GOP wrestles with soaring deductibles in healthcare bill

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Senate Republicans have run into another problem in passing their ObamaCare replacement bill: it could increase deductibles by thousands of dollars, potentially alienating moderates who are already skeptical of the bill. 

An analysis released Thursday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded that a single policyholder purchasing a standard benchmark plan under the GOP bill could face a deductible of $13,000 in 2026.

Under current law, an individual making $56,800 would have a deductible of $5,000, while someone making $26,500 would have an $800 deductible.

Higher deductibles is the tradeoff that Republicans made when they decided that lowering premiums would be a top priority for their legislation; plans with lower premiums generally have higher deductibles.

Higher deductibles is the tradeoff that Republicans made when they decided that lowering premiums would be a top priority for their legislation; plans with lower premiums generally have higher deductibles.

“The way we come together, the way we bring together senators all across the ideological spectrum, is focusing on lowering premiums,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said on Fox News Friday.

“If we’re lowering premiums, that’s a win for everyone.”

Deductibles could become so high under the GOP plan, the CBO said, that many low-income people might decide not to purchase a health insurance plan, even if the premiums were low. 

That could be an issue for moderates who have worried about coverage losses, especially for those who gained coverage through ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion. 

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/343220-gop-wrestles-with-soaring-deductibles-in-healthcare-bill

[Thinkingabout]

1. This is much more than the deductible currently under ACA. Republicans just aren't

capable of writing health care bill.

[underpants]

2. Re-opening the Risk Corridors would solve much of this

That little sh:t Rubio shut them down with one little reference in the middle of a 1,600 page bill.

[floWteiuQ]

3. Single payer

Is the only solution. Health care is a human right.

[keithbvadu2]

4. I choose the cheaper, better health care that Trump promised.

The repubs have been bragging about 'choices'.

[rickford66]

5. The largest risk pool yields the lowest premiums.

Of course you have to believe in math. Maybe if we sold it as faith in math.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I misread the title as:

God wrestles with soaring deductibles.

There's a snarky story in there.

[mr_lebowski]

7. I don't believe (part of) this is accurate ...

"Under current law, an individual making $56,800 would have a deductible of $5,000, while someone making $26,500 would have an $800 deductible. "

I've been looking at policies on the exchange every year, and understand fairly well how the subsidy system works, and this concept being discussed is utterly foreign to me, at least as it's explained here.

Under current law (ACA), on the Exchange you pick a plan ... they are bronze, silver, gold, platinum level. In a general sense, the way these work is: the yearly premium rises for each level. And the deductible and max out of pocket for the year go DOWN ... in exchange for the higher premium you are paying.

The subsidy you receive (monetary help you get from the Feds to buy insurance if you qualify), OTOH, is tied to 'how much you make' as a household (per person in it). The less you make, the more your subsidy is. And I don't think it matters which 'level of plan' you purchase (that's your choice, based on your own budget/decision-making), your subsidy is based on your income and how many in your household.

IOW, there's no direct relation between 'income' and 'deductibles', as this article suggests. Loosely-speaking, having an $800 deductible probably means you bought a Platinum plan, and having a $5K deductible means you bought probably a Bronze or Silver plan. Period.