Obamacare cost...

[calicoug]

I thought congress exempting themselves from the federal law sounded fishy. They would never do that.

Congress is far from being the purest of American institutions. They have lost the trust and confidence of Americans and stories like this are the result. Yes- Congress often deserves scorn and ridicule, but in at least this instance it isn't merited.

[calicoug]

So let me get this straight: The CBO predicts that more employers and individuals will pay penalties for not having insurance, bringing in more revenue to the government. But there's no accounting for the additional individuals who will go to emergency rooms without insurance? A million people paying the $97 penalty equals 97 million in additional revenues, with no calculation for the costs that those 1 million people will generate when they hit the hospitals without any coverage?

Yes. Keep in mind the CBO is not attempting to determine how much health care costs are in the aggregate. It's job is to determine the effect of legislation on the federal budget. Individuals going to the emergency room create real costs but most of those are not assumed by the federal government. Of course, this will be an important factor going forwards for Congress. If the penalties are too low, people might game the system and pay the penalty (although even that is an improvement over today where people just go to the emergency room and never pay a penalty).

[calicoug]

Insurance premiums projected to only go up 25% next year (in Maryland)...


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stor...lue-cross.aspx


Only a 25% increase instead of 50%. Obama fulfills his promise of saving us money on our premiums!

Edit: Remember the good ole days when insurance premiums only grew 3%-6% a year? Like way back in 2008?

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There are many reasons this is happening, but I'll recommend this good article on the topic for you:

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/...hing-1.4991465

In Maryland specifically, it's interesting to note that CareFirst is an outlier. The other insurers in Maryland already announced increases of around 4% (like Kaiser). The state is now actively involved in examining why CareFirst is so much higher than other plans. It could very well be that they are now offering better insurance which will cost more.

[Uncle Ted]

This isn't legit either. The amount of misinformation on this law is amazing.

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wo...rom-obamacare/

Another take on what is really happening...

So here’s what’s not happening: Congress is not attempting to exempt itself from Obamacare entirely.
But here’s what is happening: Members of Congress are looking for a way to get out of the part of the law that affects them most—and avoid the health insurance exchanges that are intended to serve as the primary vehicle for the law’s health insurance expansion.
This is not simply a minor technical issue, nor just a little glitch (although ObamaCare does seem to be rather full of glitches). Instead, it’s a telling illustration of one of the largest problems with the law, which is that at the micro level, it’s extremely poorly conceived—confusing, irritating, and difficult to implement or plan for as written and passed. Even, it seems, for those who voted to pass it.

[...]

Tempting as that is, however, I like the suggestion offered by Avik Roy of the Manhattan Institute even better: Push to expand the exchange requirement to more members of the federal government, starting with the administration. “It is vital,” he writes, “for these individuals to experience, first-hand, how Obamacare’s costly mandates and regulations will drive up the cost of health insurance.” They passed it. They’re finding out what’s in it. And now, like the rest of us, they ought to have to live with it.

http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/25/co...o-exempt-itsel

So what is wrong with the government eating its own dog food? Does it really taste that bad?

All the Docs seem to be on board... http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/04/...nference-63765

[Uncle Ted]

There are many reasons this is happening, but I'll recommend this good article on the topic for you:

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/...hing-1.4991465

In Maryland specifically, it's interesting to note that CareFirst is an outlier. The other insurers in Maryland already announced increases of around 4% (like Kaiser). The state is now actively involved in examining why CareFirst is so much higher than other plans. It could very well be that they are now offering better insurance which will cost more.

Ah, CBO projections... I feel much better now.

CBO found that for most Americans, very little would change. If you get insurance through your employer, or through the government, then Obamacare probably won't affect you much. When we talk about premiums changing, we're talking about the minority of Americans who buy health insurance on their own or through a very small employer.
For them, on average, CBO predicted premiums would increase because subsidies would make it possible for them to purchase higher-quality insurance. In other words, with more money to purchase insurance, they were going to purchase better insurance - that is, after all, the point of the law. But if you held the insurance product constant, then premiums for the same policy in the same market would actually fall, as the risk pool would get a bit healthier.

