductible tripled to $2500. A few of my doctors opted out of the plan so now I pay higher costs for out of network too. So while some benefited, many did not.

[Bob Juch]

I am one of the unlucky ones. My premium went up thousands and the deductible tripled to $2500. A few of my doctors opted out of the plan so now I pay higher costs for out of network too. So while some benefited, many did not.

Something's wrong.

Is this an individual plan or a group plan through your employer? Many employer plans went up because the employers decided to pay less, not because the cost went up. If it's an individual plan did you get it through the Marketplace?

Was this a plan you shopped around for or what your insurance company said was their new plan for you? I've heard that some insurance companies used Obamacare as an excuse to cancel existing plans and replace them with ones that screw their customers.

Doctors contract with insurance companies to accept payment at rates the insurance company says they're going to pay. If doctors are not renewing their contracts it because either the rate is too low or that they're having problems with the company paying slowly or playing games with the claims.

[geoffil]

It is a work plan and my experience is similar to many people that have work plans.

[Bob78164]

It is a work plan and my experience is similar to many people that have work plans.

I suspect that in this case Bob Juch may be right. The "easiest" way to discover the true cost of a plan (including employer subsidies) is to go onto COBRA. (Of course, this requires losing your job.)

I'm wondering whether you compared the values available through the exchanges to what you're getting through work. --Bob

[Bob Juch]

It is a work plan and my experience is similar to many people that have work plans.

Yeah, as I said, many companies are using Obamacare as an excuse to lower their contributions. If your deductible went up that was your employer's choice.

My new job has an individual deductible of $700, $1400 total family.
The coinsurance is 20%.
The annual cap is $4000 individual, $8000 family.
Office visits are $25 for the PCP, $35 for specialists.
ER visits are $150, Urgent Care $35.

Total cost for family coverage is $440.63.

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

This chart of healthcare costs shows that you are wrong:

Spoiler

ISWYDT