Hey Mr. President
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Dear President Obama, Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform. My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up. I think with the savings you promised I may need to start skipping lunch! :mad: I hope I can live long enough to see the "savings".
Me and my family have had supremely good service from our socialist National Health Service for as long as I can remember - heck - my 80 year old dad had a nasty accident recently and they didn't even refer him to a death panel!
It's well known that if all the cat videos and porn disappeared from the internet there would be only one site left and it would be called whereareallthecatvideosandporn.com
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Dear President Obama, Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform. My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up. I think with the savings you promised I may need to start skipping lunch! :mad: I hope I can live long enough to see the "savings".
My rates haven't gone up... But they did stop covering optical and dental. Oh well. Come August I the wife's employer will cover me in full. You just need to find yourself a nurse to marry. :rolleyes:
Play my game Gravity: Android[^], Windows Phone 7[^]
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A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is. Example doctor co-pay five years ago $10, today $30. This year specialist co-pay $50, next year $60. Five years ago specialist was $10.
djj55 wrote:
A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is. Example doctor co-pay five years ago $10, today $30. This year specialist co-pay $50, next year $60. Five years ago specialist was $10.
If you are seeing a 20% raise in co-pay that sucks. But that is not necessarily because of healthcare reform. It is because the insurance you are provided decided to up the cost pre-emptively because they do not know what it will cost them. While you can say that it is inderectly related to the affordable health care act it is directly related to the insurance you are provided not knowing how to stop screwing people over. Rather than cutting the bonuses etc. they are raising your cost. Fortunately you are now protected as long as the state you live in is not retarded and atttempting to rebel against the act.
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Bringing Down Health Care Premiums. To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals, because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers. Effective January 1, 2011. Fact Sheet: Getting Your Money's Worth on Health Insurance.
It is also possible that your insurance is not complying with the act because a lot of the enforcement depends on your state being on board. You may want to check ( or already know ) where the politics of your state fall. Here is why that is important:
Quote:
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes. The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases will be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium exchanges may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014. Grants awarded beginning in 2010.
You can read through the other highlights of the act here. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/full.html[
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djj55 wrote:
A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is. Example doctor co-pay five years ago $10, today $30. This year specialist co-pay $50, next year $60. Five years ago specialist was $10.
If you are seeing a 20% raise in co-pay that sucks. But that is not necessarily because of healthcare reform. It is because the insurance you are provided decided to up the cost pre-emptively because they do not know what it will cost them. While you can say that it is inderectly related to the affordable health care act it is directly related to the insurance you are provided not knowing how to stop screwing people over. Rather than cutting the bonuses etc. they are raising your cost. Fortunately you are now protected as long as the state you live in is not retarded and atttempting to rebel against the act.
Quote:
Bringing Down Health Care Premiums. To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals, because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers. Effective January 1, 2011. Fact Sheet: Getting Your Money's Worth on Health Insurance.
It is also possible that your insurance is not complying with the act because a lot of the enforcement depends on your state being on board. You may want to check ( or already know ) where the politics of your state fall. Here is why that is important:
Quote:
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes. The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases will be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium exchanges may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014. Grants awarded beginning in 2010.
You can read through the other highlights of the act here. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/full.html[
Also 20% cost of insurance. I know the companies are to blame for a lot of it, however I am waiting for the savings promised by the president to start. I mean he was elected while telling us about the savings.
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Also 20% cost of insurance. I know the companies are to blame for a lot of it, however I am waiting for the savings promised by the president to start. I mean he was elected while telling us about the savings.
djj55 wrote:
I know the companies are to blame for a lot of it, however I am waiting for the savings promised by the president to start. I mean he was elected while telling us about the savings.
I get that. But at the same time when I read through what the Act does etc. I do not "not" agree with it. In fact most of it is just common sense to me and I am like "Wait... This implies Insurance companies have been ###### me over for quite some time now". While certain things are a given that it will not "save" the normal person anything, e.g. Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage, those are also things that I strongly thing are necessary. Its ridiculous that the industry controls the pricing and then caps the insurance coverage thus allowing only the elite to get the treatment needed for some illnesses. In fact it is sickening and I do not see how anyone behind such a racket can sleep at night nor look at themselves in the mirror. But I digress. Yes savings were promised, but rates for most have slowed. Those that haven't are often victims of further fraud because the industry refuses to let up their tight grip. I am not saying this is what is happening in your case. But if you have not really looked it to why the cost is going up it is hard to say. If the insurance is providing a legitimate reason for the hike (note: "because of Obamacare" is not a legitimate reason) then I suggest you share it. But don't claim that the act itself is why your rate went up when you really don't know.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
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djj55 wrote:
I know the companies are to blame for a lot of it, however I am waiting for the savings promised by the president to start. I mean he was elected while telling us about the savings.
