I just got my health insurance rates for next year....

[Omaha Steve]

Down. It is only a small amount. But it is DOWN. It had been going up in double digits every year for years, even with a great union contract.

I can't figure out what has changed this year that might be responsible for this?

OS

[MANative]

1. Ours went up, but by far, far less than it had been rising.

We'd had 25-30% annual increases until Obamacare was enacted. This time was around 4%, with the same coverage as last year.

[rurallib]

2. I think the change was wrought by Republicans standing up to the insurance companies

do I really need this thingy?

[LawDeeDah]

15. oh, you got me good.

[MineralMan]

3. My wife's Silver plan went up about 15%.

It's still less than half what she was paying before ACA. I expected some adjustment this year. Rates in Minnesota were the lowest in the country. So, an adjustment was made. It still beats the Hell out of what she was paying before. Me? I'm on Medicare, which should be available to all, IMO.

[Lex]

21. Did she get a mailing when it was time to re-up her ACA plan?

My ACA plan through Blue Cross went into effect May 1st of this year, so it's not due to expire any time soon but I was wondering what the ACA's process is for letting you know it's time to re-enroll. Or do you get something from the insurance company itself?

[MineralMan]

31. The notice of the increase just said that if she did nothing

her Blue Cross plan would be automatically renewed. That's the way it works with Medicare supplements, too.

[louis-t]

37. I got an email.

But not from my provider. (McLaren). At least I know when it expires now.

[Lex]

39. Thanks.

[riqster]

4. Coinkeedink. Has to be.

Couldn't be due to that used-car salesman's shitty health care law. Naaah, that was a giveaway to the 1% and a betrayal of the masses, amirite ?

Has to be true, I read it on the Intertubez.

[zipplewrath]

5. Mine's up 20%

FWIW, mine went up 20%. There is now an "out of pocket" limit on prescriptions, but I'm dubious that would be a 20% impact.

[woo me with science]

23. +1 I just posted recently about seeing another 20 percent increase

on an ACA (individual) policy that went up 20 percent last year.

Unacceptable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5686167

Medical Debt: A Curable Affliction Health Reform Won’t Fix
http://www.pnhp.org/news/2013/june/medical-debt-a-curable-affliction-health-reform-won%E2%80%99t-fix

The high frequency of medical bankruptcy was often cited by advocates of health reform during the debate over the ACA. Yet the debate largely ignored the fact that most medical debtors actually have coverage. In order to protect Americans from bankruptcy, coverage must be truly comprehensive, that is, it must cover virtually 100 percent of all needed medical care. Unfortunately, the insurance policies mandated under ACA are required to cover only 60 percent of expected health-care costs.

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/health/2014/03/26/medical-bankruptcy/

56 MILLION Americans under age 65 will have trouble paying medical bills.

Over 35 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will be contacted by collections agencies for unpaid medical bills.

Nearly 17 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will receive a lower credit rating on account of their high medical bills.

Over 15 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will use up all their savings to pay medical bills.

Over 11 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will take on credit card debt to pay off their hospital bills.

Nearly 10 MILLION American adults (ages 19-64) will be unable to pay for basic necessities like rent, food, and heat due to their medical bills.

Over 16 MILLION children live in households struggling with medical bills.

Despite having year-round insurance coverage, 10 MILLION insured Americans ages 19-64 will face bills they are unable to pay.

1.7 MILLION Americans live in households that will declare bankruptcy due to their inability to pay their medical bills.

Three states will account for over one-quarter of those living in medical-related bankruptcy: California (248,002), Illinois (113,524), and Florida (99,780).

To save costs, over 25 MILLION adults (ages 19-64) will not take their prescription drugs as indicated, including skipping doses, taking less medicine than prescribed or delaying a refill.

[BrotherIvan]

30. Mine is up 25%

It's been going up between 30-40% every year. I was hoping the ACA would help that, but no such luck. I really, really hate my insurance.

[zipplewrath]

41. It really did very little for health CARE costs.

It did alot for insurance costs for people who could get subsidies, or had pre-existing conditions, etc. But almost by design, it did very little at all for those who already had moderately good insurance. For people who had "cadillac" policies (mostly union members and the like) or other fairly decent policies, have they've seen some increased costs or major restructuring of their policies. Much of that is more than worth it to "level the field" so to speak. But sooner or later we have to get a grip on health CARE costs, not just insurance.

[WhiteTara]

6. Thanks Obama nt

[garf]

24. Yes - thanks Obama! <nt>

no text here either

[Nay]

7. Ours went up about 6 bucks per month, which is about the same as past years. nt

[NYC_SKP]

8. I haven't checked rates, but am tempted to leave Anthem.

I had about $600,000 in work done this year at Stanford Hospital, and had to fight Anthem for coverage.

I'm still fighting over a $27,500 helicopter ride, but think I'll win.

Stanford hospital was in network but physicians were not and now it looks like both will drop Anthem as a partner.

These people are the best and I want to stay with them.

I should say I'm grateful to Anthem for not fighting back when I filed 14 grievances worth almost all of that $600K, but I really shouldn't have had to go through all that.

Thanks, for sure, to ACA and Obama!

K/R

[MaggieD]

12. Insurance companies ALL suck

Other than jobs, insurance payers are simply parasites on the health care system. It's always pulling teeth to get them to pay anything they think they can get out of paying.

Even the not for profit insurance plans are paying their executives millions per year. Non-profit just means the executives get the money instead of shareholders.

Single payer is the answer.

