Obamacare cost...

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Dr. Zira Rasputin's latest ploy, "who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?"

FACT: Nothing in #Obamacare forces people out of their health plans. No change is required unless insurance companies change existing plans.

This is really quite remarkable. Baghdad Bob didn't have an Iraqi media that could question him on his bullshit and he had a population that weren't in the position of doing so either. Hundreds of thousands and soon to be millions of people are getting letters that basically state that their policies are being canceled because they're not in compliance with the ACA. Do you want to know what changes cancel a policy? -- an increase in premiums -- something which is basically impossible for an insurance company not to do year over year. The regulations are written in a way that basically guarantees that most individual plans will be canceled. Sure the insurance companies don't HAVE to increase premiums, they can just choose to close up shop and discontinue business.

It's like covering someone's driveway with nails and acting blameless when someone gets a flat tire. Because you did not actively slash the tire apparently you're not responsible for the flat resulting from the condition you created.

[Uncle Ted]

Dr. Zira Rasputin's latest ploy, "who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes?"

FACT: Nothing in #Obamacare forces people out of their health plans. No change is required unless insurance companies change existing plans.

This is really quite remarkable. Baghdad Bob didn't have an Iraqi media that could question him on his bullshit and he had a population that weren't in the position of doing so either. Hundreds of thousands and soon to be millions of people are getting letters that basically state that their policies are being canceled because they're not in compliance with the ACA. Do you want to know what changes cancel a policy? -- an increase in premiums -- something which is basically impossible for an insurance company not to do year over year. The regulations are written in a way that basically guarantees that most individual plans will be canceled. Sure the insurance companies don't HAVE to increase premiums, they can just choose to close up shop and discontinue business.

It's like covering someone's driveway with nails and acting blameless when someone gets a flat tire. Because you did not actively slash the tire apparently you're not responsible for the flat resulting from the condition you created.

Well, this is true technically, it seems. Everyone is grandfathered unless the insurance company makes any change. If the insurance company makes even a small change to the policy then it is no longer grandfathered and they must move the customer to an obamacare qualifying plan. Of course, insurance companies make changes to their insurance plans every year. This only effects about 5% (10M to 15M) this next year. i.e. those, like me, that are on individual plans. Large employers (50+ employees) have an one year delay to comply to Obamacare. I assume that lots of people will be getting insurance notices then.

[imanihonjin]

Well, this is true technically, it seems. Everyone is grandfathered unless the insurance company makes any change. If the insurance company makes even a small change to the policy then it is no longer grandfathered and they must move the customer to an obamacare qualifying plan. Of course, insurance companies make changes to their insurance plans every year. This only effects about 5% (10M to 15M) this next year. i.e. those, like me, that are on individual plans. Large employers (50+ employees) have an one year delay to comply to Obamacare. I assume that lots of people will be getting insurance notices then.

You are right that this only affects like 5% of Americans, but I remember seeing something put out some time ago that using the Obama numbers Obamacare would only help insure an extra 5% of our country. Seems weird that we are displacing 5% to help 5%.

[byu71]

You are right that this only affects like 5% of Americans, but I remember seeing something put out some time ago that using the Obama numbers Obamacare would only help insure an extra 5% of our country. Seems weird that we are displacing 5% to help 5%.

I wondered about this myself. President Obama and the dems always seem to be concerned about the 5-15% of the country that is treated unfairly in one way or another. However, this 5% can be cast aside like a footnote.

Makes me think the plan all along was to lie about Obamacare and those affected by the lie will be negligible.

[beefytee]

The Obamacare website is not the only government IT systems having major problems...


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...m-2330906.html

Let's see 11.4bn pounds is about $18.3bn dollars. I am thinking we just need to spend a lot more money and take a lot more time and we'll get that Obamacare website working. Where do I apply to get a piece of the contract?

Good point. The US government needs to get rid of contractors and take care of everything in house.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechcons...a-digital-core

[imanihonjin]

I wondered about this myself. President Obama and the dems always seem to be concerned about the 5-15% of the country that is treated unfairly in one way or another. However, this 5% can be cast aside like a footnote.

Makes me think the plan all along was to lie about Obamacare and those affected by the lie will be negligible.

Its amazing to me that the dems talking point on Obama's clear misrepresentations regarding "if you like your plan, you can keep it". They act like it is this nuanced thing and that Obama was technically correct and therefore was not misleading the people. What is really sad is that many Americans will believe them.