The CBO is always right on the money WRT their projections. My health insurance premiums going up this year by 15% was only my imagination. Stupid imagination.

[calicoug]

Another take on what is really happening...


http://reason.com/blog/2013/04/25/co...o-exempt-itsel

So what is wrong with the government eating its own dog food? Does it really taste that bad?

All the Docs seem to be on board... http://www.bizpacreview.com/2013/04/...nference-63765[/FONT][/COLOR]

Employers won't participate in the exchanges. We could eliminate all employer coverage (I would actually favor that) but there are many interests favoring the current employer- based system. The federal government isn't any different than any other employer in that regard. They aren't in the exchanges because they offer employer care.

[calicoug]

Ah, CBO projections... I feel much better now.



The CBO is always right on the money WRT their projections. My health insurance premiums going up this year by 15% was only my imagination. Stupid imagination.


[/FONT][/COLOR]

Do you have coverage through your employer?

[Uncle Ted]

Do you have coverage through your employer?

Yes, my company gives me coverage and I am employee #1. Of course, since it is my company and I pay myself based on the profits it is coming straight out of my paycheck.

So how much would it cost my company to drop health insurance and force my employees (well just employee) to participate in these exchanges? I am wondering if I only have to pay $2500 or so in taxes if I should maybe I should drop my insurance on my employee, pay cash for my medical expenses and then pick up insurance when I actually need it. This Obamacare system looks too easy to game.

[calicoug]

Yes, my company gives me coverage and I am employee #1. Of course, since it is my company and I pay myself based on the profits it is coming straight out of my paycheck.

So how much would it cost my company to drop health insurance and force my employees (well just employee) to participate in these exchanges? I am wondering if I only have to pay $2500 or so in taxes if I should maybe I should drop my insurance on my employee, pay cash for my medical expenses and then pick up insurance when I actually need it. This Obamacare system looks too easy to game.

Your post above about the CBO being way off confused me. That CBO quote was saying those in employer-based coverage wouldn't likely be impacted much. You said you had been impacted so they were wrong. That's why I asked if you were covered by your employer. Given you are self- employed, you don't fit into the category the CBO was discussing. Doesn't mean it's fun having premiums increase, but I was just trying to clarify what you wrote.

[LA Ute]

So let me get this straight: The CBO predicts that more employers and individuals will pay penalties for not having insurance, bringing in more revenue to the government. But there's no accounting for the additional individuals who will go to emergency rooms without insurance? A million people paying the $97 penalty equals 97 million in additional revenues, with no calculation for the costs that those 1 million people will generate when they hit the hospitals without any coverage?

The funds collected from penalties for violating the individual mandate go straight to the US Treasury for Congress to spend as it wishes. A common and understandable misconception is that those funds go to purchase insurance for the individuals paying them.

[calicoug]

I wasn't aware that was a common misconception. I would hope people would realize you can't purchase any useful health insurance for an amount as small as the penalty.

[myboynoah]

I wasn't aware that was a common misconception. I would hope people would realize you can't purchase any useful health insurance for an amount as small as the penalty.

I'm assuming the common misconception would be that it would at least be applied to that task, as inadequate as it is.

[calicoug]

I'm assuming the common misconception would be that it would at least be applied to that task, as inadequate as it is.

Ah.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Your post above about the CBO being way off confused me. That CBO quote was saying those in employer-based coverage wouldn't likely be impacted much. You said you had been impacted so they were wrong. That's why I asked if you were covered by your employer. Given you are self- employed, you don't fit into the category the CBO was discussing. Doesn't mean it's fun having premiums increase, but I was just trying to clarify what you wrote.

Our small business employs 25. Insurance premiums go up 25% on our fiscal turnover (July 1). The CBO is guessing, at best.

[Uncle Ted]

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* doesn't apply to those that don't want health insurance or apparently parents making health decisions (like getting a second opinion) for their children.