[Bigmack]

13. What you said... times 100.... nt

[flamingdem]

22. Are you thinking of switching to Blue Shield?

I am thinking about it since Anthem has such narrow networks in Socal. Not sure about any other options yet.

[NYC_SKP]

42. I changed, I love it.

[SmittynMo]

9. My ACA amount went down

Coventry sent me a letter indicating my silver account was being eliminated. I will automatically be shifted in January to a new bronze plan. My doctor does take that bronze plan, and that is good news. I must preface this story that our ACA account was created back in September, when my wife retired at 62. I am still unemployed at 60 and we had to apply for insurance.

Coventry has not listed the details on the new plan yet of yet, but I suspect higher deductibles. This new plan is much cheaper (hundreds) than the silver plan. More details after Nov 15, when registration starts.

So far, I'm quite pleased with the results with the ACA. Even our Rx drugs are cheaper. Go Obamacare!!!

[Thunderbeast]

10. My retiree plan increased by 71% - ACA will save my bacon!

My former employer has stopped subsidizing retiree health plans. My renewal for 2015 went up 71% to over $800! Were it not for the ACA, I would have been trapped in this expensive plan. I will be shopping for a replacement plan, and expect to pay $300 less per month. I can also thank the ACA for providing affordable insurance for my adult kids.

At this point, the anti-Obabmacare hysteria is proving to be a red herring. The right wing used the ACA to generate scary lies, and gave the Klanster/Bircher/racists a new outlet (along with abortion and gay rights) to push their anti-tax, anti-regulation agenda.

Dumb F@#%in' Fools!

[MaggieD]

11. The max out of pocket for our plan at my business....

Went from $1.5K to $6.4K (highest allowed under Obamacare). Every plan available in my state to my small business for my employees maxed out on the out of pocket that the ACA allows, and the deductible went from $200 to $750. The monthly premiums went down quite a bit, but the cost sharing is huge now compared to previous plans available.

I'm still in favor of Obamacare though. I have always paid 100% of my employee's health insurance costs because I think health care is a right and not a privilege. But the monthly premiums are only part of the story.

[Stainless]

14. My Medicare Supplemental Plan up more than 60% in three years

Was set to go up 20% this year. I decided to shop around. Medicare coverage has been hijacked and abused by the for-profit insurance companies.

[Bigmack]

16. All this shit is waaaaay too complicated. Single payer! nt

[A Little Weird]

28. +1000000

My insurance went up this year but I would have to find last year's book to really compare the specifics. It would have gone up without the ACA also (as it has every year).

I know several people who didn't have any insurance before who now have it so I think it's a good thing. But I agree - I hate dealing with insurance and trying to figure this stuff out. I wish we could hope for single payer but I don't see it happening anytime soon.

[handmade34]

17. ....

hope for good change...

[malthaussen]

18. They've already reached the limit of what they can charge you?

Naw, not in America. Must be something else. Some Socialist thing, I bet.

-- Mal

[IronLionZion]

19. Enough teapublicans and leftist DUers bashed the ACA nonstop

that the people setting the rates must have learned their lesson!

Maybe if and when the remaining red state Dems get thrown out Tuesday and GOP controls both houses of congress, the tea party will finally have a change of heart and go for single payer.

[valerief]

20. The generous hand of the free market.

[underpants]

26. MLR Medical Loss Ratio

The insurance companies are still allowed a ridiculous 20% overhead+profit but they have to spend 80% of PREMIUMS on actual benefits (and some R&D/research). Big cost lowering element in Obamacare.

[maced666]

27. That is Obamacare WORKING.

You know, that thing Dems are running FROM?!
This should be one of the main election points every day of every election. Yet we barely hear a peep of the programs overwhelming successes.

[Omaha Steve]

29. UPDATE

The City of Omaha is self insured because it costs less. They use Coventry Health Care of NE as the administrator. The administrator is bid for in 3 year increments. Blue Cross is usually the other bidder.

There are no changes to any of my benefits from this year to the next as per our union contract.

OS

[LWolf]

32. Mine went up.

Again. Just like it does every year.

[pangaia]

33. Maybe I shouldn't even post this but, here goes..

My Medicare Advantage plan with MVP (a not for profit insurance company) in western NY is going up from $72/mo to $136.50 -both include Part D. Also in all their plans, Part B drugs, such as chemo -which in particular interests me as I had lymphoma 2 years ago - is going from about a $40-100 co-pay to 20% !
20% of $6000 - $8000 per visit is.... MAX out of pocket is still $6000.
Outpatient surgery (think cataract surgery- I had 2 last year) is going from $300 co-pay to $600.

The little increases, doc visits, specialist, etc... I can deal with. although they are even going up 30%-50%.

Excellus is here also and another not-for-profit.
Guess I will be shopping around..and or getting a cheaper plan.

I will be 71 on Wed. When I turned 65 I spent weeks studying options so I think I know a bit about how to choose, but.. WHY this is happening? Not a clue...

[krispos42]

34. Obviously the invisible hand of the free market lowered your rates.

*snicker*

[joeglow3]

35. Mine went down a little (little old company on 10th street)

We are self insured though.

[Orsino]

36. Mine are going way up.

But that's because my company's in trouble. They're also finally kicking my wife off my plan.

[Helen Borg]

38. Perhaps insurance companies have gotten more generous?

Perhaps they finally feel that they have to care more about their customers. Dunno.

[PasadenaTrudy]

40. Mine is going up $50 a month

to $509. Too much! I'm going to have to downgrade.