When the Affordable Care Act was passed we were told it was the first step to quality

[rhett o rick]

health care. Now it's time for step two. Have we heard anything about step two?

[Gravitycollapse]

1. Yeah step two is me being uninsurable until 2014.

[liberal_at_heart]

3. and me paying $925/month is premiums until 2014

[Gravitycollapse]

4. Ah man. This new healthcare system is so awesome.

[Poll_Blind]

2. Step 2 is you invest in health care stocks (and sell 'em later) to afford quality healthcare. nt

PB

[Chuuku Davis]

5. Can not

Afford stocks

[Poll_Blind]

7. Me either! nt

PB

[JVS]

13. Borrow money to buy stock!

[ProSense]

6. Here:

Sec. Kathleen Sebelius

Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for High Premium Increases

The Affordable Care Act prohibits some of the worst insurance industry practices that have kept affordable health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. It provides families and individuals with new protections against discriminatory rates due to pre-existing conditions, holds insurance companies accountable for how they spend your premium dollars, and prevents insurance companies from raising your insurance premium rates without accountability or transparency.

For more than a decade before the Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums had risen rapidly, straining the pocketbooks of American families and businesses. Oftentimes, insurance companies were able to raise rates without explanation to consumers or public justification of their actions.



The Affordable Care Act brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases by requiring insurance companies in every state to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10% or more. Insurance companies are required to provide easy to understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, and any unreasonable rate increases are posted online.

And it's working.

A new report released today shows that the health care law is helping to moderate premium hikes. Since this rule was implemented, the number of requests for insurance premium increases of 10% or more has dropped dramatically, from 75% to 14%. The average premium increase for all rates in 2012 was 30% below what it was in 2010. And available data suggest that this slowdown in rate increases has continued into 2013.

- more -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/holding-insurance-compani_b_2742501.html

Rules finalized for the good stuff in Obamacare

by Joan McCarter

The bulk of the most popular stuff of the Affordable Care act hasn't gone into effect yet, but the regulations for it have been finalized, so insurance companies will have plenty of time to get used to the fact that there are going to be real limits on how much they can screw you starting next year.

Those new regulations hit the five key consumer protections:

• Guaranteed Availability
  Nearly all health insurance companies offering coverage to individuals and employers will be required to sell health insurance policies to all consumers. No one can be denied health insurance because they have or had an illness.
  
  
• Fair Health Insurance Premiums
  Health insurance companies offering coverage to individuals and small employers will only be allowed to vary premiums based on age, tobacco use, family size, and geography. Basing premiums on other factors will be illegal. The factors that are no longer permitted in 2014 include health status, past insurance claims, gender, occupation, how long an individual has held a policy, or size of the small employer.
  
  
• Guaranteed Renewability
  Health insurance companies will no longer refuse to renew coverage because an individual or an employee has become sick. You may renew your coverage at your option.
  
  
• Single Risk Pool
  Health insurance companies will no longer be able to charge higher premiums to higher cost enrollees by moving them into separate risk pools. Insurers are required to maintain a single state-wide risk pool for the individual market and single state-wide risk pool for the small group market.
  
  
• Catastrophic Plans
  Young adults and people for whom coverage would otherwise be unaffordable will have access to a catastrophic plan in the individual market. Catastrophic plans generally will have lower premiums, protect against high out-of-pocket costs, and cover recommended preventive services without cost sharing.

This is the stuff that's going to make Obamacare no longer a dirty word. It's also the stuff that's going to lessen opposition to a larger federal government role in all of our health care, a good starting point to the much larger, systemic reforms that are still going to have to happen to fix health care in America.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/22/1189127/-Rules-finalized-for-the-good-stuff-in-nbsp-Obamacare

How Obamacare Will Help Extend Health Care To Part-Time Workers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022309389

Here’s one way Obamacare changed today
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251288922

[liberal_at_heart]

8. 2014 is a long way away and I will believe it when I see it

I am paying $925/month in premiums right now. I am so busy paying for premiums I am not making doctor appointments because I know I can't afford the co-pays, so essentially I'm paying for healthcare that I'm not using. Single payer is the only thing that is going to truly bring quality and affordable healthcare to all!

