My health insurance just went up 35% for 2015

[louis-t]

Everyone I've talked to has said the same. I think the insurance companies are testing the waters to see how many people will stay.

[steve2470]

1. I feel your pain, mine went up 25%, I had to downgrade coverage nt

[Capt. Obvious]

2. I give until post 7

for the first person to tell you you should have shopped around.

Post 19 for the first person who doesn't live in America to chime in that you don't know how shop for insurance plans.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

8. What post number for 'We need single payer, and no more health insurance companies?' nt

[Doctor_J]

11. What about, "you're wrong - post your tax returns and we'll prove it"?

[helpmetohelpyou]

15. Canadians

[steve2470]

16. love the clip nt

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

3. I knew this would happen, when people have had enough they will threaten nationwide

protests or general strike, until then we deserve to be fucked over, for being stupid

Obama did the best he could do given the situation, and now we have to go further.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Mine went up by about $20. Covered California. There are changes this year in available plans, tho

More to come.

[NYC_SKP]

5. ******* Premiums are Lower in 14 States. 2%-5% typical increase elsewhere, far lower than before!

Obama administration officials announced on Thursday that health care premiums for policies available through the Affordable Care Act will increase slightly on average in 2015, growing at a far slower rate than they did before President Barack Obama signed reform into law in 2010.

Premiums will decrease, on average, in at least 14 of the 35 states where the federal government has established a health care exchange. In the remaining 21 states, premiums will fluctuate between a two percent increase in Utah and Wisconsin to a 28 percent spike in Alaska. On average, the report concludes that premiums for the second-lowest cost policy will rise “by 2 percent on average this year before tax credits, while premiums for the lowest-cost silver plan will increase on average by 5 percent.”

Prior to reform, an analysis conducted for the Commonwealth Fund, found that on average, premiums in the individual and small group markets rose by more than 10 percent annually.

The 26-page report also notes that more than 25 percent more insurers are participating in the exchanges in 2015, meaning that “91 percent of consumers will be able to choose from 3 or more issuers—up from 74 percent in 2014.” The administration is encouraging enrollees who had signed up for coverage in 2014 to shop around this year, noting that the plans offering the lowest prices may have changed as new issuers enter the market and compete for customers. Approximately two-thirds of existing customers will be able to find coverage for $100 a month or less.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/12/04/3599808/obamacare-premiums-fall-in-at-least-14-states/

[Autumn]

9. Where does that come from? Here in CO we have a health care exchange. Mine damn near

doubled. I did look at others on the exchange but I kept my silver, I didn't want to have to change to another Dr.

[NYC_SKP]

12. YMMV, but here's the link to the HHS report in the article:

PDF: http://www.aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2015/premiumReport/healthPremium2015.pdf

I'm in California so I have no idea about Colorado, every state being different.

My options fell from lots of providers down to four companies, only one of which has Stanford Hospital and Clinics in Palo Alto in their network, hospitals and doctors.

I had Anthem Blue Cross Silver and their plan went up maybe $20, but I'm changing to a Blue Shield Bronze plan at a lower cost because I know I'll hit my deductible and out of pocket this year when they whittle a piece of plastic to stick in my skull where they removed a chunk of dead bone tissue last month.

Insurance rocks, over $500,000 in claims since May for me.

[steve2470]

20. Insurance does rock

I'm so glad you're better, and hopefully nothing else will happen until...well...you know.

I remind myself of stories like yours when I fork over my premiums every month. There but for the grace of God go I.

[NYC_SKP]

21. Yup. Some things can't be done in ER, and I don't believe in making others pay for me.

Period.

I will call them as I see them and in any state with ACA and Medicare expansion and subsidies, if a person won't participate and then needs service, I consider them a freeloader and I believe that there should be consequences.

Anyway, this is the magic they can do in modern medicine that doesn't cost much (if anything) if you have insurance. Don't try this at home:



Of course, that's just the first surgery result. Still, the infection is gone and I'm filled with energy and joy!

Thanks for the kind thoughts!

Happy Season!

[still_one]

26. Why don't you keep the silver until you are finished with the procedures? Why go to one where there

Is more deductible until you know you are sailing clear, unless of course the silver premium is putting a strain on your situation

All the best to you

[NYC_SKP]

29. Thanks. The reason is that having Anthem cover Stanford hospital AND doctors is kind of a gift.

doctors are out of network, and out of network out of pocket is $10,000 I don't want to spend.

The only surefire way to get my fourth surgery done all in network without changing hospitals is to move to Blue Shield.

I may stay with silver, I have to do the math, but I know I have another +/1 $100,000 to have done, it's the creation of an artificial piece of skull to fit the part they removed and that can't be cheap.

It also takes two teams: neurology and plastic surgery!

Happy holidays!