I get that. But at the same time when I read through what the Act does etc. I do not "not" agree with it. In fact most of it is just common sense to me and I am like "Wait... This implies Insurance companies have been ###### me over for quite some time now". While certain things are a given that it will not "save" the normal person anything, e.g. Eliminating Lifetime Limits on Insurance Coverage, those are also things that I strongly thing are necessary. Its ridiculous that the industry controls the pricing and then caps the insurance coverage thus allowing only the elite to get the treatment needed for some illnesses. In fact it is sickening and I do not see how anyone behind such a racket can sleep at night nor look at themselves in the mirror. But I digress. Yes savings were promised, but rates for most have slowed. Those that haven't are often victims of further fraud because the industry refuses to let up their tight grip. I am not saying this is what is happening in your case. But if you have not really looked it to why the cost is going up it is hard to say. If the insurance is providing a legitimate reason for the hike (note: "because of Obamacare" is not a legitimate reason) then I suggest you share it. But don't claim that the act itself is why your rate went up when you really don't know.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
If you re-read my post I did not say the plan caused it. I said I was waiting for the savings to start. Yes I implied the Act is the reason but I did not say so. :)
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If you re-read my post I did not say the plan caused it. I said I was waiting for the savings to start. Yes I implied the Act is the reason but I did not say so. :)
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Dear President Obama, Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform. My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up. I think with the savings you promised I may need to start skipping lunch! :mad: I hope I can live long enough to see the "savings".
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djj55 wrote:
Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform. My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up.
And it certainly can't have anything to do with the previous 15 years of health cost increases.
Please note I did not say the Act increased my costs. I did ask when I would get the savings from the act.
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The problem is during the campaign he said lower cost. Never saying it had to go up before going down. Also I am not paying a bit, I am paying a lot. Please note that if you needed emergency care and could not afford it, you did not have to pay. Long term care has been a problem.
djj55 wrote:
Please note that if you needed emergency care and could not afford it, you did not have to pay.
Of course "afford it" means different things to different people. So for example some people don't consider losing their homes due to medical costs as being something they can "afford".
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djj55 wrote:
he said lower cost
:-D Well, I have never seen a system where you need less money to finance extra needs...
djj55 wrote:
I am paying a lot
I wonder how much that is. As a comparison. 22% of my monthly income goes to the Health care system. My employer has to pay an amount equivalent to about 50% of this income as well.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
Rage wrote:
Well, I have never seen a system where you need less money to finance extra needs...
However there is at least one source that suggests that 1/3 of the medical costs in the US are due to inefficiencies. So one might suppose that savings are possible.
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Who would of thought that adding 30 million free loaders to the roles would cause premiums to go up
reilly96 wrote:
Who would of thought that adding 30 million free loaders to the roles would cause premiums to go up
Rather certain that the "free loaders" were already on the "roles". I am not sure about the additional numbers that are now insured but I do know one group which is those that the insurance industry absolutely refused to insure due to pre-existing medical conditions. Not sure that those are really "free loaders" though.
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djj55 wrote:
My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up.
This implies they were not going up before and I call BS on that. Take a look around. Its the pharmaceutics industry that you should be griping about. They have a grip on the federal regulations, doctors, Insurance companies, and even the Universities. Nothing is "discovered", released, covered by insurance, or tried by the public with out their OK. The last 2 years are the first years I have seen my premiums not rise by double digit % and my deductible actually stayed the same. Complaining that your insurance still went up with Health care reform is like complaining you still got bit by a mosquito after your community sprays bug killer.
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
Collin Jasnoch wrote:
is implies they were not going up before and I call BS on that.
You mean the current president isn't responsible for the past 15 years of medical cost increases? And the current president also isn't responsible for the actions of Congress for the last 15 years?
Collin Jasnoch wrote:
They have a grip on the federal regulations, doctors, Insurance companies, and even the Universities.
Pretty sure insurance companies are also making a profit.
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Collin Jasnoch wrote:
is implies they were not going up before and I call BS on that.
You mean the current president isn't responsible for the past 15 years of medical cost increases? And the current president also isn't responsible for the actions of Congress for the last 15 years?
Collin Jasnoch wrote:
They have a grip on the federal regulations, doctors, Insurance companies, and even the Universities.
Pretty sure insurance companies are also making a profit.
jschell wrote:
You mean the current president isn't responsible for the past 15 years of medical cost increases?
And the current president also isn't responsible for the actions of Congress for the last 15 years?Stop passing the blame! He is the president now so certainly it is his fault ;)
jschell wrote:
Pretty sure insurance companies are also making a profit.
They most certainly are. But I flag them and the pharmaceutics industry as the same dudes are on the boards of each in many cases. Insurance refuses specific treatments because the pharmaceuticals do not make profit from it and insurance covers treatments that the pharmaceuticals are profiting heavily from. Often these are "treatments" (covered) vs. prevention and potential cures (not covered).