[Sizzle]

Aetna CEO: Why insurance will be costing more

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101153188
The fact that many current health-care plans do not offer all the benefits required under Obamacare means that many premiums are likely to jump dramatically, AetnaCEO Mark Bertolini told CNBC.

Bertolini, appearing on Tuesday's "Closing Bell," said that most Americans with current plans are below the 60 percent essential Affordable Care Act benefit requirement, and individual plan participants will have to pay a minimum of a 20 percent increase to upgrade, he said. Citing the current economy and reduced Medicare rates, Bertolini said the health-care company must find a way to bridge the gap between what it will cost seniors to pay out of pocket and what Aetna will be able to cover.

"Aetna alone will pass through to its customers over $1 billion in taxes and fees associated with the Affordable Care Act that need to go into the pricing," Bertolini said.

So according to Aetna's CEO, 60% of Americans who are insured have plans that don't meet minimum qualifications. Most will have to pay a 20% increase to cover the costs.

The other scary thing is the number of added taxes and fees associated with they ACA. Nobody can really argue that the Healthcare system wasn't broken. But it's like the ACA has taken something that was broken but functional and finished the job.

[Goatnapper'96]

Its amazing to me that the dems talking point on Obama's clear misrepresentations regarding "if you like your plan, you can keep it". They act like it is this nuanced thing and that Obama was technically correct and therefore was not misleading the people. What is really sad is that many Americans will believe them.

I don't think most Americans will believe them. I just think the only ones who will care are those that are affected.

[byu71]

I don't think most Americans will believe them. I just think the only ones who will care are those that are affected.

I wonder how many will care when the mandates for the Corporations kick in. I wonder if notices of "we are dropping you" will be going out before the mid term's or not.

[smokymountainrain]

So according to Aetna's CEO, 60% of Americans who are insured have plans that don't meet minimum qualifications. Most will have to pay a 20% increase to cover the costs.

The other scary thing is the number of added taxes and fees associated with they ACA. Nobody can really argue that the Healthcare system wasn't broken. But it's like the ACA has taken something that was broken but functional and finished the job.

Sizzle, I believe you're misunderstanding his comments on this part. I believe he's referring to the requirement that plans under the ACA are required to meet a 60% minimum actuarial value. He calls it an essential benefit requirement. In essence, the the total costs paid by the plan have to be at least 60% in comparison to costs paid by the participant through copays, deductibles, etc.

But I don't think he's saying 60% of people have plans that don't meet that requirement.

[Katy Lied]

So according to Aetna's CEO, 60% of Americans who are insured have plans that don't meet minimum qualifications. Most will have to pay a 20% increase to cover the costs.

The other scary thing is the number of added taxes and fees associated with they ACA. Nobody can really argue that the Healthcare system wasn't broken. But it's like the ACA has taken something that was broken but functional and finished the job.

Actually, I think it is most Americans have plans that don't meet minimum qualifications. So, probably more than 60%

[statman]

Its amazing to me that the dems talking point on Obama's clear misrepresentations regarding "if you like your plan, you can keep it". They act like it is this nuanced thing and that Obama was technically correct and therefore was not misleading the people. What is really sad is that many Americans will believe them.

It's not even technically correct. What about those insured by companies who dropped ALL individual insurance in a given state because of Obamacare (like Aetna in California). They would not have had changes made to their policies had it not been for OCare.

[Goatnapper'96]

I would like to chime in for Virginia Coug, as he is a "moderate" only interested in bi-partisan solutions that work, that while this bill might have a flaw here or there, such as the fact that it will not decrease the cost of providing health care. None of these minor issues are relevant and really Republicans are to blame because it was a conservative think tank that came up with the individual mandate. Just like the Democrat Party is to blame for slavery. He has knowledge about this people!

The most important thing about this bill is it's problems discredit Republican thinking. That is how "moderates" are approaching forming opinions on this piece of legislation.

[Sizzle]

Sizzle, I believe you're misunderstanding his comments on this part. I believe he's referring to the requirement that plans under the ACA are required to meet a 60% minimum actuarial value. He calls it an essential benefit requirement. In essence, the the total costs paid by the plan have to be at least 60% in comparison to costs paid by the participant through copays, deductibles, etc.

But I don't think he's saying 60% of people have plans that don't meet that requirement.

You're right. Reading comprehension fail.

[ERCougar]

Well, I just got a renewal letter from my individual high-deductible plan.
Premium is indeed increasing. From $284 to $311 a month for my family of five. That is a nearly 10% increase.