[still_one]

31. Got it thanks. We are neighbors I am in San Jose. I always thought you were from

New York

Regardless, I think we are fortunate to live in Northern California

Happy Holidays

[NYC_SKP]

34. From CA but lived in NYC for some years.

After I left I became an "SKP" from "NYC"!

In Sunnyvale today, I live on the other end of 17, then south a bit.

[Autumn]

27. Do you receive a subsidy?

[NYC_SKP]

30. I don't qualify.

And I'm single and have to cover it all, no employer contribution.

For me, the cost is very reasonable compared to the $1,350 I paid monthly in 2013 for COBRA.

[steve2470]

23. glad you included this post for context....

Here's my theory: my plan WAS platinum. If you're filthy rich, who cares if your premium goes up 25%, right ?

Now it's a bronze plan with a huge deductible. The insurance companies, I think, want to crowd us all into bronze plans to maximize profits. One day, we the American people will say THIS FUCKING SUCKS, and single payer will have a real chance in Congress. Yes, the ACA is much better than the old way, but it's only a step to single payer or an NHS-style system.

[stevenleser]

41. They can't maximize profits. They have to spend no less than a certain percentage of premiums on

actual care.

[steve2470]

43. true

I seriously doubt many will be able to afford the platinum plans after a while. I had one, but the premium jumped 25%. I think more and more people will be forced to go to bronze. I don't know how their accounting has to work, I know the medical loss ratio is 80%. If they have to do that accounting on each individual plan, then I was wrong, indeed. If they have to apply the MLR to their overall business, then I can see how they would subsidize bronze plans with much higher rates on platinum and gold plans.

I just don't trust the insurance companies, at all. I'm quite confident they will find any possible legal way to wring every penny out of each plan.

[MohRokTah]

6. It's not too late to hit the exchange

You never know, you might find a better plan for cheaper.

[louis-t]

25. Waiting for them to fix a glitch that wouldn't let me view options.

2 hrs on the phone last night. App finally completed, I'll try again today. I'm self-empoyed so I have to buy my own.

[Autumn]

7. Mine went fro 82.20 to 158.97

I kept it at least for this coming year. After that who knows. I had no desire to changes my Dr. and go with a bronze instead of a silver.

[Doctor_J]

10. Only 5% here. That's because last year it went up more than 100%

[taught_me_patience]

13. Are you on a group plan through your employer or individual

We need a few more details to make an informed opinion and give advice.

[helpmetohelpyou]

14. holy cow

That a huge jump in premiums

[DustyJoe]

17. Sadly

People like Jonathan Gruber, who some have called an "architect" of Obamacare would read examples like these and just chuckle all the way to the bank.

[alc]

18. my employer's insurance (and my portion) went up 30%

That's after shopping around and switching plans. The agent for the original plan said it went up so high because our "employees made more doctors visits and got more prescriptions than expected".

I guess it won't go up again next year if we don't use it this year.

edit: spelling

[chowder66]

19. Mine are going down. Kaiser - Covered Ca.

But it goes back up on my next birthday and I'll probably move to a lower based premium plan by the end of next year.

[louis-t]

22. Just found out my tax credit went up.

So, effectively only 10% increase. I don't want to switch to bronze. Deductibles are really high. $6,000? Jeez. Silver was $500. I have to call them again tonight because the website wouldn't let me update my password. They said I have to re-enroll with a different email. Did that and the site froze when I got to the end. A year ago, I did the whole thing in 20 minutes. I'm on my third call with 20 minute wait time.

[CreekDog]

44. what county and state are you in?

[louis-t]

45. Macomb County, MI

After 4 hours on the phone, mostly on hold, in the last 3 days, I finally got it resolved and now have a similar plan to what I had the first year, only my cost is $70 a month less. I was lucky to get a person that knew what she was doing. My tax credit actually went up.

[woo me with science]

24. I have seen three separate letters of ~20 percent increases each.

The corporate mandate was the real goal, and the corporations, through their purchased politicians, got that.

And they said they would fix it later!

Oh, they've been very busy "fixing" it....consistently on behalf of insurance corporations and at the expense of the people:

The employer mandate was delayed...the mandate for Americans? Not so much:

White House delays employer mandate requirement until 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/02/white-house-delays-employer-mandate-requirement-until-2015/

Out of pocket caps on costs for patients....also delayed...again targeting the *people,* not the insurance corporations.

Limit on Consumer Costs Is Delayed in Health Care Law
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/13/us/a-limit-on-consumer-costs-is-delayed-in-health-care-law.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

And then this joyful whack to the kneecaps:

Obama administration quietly approves new Obamacare loophole benefiting insurance companies.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024970298

And now the kick to the head in your OP.