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
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A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is. Example doctor co-pay five years ago $10, today $30. This year specialist co-pay $50, next year $60. Five years ago specialist was $10.
djj55 wrote:
A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is.
First off you are ignoring the cost to your employer and as well as ignoring how your employer passes those costs along to you. Second in the past 8 years the total cost has gone up every year by more than 5%. Which far exceeds inflation and employee income increases. Third, yes an unending 5% increase when there is almost a zero percent inflation is in fact a problem for any commodity item.
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If you re-read my post I did not say the plan caused it. I said I was waiting for the savings to start. Yes I implied the Act is the reason but I did not say so. :)
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djj55 wrote:
If you re-read my post I did not say the plan caused it.
So what did you mean then when you said "Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform"?
Ah, that is the question!
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djj55 wrote:
A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is. Example doctor co-pay five years ago $10, today $30. This year specialist co-pay $50, next year $60. Five years ago specialist was $10.
If you are seeing a 20% raise in co-pay that sucks. But that is not necessarily because of healthcare reform. It is because the insurance you are provided decided to up the cost pre-emptively because they do not know what it will cost them. While you can say that it is inderectly related to the affordable health care act it is directly related to the insurance you are provided not knowing how to stop screwing people over. Rather than cutting the bonuses etc. they are raising your cost. Fortunately you are now protected as long as the state you live in is not retarded and atttempting to rebel against the act.
Quote:
Bringing Down Health Care Premiums. To ensure premium dollars are spent primarily on health care, the law generally requires that at least 85% of all premium dollars collected by insurance companies for large employer plans are spent on health care services and health care quality improvement. For plans sold to individuals and small employers, at least 80% of the premium must be spent on benefits and quality improvement. If insurance companies do not meet these goals, because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must provide rebates to consumers. Effective January 1, 2011. Fact Sheet: Getting Your Money's Worth on Health Insurance.
It is also possible that your insurance is not complying with the act because a lot of the enforcement depends on your state being on board. You may want to check ( or already know ) where the politics of your state fall. Here is why that is important:
Quote:
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for Unreasonable Rate Hikes. The law allows states that have, or plan to implement, measures that require insurance companies to justify their premium increases will be eligible for $250 million in new grants. Insurance companies with excessive or unjustified premium exchanges may not be able to participate in the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014. Grants awarded beginning in 2010.
You can read through the other highlights of the act here. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/full.html[
So what was to be expected when the insurance companies were required to spend 80-85% on benefits, leaving only a 15-20% profit margin, without any controls as to how much they could increase their premiums? That is before the Act takes effect. I believe there are controls after it takes effect. So if an insurance company was making a 30% profit margin before the "Act" and wanted to maintain the same dollar amount profit after the "Act", then they necessarily will have to raise premiums. So on $1000 premium with 30% profit margin, that's $300 profit. Now to keep that same dollar amount with a 20% profit margin requires raising premiums to $1500, a 50% increase! (Do the math $300/.2 = 1500). I have no idea what profit margins the insurance companies are making, but that's what's going on. So, in my opinion, premiums are rising higher faster in direct consequence of the Act. Because insurance companies rightly fear a direct hit to their bottom lines once the Act fully takes effect with it's disallowance of preexisting condition exclusions and lifetime caps. All those new sick people have to be paid for somehow!
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein -
djj55 wrote:
A 5% raise (per year) is not a problem but a 20% raise is.
First off you are ignoring the cost to your employer and as well as ignoring how your employer passes those costs along to you. Second in the past 8 years the total cost has gone up every year by more than 5%. Which far exceeds inflation and employee income increases. Third, yes an unending 5% increase when there is almost a zero percent inflation is in fact a problem for any commodity item.
It wouldn't be a problem if there were true competition. When they all raise rates in concert then there's nowhere else to go. I'm not suggestion collusion, but one wonders. Another problem is that most of the time you don't know beforehand what something is going to cost before you need the medical problem taken care of. It's like going to the grocery store with no prices on the shelves, filling up your cart, going home with the groceries and getting a $10,000 bill in the mail two months later after you've already eaten everything. It's not like you can regurgitate it all and give it back because it costs too much. So, lack of competition in two ways: you're locked-in insurance-wise to a particular insurer, oftentimes because it's supplied by your workplace, or because everyone-else is raising premiums too. Second, there's no readily available price information from doctors and other healthcare providers.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein -
Dear President Obama, Thank you so much for the Health Care Reform. My premiums went up again, my co-pays also went up. I think with the savings you promised I may need to start skipping lunch! :mad: I hope I can live long enough to see the "savings".
I wonder how much of that increase is because of your company increasing your share. That's happened to me as well, but an equal amount was because the company just passed their increase on to the employees so their cost would remain the same.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.-John Q. Adams
You must accept one of two basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe, or we are not alone in the universe. And either way, the implications are staggering.-Wernher von Braun
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.-Albert Einstein