Obamacare cost...

[byu71]

She goes out on top.

She is a scapegoat. I would be happy if the real architects of Obamacare would retire. Pelosi and Reid walking off together into the sunset.

[Pelado]

The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) now provides health-savings accounts, or HSAs, to nearly 40,000 people and empowers them as health-care consumers. According to a Milliman analysis of HIP and traditional Medicaid claims, 7% fewer HIP members used the emergency room in 2012 compared to traditional Medicaid enrollees.

Another Milliman study showed that 60% of HIP enrollees in 2012 obtained preventive-care services such as annual physicals and flu shots—a rate similar to that of the general commercial marketplace. HIP enrollees choose generic drugs at a much higher rate than people covered by other private insurance plans. A five-year Employee Benefit Research Institute study published in 2013 showed that consumer-driven health plans can decrease health-care spending by 25%, and we are beginning to see this downward trend in health-care costs with HIP.

HIP enrollees also have a good record of managing their own health-care decisions. Analysis by the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning shows that 93% of HIP enrollees make contributions to their health-savings accounts on time. A 2013 survey of HIP members by Mathematica found that a third regularly ask their health-care providers about the cost of services, and 98% said they would enroll in HIP again if given the choice.

Because of this success, my administration will submit a waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to replace traditional Medicaid in Indiana for all able-bodied adults ages 19-64. Instead we will provide an expanded version of the Healthy Indiana Plan for those with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $33,000 for a family of four. These are Indiana's working poor.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...64101526792442

[imanihonjin]

I thought that one of the ways that Obamacare was supposed to reduce the costs of healthcare was by reducing the number of ER visits. Uh, oh...

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...care/10181349/

[Topper]

I thought that one of the ways that Obamacare was supposed to reduce the costs of healthcare was by reducing the number of ER visits. Uh, oh...

http://www.courier-journal.com/story...care/10181349/

Our insurer just raised our premiums 170%. This is significant because health insurers must receive approval for rate increases based upon increased exposure.

[Goatnapper'96]

Our insurer just raised our premiums 170%. This is significant because health insurers must receive approval for rate increases based upon increased exposure.

170%? As in from $1000/month to $2700/month?

[Katy Lied]

I don't understand how this works.

Prior to Obamacare: Poor person goes to the ER. No insurance, no money. Person pays a tiny portion, hospital writes off the remainder.

After Obamacare: Poor person goes to the ER. Presents insurance card. Insurance pays some, patient is charged a copayment with large coinsurance to follow. Obamacare does the follow up billing, and collections for the coinsurance. Poor person doesn't pay, so IRS garnishes salary. Poor person ends up paying more out of pocket, over time.

?? I know that when I go to the ER, my follow up bills are pretty large. I learn to go to urgent care or family group.

[ERCougar]

I don't understand how this works.

Prior to Obamacare: Poor person goes to the ER. No insurance, no money. Person pays a tiny portion, hospital writes off the remainder.

After Obamacare: Poor person goes to the ER. Presents insurance card. Insurance pays some, patient is charged a copayment with large coinsurance to follow. Obamacare does the follow up billing, and collections for the coinsurance. Poor person doesn't pay, so IRS garnishes salary. Poor person ends up paying more out of pocket, over time.

?? I know that when I go to the ER, my follow up bills are pretty large. I learn to go to urgent care or family group.

Logically, that would make sense but most studies show the opposite--when you expand insurance coverage, ER usage goes up. The reason is likely combination of poor primary care access, exacerbated by the increase in demand, and the fact that more people than we pretend really do care about paying their bills--at least insurance gives them a way to do it--and were forgoing treatment they at least thought they needed because of financial reasons. I would guess that urgent care usage has increased as well, although I haven't read those studies.

On a side note, this is a mixed bag for me financially. I get paid (very indirectly) much less to treat a cold than a heart attack, and it ties up a bed and nursing staff. But they're extremely low risk cases from a malpractice suit standpoint (malpractice suits have much more to do with outcomes than quality of care), a point that doesn't escape me right now as I'm in the middle of two of these stupid things. Finances aside though, I didn't do an emergency medicine residency to treat the worried well, so it drives me crazy a little.

[The_Douger]

We were talking about this the other day at work, and one of the physicians said that they should just hire a physician to triage in the waiting area and tell them "yes, you need ER help today" or "no, you need to be seen in an urgent care or with your family doc today".

Besides the fact that it's against the law, I just think that would open up a whole different can of worms.

[Topper]

170%? As in from $1000/month to $2700/month?

My premium went from $600 to in excess of $1500. I loathe Obamacare. That was more than I have seen any premium increase over any ten year period. I don't know who is feeding the media the fraudulent information, but Obamacare has been a disaster as to affordability.

[Topper]

Logically, that would make sense but most studies show the opposite--when you expand insurance coverage, ER usage goes up. The reason is likely combination of poor primary care access, exacerbated by the increase in demand, and the fact that more people than we pretend really do care about paying their bills--at least insurance gives them a way to do it--and were forgoing treatment they at least thought they needed because of financial reasons. I would guess that urgent care usage has increased as well, although I haven't read those studies.

On a side note, this is a mixed bag for me financially. I get paid (very indirectly) much less to treat a cold than a heart attack, and it ties up a bed and nursing staff. But they're extremely low risk cases from a malpractice suit standpoint (malpractice suits have much more to do with outcomes than quality of care), a point that doesn't escape me right now as I'm in the middle of two of these stupid things. Finances aside though, I didn't do an emergency medicine residency to treat the worried well, so it drives me crazy a little.

The studies in Oregon support this. When Oregon increased Medicaid coverage, it surprisingly observed increased ER usage, not a decrease as some proponents of Obamacare and increased coverage had advocated.

[smokymountainrain]

My premium went from $600 to in excess of $1500. I loathe Obamacare. That was more than I have seen any premium increase over any ten year period. I don't know who is feeding the media the fraudulent information, but Obamacare has been a disaster as to affordability.

Mine went from $34 to $40 last year and I was pissed.

[Uncle Ted]

Mine went from $34 to $40 last year and I was pissed.

That is nearly a 20% increase!

[Flystripper]

That is nearly a 20% increase!

mine went down from 240 to 120 per month

[smokymountainrain]

That is nearly a 20% increase!

Seriously. Total bullshit.

[Mormon Red Death]

The studies in Oregon support this. When Oregon increased Medicaid coverage, it surprisingly observed increased ER usage, not a decrease as some proponents of Obamacare and increased coverage had advocated.

Its called moral hazard. People have insurance and they use it.