Got a notice from Covered California: premium is going up to $1885 a month, a 19.1% increase ...

[Auggie]

that's a Bronze Plan for two people with a yearly deductible that's probably $10,000+.

$22,620 a year just in premiums!

[Frustratedlady]

1. For real? OMG, that is obscene.

Is it due to pre-conditions?

How do you do it? My goodness.

[Auggie]

2. Starting January 1, unless we find a cheaper plan

Been saving like crazy this year because we know we’ll be clobbered in April. How do we do it? No vacations and a 17 year old car, for starters. We’re healthy - no issues. Just age.

Yeah, it is obscene.

[still_one]

16. That is what's doing it, age. They penalize you if you are over a certain age.

[democratisphere]

3. The USA has the most corrupt healthcare system in the world.

This is just another succinct example of the extreme corruption.

[DK504]

4. This Congress really doesn't care if we go bankrupt

or go without basic healthcare. They want Deathcare.

[democratisphere]

5. The Nazi's would be envious of the redumbliCON method for culling the herd

to end up with a healthier superior race.

[Auggie]

6. This is bleeding the heard dry.

What a racket - a huge chunk of my discretionary income is going to one industry solely to guarantee them profit. I get very little in return.

[CountAllVotes]

9. All you might get is some help

And that is after the $22,000+ is picked from your pocket and then what?

How much do they pay? 70%? 80%? 50%?

Loathsome beyond reproach!!

[CountAllVotes]

7. Now that just plain ass sucks!

I am very sad to read this.
This is not cool at all in my book.

Whoever it is that makes these disgusting decisions needs to be checked out carefully.

I wonder whose pockets all of these premiums and deductibles are ending up in?

Absolutely disgraceful and shameful!

& recommend !!

[guillaumeb]

8. The per capita cost in Canada is approximately $4,000 a year.

There are co-pays for prescription drugs. A single payer system rated higher than the US system.

The US cannot NOT afford to have single payer.

[CountAllVotes]

10. It great to write about Canada

But this is America and we are Americans that are trying to deal with this shit, myself included.

You cannot compare the two situations ... at all!

[guillaumeb]

12. I was making a case for a single payer system.

In the US, healthcare is treated as a commodity, in Canada, as in much of the world, it is treated as a right.

[Not Ruth]

11. This is why we need single payer and free healthcare for all

[CountAllVotes]

13. What we need and what we get are two different things

I agree, it is time to shake it all up and come up with a decent health care plan that covers ALL Americans, not just a few that have and have and have and have.

[still_one]

14. I put the numbers in for two people, 55 years old, whose income was 120K/Year with the bronze plan

The plans premiums ranged from 900 - 1700/month

The factors that determine the premium are going to be age, and income. Income determines if you are entitled to a subsidy, and the older a person is, will make the premium higher.

Before the ACA the factors that determined the premium were pre-existing conditions and age. Pre-existing conditions cannot be used against you under the ACA.

Around 20 years ago, a middle aged person with no pre-existing conditions, applying for a comprehensive insurance policy, the premium would be about 1000 dollars a month. A family plan would be slightly lower

Something very wrong is going on. I don't know if rates are being affected across the board because the subsidies have been eliminated, the uncertainty about the ACA in this environment, the insurance companies taking advantage of the uncertain environment as an excuse to unreasonably increase rates, or all of the above.

Unfortunately, there is not going to be a remedy for this situation under the current circumstances today

[Auggie]

22. According to Blue Shield it was the discontinuation of federal funding

[still_one]

23. I am very sorry for your situation, and that isn't worth much. I hope the California legislature

brings back the single payer they shelved a couple of months ago, because there is no doubt you are not alone in what is happening with the rate increases

[Auggie]

24. Thanks. I have yet to explore to options ...

it’s one scenario for now.

[msongs]

15. are you actively supporting the CA movement for single payer? nt

[BigmanPigman]

18. That has been shelved for now since they didn't do enough

to really support it so it would successfully pass. There isn't enough money in the state to support the plan so it needs to be refined and resubmitted someday.

[still_one]

19. It was put on hold by the legislature, and not killed, so you are right, people need to make their

voices hear to the California legislature, so it is brought back on the front burner, because it is looking very clear that it is not going to happen at the federal level, and it stands a far better chance of something happening at the state level

[Auggie]

20. Absolutely. I supported the last bill and called state and assembly reps.

[BigmanPigman]

17. Before the ACA I had to work FOR my health insur.

I had a pre-existing condition and could only get insur through my employer but I was sick and the most I could work as a teacher was 25% contract. I made $1,200 a month and my health insur bill was $1,500 and it went on like this for two years before I could stop and get the ACA with subsidies (it is 30% of my disability income). I had to leave teaching without retirement/benefits since I got sick before I was old enough to collect. Now I have two more illnesses and the Rx bills alone are $12,000 a year WITH the ACA. Now 50% of my income will go to my health bills. This is reality in GOP USA! Oh goodie, it is cheaper to die and that is what they want.

[Auggie]

21. Correction: Letter came from Blue Shield of California, not Covered California

It specifically stated the raise in rates was because of changes to the ACA and the decision not to continue federal funding of cost-sharing reductions.