I Think Health Care Reform Is Working...

[kjackson227]

Our HR Department had a meeting about two weeks ago regarding our group insurance, and in spite of our large claims, our premiums for health benefits will not be going up next year. There also won't be increases in co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket charges either.

I heard Thom Hartmann mention that premiums would be going down because of the Medical Loss Ratio provision that is included in the HCR bill, so I think this is the reason...

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/11/medical-loss-ratio.html

Has anyone else noticed any premium changes?

[SlimJimmy]

1. Yes, mine went up by about 5 percent. I don't think HCR had anything to do with it.

[kjackson227]

3. Even though it went up...

was this increase more or less than in previous years?

[SlimJimmy]

4. About the same. Some years it doesn't go up, and some years it does. That's why I said I

don't think HCR had a lot to do with it. That might change once it's fully implemented in a few years.

[kjackson227]

6. Our premiums would go up almost every year...

and if the premiums didn't go up, our out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles would. I just find this strange since we've had quite a few serious health claims. Time will tell...

[Supersedeas]

30. BCBS of North Carolina has a larger increase than last year

United Healthcare is not much better.

There just aren't that many options to turn to.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. I'll have to get back with you once my open enrollment starts

However, there appear to be some positive trends that are becoming apparent. Unfortunately, SCOTUS will get to sink its teeth into it, maybe even as early as next year, and I just hope that it doesn't decide to capriciously strike it down in its entirety even if it ends up having a problem with the individual mandate.

[kjackson227]

5. Please do- I'd like to see if this is the beginning of a trend :)

[Exilednight]

7. That has nothing to do with HCR. The census bureau reported that 900,000 new people

are currently without health insurance from the previous year.

Your premiums have nothing to do with HCR, Obama failed to address that issue. And to be honest, you have no idea if the company's costs are going up or down. Sometimes a good company just absorbs the cost. The company I work for managed to keep our premiums the same, but reduced our coverage.

[kjackson227]

8. Yes, I do know whether my company's costs are going up or down...

and our costs didn't increase at all. Did you not read the link in the original op? I think the Medical Loss Ratio provision did affect the premiums somewhat.

[Exilednight]

9. I read the op, and you never specified if it was your personal premiums that were

going up, or what the company pays. If the medical loss ratio provision were working, more people overall would be insured.

[kjackson227]

10. The premium costs for the company stayed the same, AND ALL costs...

for the employees did also. We have to look at other aspects that bring down premiums in addition to the number of insured individuals.

[karynnj]

21. The medical loss ratio has little to do with the number of uninsured

It is the % of money that the insurance company gets that MUST go towards paying for actual medical benefits - and yes, it is having some impact "bending the cost curve".

[Jane Austin]

11. Our small business got $5000+ back on our taxes

because we provide health insurance for all our employees who want it.

WooHoo!!!

[kjackson227]

13. Good! I know that all of the HCR bill won't be effective until...

2014, but I do think we're beginning to see small but positive effects from it already.

[Wait Wut]

17. How awesome!

Not just that you got $5 grand back, but that you provide health insurance for your employees!

[ellisonz]

29. That's great.

Stick that 5 grand in the rainy day fund! lol

[1monster]

12. My husband's went up about $30 per month, but the benefits were cut down

drastically...

[kjackson227]

14. Sorry to hear this. So, I assume this is worse than in previous...

years?

[1monster]

15. Yes.

[Life Long Dem]

16. Must be working.

If you heard any of the Republican debates. They all want to repeal Obamacare from the very first day in office. That tells me something must be working.

[flamingdem]

18. just got a letter saying we will get an 85 dollar "rebate" nt

[crazylikafox]

19. I got a $700 rebate on my insur. premiums this year.

I was shocked. And yes, it was because of "obamacare".

[Mr Deltoid]

23. I have a $24,000 co-pay on just one medicine

A 12 week supply. That is WITH insurance. No HCR for me apparently.

[harun]

20. Insurance companies are screwing over less people. I don't care what happens to premiums.

[Mr Deltoid]

22. They are gouging mainly with huge co-pays and huge deductibles

And there is nothing to stop this gouging until 2014. The law allows insurers to gouge for five years. It is disgusting.

[Hoyt]

26. To be fair -- It's employers choosing those high deductibles and co-pays.

You can get a no deductible/copay plan -- but employers are passing more and more of the cost to employees.

Even in individual market, one can buy low deductible/copay plans -- if you can afford it.

The sooner the limits on the premium to benefits ratio and Exchanges kick in, the better.

Then, somebody better start restructuring the way health care is delivered or just about everyone will be priced out of the market in the long-run.

[Township75]

24. I think you need to ask this again in December.

I won't know until late November what the rates are for next year at my company. But I would be curious to see if my company represents what others are experiencing.

[rusty fender]

25. I hope it has an impact soon where I am

I am not part of a "group" insurance plan; I am what is known as a single subscriber, and although there are 40,000 of us in NM, we are all dealt with as individuals. Our premiums went up 26% last November. BlueX Blue Shield is asking the state insurance administrator for a 21% increase this year. I would be amazed if anybody in our "group" ever gets a refund, let alone a decrease in premiiums.

[LWolf]

27. The increase in my premiums have tripled each year since

the health INSURANCE reform bill passed. My co-pays and deductibles are higher, as well.

I haven't USED my health insurance in 4-5 years.

[kjackson227]

28. For those individuals who pay for single coverage insurance...

I would think that if you don't receive a rebate due to the Medical Loss Ratio, then you probably won't see much if any relief until 2014 which is when the exchanges kick in unless you change to a company that charges a lesser premium (which could decrease benefits):(

I'm sure this link has been posted before, but here it is again. It gives a lot of good information including a great timeline.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html