[Gravitycollapse]

9. My god. Ponder what life would be like with single payer.

So much of my debt would be relieved. I could afford counseling. I could see doctor about my digestive problems. I wouldn't have to pay 900 dollars a month for medication.

[liberal_at_heart]

10. medical debt is what trashed our credit

and I'll never get it back because I still can't afford the 20% that the insurance won't cover. The bills just get put in the can't afford to pay pile, and then they go to collections.

[rhett o rick]

11. Do you just push a button to get those? When some said that the ACA wasnt enough, the

meme was that it was just the beginning. That it was a step in the right direction towards single payer. As you said, "a good starting point to the much larger, systemic reforms that are still going to have to happen to fix health care in America."

I am asking when will we see the next phase?

[ProSense]

12. Yes,

"Do you just push a button to get those?"

...all it takes is a few clicks.


"I am asking when will we see the next phase? "

From healthare.gov:

Enrollment in the Marketplace starts in October 2013.

Whether you’re uninsured, need insurance for your small business, or just want to explore your choices, the Health Insurance Marketplace can help you find a plan that’s right for you.

http://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace/get-ready/index.html

[rhett o rick]

14. Plez dont insult me. nm

[ProSense]

15. Please don't be offended by facts. n/t

[rhett o rick]

17. Your facts are not aimed at addressing the question. Distraction is apparently one of your tools. nm

[ProSense]

18. No,

"Your facts are not aimed at addressing the question. Distraction is apparently one of your tools. "

...you didn't like the original answer: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2503277

So you attempted to insult: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2503695

Now, you're the one attempting a "distraction."

[rhett o rick]

19. An insult? You post a canned response that may be facts but doesnt address the question

posted. That's a distraction.

You still havent addressed my question. I know your facts. I appreciate your facts. I think the ACA is a great step forward. I want to continue forward. DO YOU?

[Egalitarian Thug]

22. Two tools: Hey, look over there!

And the links to posts of links to other posts that link to another post that links to a Whitehouse.gov page that doesn't say what it is reported to say. I call this one the Inigo Montoya.

[green for victory]

16. when they're done fixing NAFTA

It's amazing how the 1% got us to fight ourselves, while their getaway car drove off into the sunset.

Brilliant, really.

[Egalitarian Thug]

20. Don't worry, be happy (unless you've chosen to be being sick now, then just fuck off and be quiet).

The all-powerful and well-meaning OZ will fix it later.

If only someone had told us years ago...

[Reale]

21. ""affordable Care Act"

Unfortunately,since the passage of the ACA premiums have soared and the quality of health care has not improved. Until health care is considered a right, necessary for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to become a reality; for profit managed care companies will always "win". I am a physician and am deeply troubled about the decline in our health care system in the last 30 years.
For profit managed care companies operate under a deny and deter policy that is difficult for even the most savy "patient" to deal with.
We can and must do better,but we need the help of the federal government to prevail against a health care system that is powerfully motivated by profit, and what ever it takes to do well on Wall street.
I believe our President wants a fair and high quality system, but the policies are not currently in place to achieve these nobel goals.
Hopefully there are people in D.C. who are working hard to help the ACA actually make health care more available, more affordable and similar to the quality of care we had in this country many years ago.
The GOP will never understand what it is like to face a serious illness, without good indemnity insurance. They do not have to, because they have the kind of insurance that President Obama said he wanted all americans to have.
I hope i live to see a day when that opportunity is offered to all americans!

[Rhiannon12866]

23. Thank you, excellent post!

I couldn't agree more! And welcome to DU, Reale! It's great to have you (and your informed opinion) with us!

[In_The_Wind]

24. Glad you joined us ~ Reale

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