This was an entrenchment of corporate middlemen inserting themselves between Americans and health care for profit. Democracy is an illusion. It's united oligarchy, not gridlocked democracy. Policy outcomes are entirely predictable now, *always* for the power and wealth of the One Percent. We are ruled by a corrupt, looting, torturing corporate cabal masquerading as a democracy, with a cast of purchased politicians wearing Democrat and Republican suits.

[KaryninMiami]

28. Mine was pretty close to that.

Had to lower to Gold from Platinum on a FL Blue Cross plan which ups my out of pocket from $2000 to $3000 but the monthly payment with my subsidy (almost $300) went from $564 to $782. Will not be easy to manage living on SS disability. Needless to say, I'm not happy about this- insurance companies are once again, screwing the public. But without ACA, given that I have a pre-existing condition (cancer), I would not be able to afford it period of probably not be able to even find someone to insure me. But overall, this is a present to the insurance companies and not a good solution for anyone else. We need medicare for all- PERIOD.

[Ruby the Liberal]

33. Out of curiosity - does SSDI not qualify you for medicare?

Something I have been meaning to look into, but never did. That is a terrifying premium for someone on SSDI.

Good to see you, BTW - I trust that the stem cell process is going well?? I have thought about yu often the last few weeks.

[KaryninMiami]

36. Yes and no

If I am on disability for 2 years, it automatically (or so I've been told) entitles me to medicare and then I just need to purchase a supplement that's not all that expensive. However, my hope is not to get to that point since, (thanks for asking), my recovery is finally going well and provided I don't relapse (which would of course be a nightmare), I hope/plan to be working at some point in 2015- perhaps part time at first- we'll see how it goes. And yes it's a terrifying amount but I didn't want to risk not having as comprehensive a policy as possible with a very low out of pocket maximum ($3000 total and no deductible).

Feeling good- very grateful to be where I am and while my immune system is still rebuilding itself (you should see me run from anyone sniffling of coughing!) and a flu would be a disaster, I'm definitely on the mend! Actually feeling like myself again except for some leftover tiredness (which can last a year) and annoyingly painful arthritis which is (I hope), chemo related (and will eventually fade away) and not middle age related. Lots to celebrate personally this year- politically-- not so much, unfortunately.

Cheers to you- happy holidays!

[marlakay]

32. I am getting better coverage for same price

We are retired with Pers, living in WA state have out of state Blue Cross. But it comes from CA and Bart got better rate on last contract so we do.

I think Cali is doing better because they fully trying to process it in the best way.

[dembotoz]

35. in 2000 i had major surgery and paid nothing (group)

since then my coverage thru a couple different employers has just gotten worse and more expensive..
Would hate the annual insurance meeting when the owners would tell us they were switching plans because of rate increases an the new plan would only cost X % more for less benefits

every damn year couple times every 6 months.
I kept the cards--now quite the stack

and i a pretty damn healthy

fuck it
nationalize it

[spanone]

37. mine did too. they are gouging the shit out of us.

[B Calm]

38. We are going from employer based insurance to Obama Care and saving a ton

of money.

[Habibi]

39. I qualified for Medicaid in 2014.

And it rocks. And I wish everyone could have it.

But our income rose, so in 2015 I'll pay $360/month with a $600 deductible. That's for a gold plan. I can't do the silver; I have a chronic illness and am a "high consumer." I couldn't risk the hospitalization coinsurance that came with the silver plans. I've been hospitalized twice in the last two years; coinsurance would have ruined me.

Cheapest plan on the NY exchange for the coverage I need.

For now, I can afford it. But I'm not happy.

[louis-t]

40. Good news to report.

Actually, finally got a service rep that knew what she was doing. After many tries, 3 different applications, 2 changes of email address on app, dumping all temporary files and cookies, total 4 hours on the phone over 3 days, I have health ins for 2015. Each time I applied, with the same info, my tax credit went up. I also found a silver plan that is a lot less than I was paying, with the same deductible. If you haven't re-applied, do it, don't give up. It's a happy happy joy joy day.

[haele]

42. My employer's plan went up on average $50 a month. Weirdly, it was due to a $20 a month drop for

single employee coverage and $70 a month increase for employee plus spouse. The additional premium for dependents other than spouse did not change.
So everyone who was covering their spouse saw an increase of $50, but someone who didn't have a spouse but had dependents (either kids or dependent immediate relatives - siblings, grandchildren, parents or dependent partners under the benefits plan - who under 65 years of age) saw their premium go down $20. So if you had a recognized dependent partner who might otherwise be a spouse because you were living in one of the states that did not allow you to get married, and hadn't gotten married yet in a state where it was legal, then your premium also went down by $20.

Thanks Anthem Blue-Cross!

Haele

[CTyankee]

46. Our Medicare supplement went up $2 each per month, hubby and me.

We have United Health care. I was very pleased.