Premiums unveiled for health overhaul plans

[PoliticAverse]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- With new health insurance markets launching next week, the Obama administration is unveiling premiums and plan choices for 36 states where the federal government is taking the lead to cover uninsured residents.

Before tax credits that work like an upfront discount for most consumers, sticker-price premiums for a mid-range benchmark plan will average $328 a month nationally for an individual, comparable to payments for a new car.

The overview of premiums and plan choices, released Wednesday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, comes as the White House swings into full campaign mode to promote the benefits of the Affordable Care Act to a skeptical public. Congressional Republicans, meanwhile, refuse to abandon their quest to derail "Obamacare" and flirt with a government shutdown to force the issue.

Sebelius stressed the positive in a preview call with reporters. Consumers will be able to choose from an average of 53 plan options when the new markets open Oct. 1 for people who don't have health care on the job.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_PREMIUMS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-09-25-00-18-19

[florida08]

1. huh

That's what I pay now of course that's with employer so this is pretty good

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. +1. If ordinary people can get health insurance at corporate rates ...

... that's a big step.

One step.

[florida08]

3. there are other reports of even less

The average price for basic health coverage purchased on health insurance exchanges created by President Barack Obama's health care reform law will be $249 a month,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/obamacare-premiums_n_3984979.html

[bread_and_roses]

4. Platinum people. Bronze people. "Choice"

What a farce. Obviously, the lower one's disposable income, the more likely one is to choose a "Bronze" plan. So what happens if you get a serious illness or have an accident? The co-pays will beggar you.

Not to mention having the oh-so-wonderful "choice" of "which plan is right for you" - among up to 50? So you are expected to read through and compare the labyrinthine coverages and exclusions of x number of plans and consult your crystal ball about your health needs over the next year?

Meanwhile, "our tax dollars" are being funneled to the Insurance vampires to enrich their coffers while our bridges crumble and our schools are starved.

Who could quarrel with all that?

[go west young man]

10. Hence the low fine for the first year

so one can read up on all the options and get used to it.

[Myrina]

5. "tax credits that work like an upfront discount " ?

Huh? They mean tax credits that work as an 'after the fact' discount, right?
I don't recall my payroll taxes being reduced ahead of time to offset premiums deducted, or getting a check in the mail to use for premiums.

Did I miss something?

[Hydra]

6. What I heard is that they'll pay your tax credit directly to the insurance provider

Maybe even month to month. I just got lucky and got a job where I have good insurance, when they priced me to the alternatives coming on the market mine was still the least cost for the options I signed for.

I'm taking a wait and see on this though- there are hints of a lot of things broken for a certain section of working poor people, and there's no hint that having people covered will mean that they can actually get care- I have insurance and I can't afford to go see my doctor much for the co-pays and deductible.

[BlueStreak]

8. The first year, the penalty for not insuraing is very low

So, yes a lot of those $35M will probably not buy insurance, even though it is heavily subsidized for them. But millions will and the nation will be far ahead even in the first year.

And in 2015, 2016 and beyond, the penalties go up to where it is a no-brainer to buy the subsidized coverage. SO by 2016, we should have most of them under coverage.

And as far as not seeing the doc because of co-pays and deductibles, that is exactly why there are the four "metal levels". If you are very low income, you might be able to afford the platinum plan with subsidies, and that keeps your out of pocket very low.

This thing doesn't solve every possible problem, but it is a huge step forward.

And I laugh at all those GOP asshole governors who thought they were being really cute by not going along with the exchanges. What they did effectively, instead, was to create a nationalized system. When 36 states are in the national exchange (including many of the reddest states) we truly do have national standards and this will lead to national pricing as the years go on. Before long insurance companies will end up competing in all 50 states because there is no reason to remain regional.

[PoliticAverse]

9. The tax credit can be sent by the IRS right to the insurance company to offset premiums

See:

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Premium-Tax-Credit

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Affordable-Care-Act-Tax-Provisions

[BlueStreak]

7. Turtle-man, is that the best you got?

In response to the administration's premium and plan-choice information, a spokesman for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said that premiums that are "lower than projected" are not the same as "lower than they are now."

He seems to miss the most basic point that this is about getting insurance for 35 million people who don't have it today.

And in fact, for most people paying for their own individual policies today, it will be a lower cost for a better policy than they are paying today. For example, Two us us in late 50s are paying about $900/mo for a super-high-deductible. Other than preventive care (which was forced by ACA provisions that have already gone into effect), we have to pay EVERYTHING out of pocket until we hit $11,000. I haven't seen the new prices yet, but even without any subsidies, I bet I can get much lower out-of-pocket for the same premium I am paying today.