Insurance premium hikes raise questions about Affordable Care Act

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/insurance-premium-hikes-raise-questions-about-affordable-care-act/article_68cc7068-13bc-5984-80d4-3515b56dd78c.html

Posted: Monday, November 2, 2015 12:30 am
By Rick Ruggles / World-Herald staff writer

Soaring health insurance premiums in the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges have sparked questions about whether the law is helping to contain medical costs nationwide.

Increases in premium rates in the Nebraska and Iowa exchanges, or marketplaces, range from 9 to 20 percent or more as open enrollment begins this week.

The marketplaces are for people who buy insurance plans for themselves and their families and in most cases receive federal subsidies, or tax credits, through the Affordable Care Act.

Rates in the employer-sponsored plans that most people have are expected to rise, too, although not nearly as much as those in the exchanges. Employer-sponsored plans could see increases of around 5 to 9 percent, according to one estimate.

FULL story at link.

Where to Get Help
Among the metro-area places that will provide sign-up assistance through navigators and counselors beginning this week:
Charles Drew Health Center, 2915 Grant St., Omaha
OneWorld Community Health Centers, 4920 S. 30th St., Omaha
Resolute, 11205 Wright Circle, Suite 140, Omaha
Nebraska Medical Center, 4350 Dewey Ave., Omaha
Bellevue Medical Center, 2500 Bellevue Medical Center Drive, Bellevue
All Care Health Center, 902 S. Sixth St., Council Bluffs
Or:
Log on to HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov
Call 800-318-2596 (help is available in many languages); TTY users should dial 855-889-4325
U.S. spends the most
Health care spending per capita, 2013. Adjusted for differences in cost of living.
1. United States: $9,086
2. Switzerland: $6,325
3. Norway: $6,170
4. Sweden: $5,153
5. Netherlands: $5,131
6. Germany: $4,920
7. Denmark: $4,847
8. Canada: $4,569
9. France: $4,361
10. Australia: $4,115
11. New Zealand: $3,855
12. Japan: $3,713
13. United Kingdom: $3,364
Source: The Commonwealth Fund
Related Stories
Federal health care premiums set to increase in Midlands
Obamacare: What’s new for 2016
Sessions to offer Affordable Care Act information ahead of health care sign-ups

[Javaman]

1. I'm fully expecting a rate hike in my insurance here at work.

It goes up every year as does the deductible.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Health insurance premiums are going up, that's true.

Is that trend affected by ACA? Does ACA cause the increase? Without ACA would there not be an increase?

Maybe the insurance industry could use some oversight.

Maybe we need to replace ACA with Single-payer.

But eliminating ACA will not lower health insurance premiums.

[tkmorris]

4. No, eliminating ACA would not lower the premiums

It wouldn't even slow the increase in premiums. However, the ACA was SUPPOSED to bring down those premiums. Not only hasn't it done so but the premiums continue to increase, outpacing inflation. This isn't sustainable.

[City Lights]

3. Our $1100/month plan from BCBS is being cancelled.

Based on the research I've done so far, a similar plan to what we had is going to cost $1700-$1800/month. There is nothing "affordable" about it, IMO.

[MisterP]

5. they pulled the same trick with the FAA

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/deregulation-may-not-have-been-boon-airline-passengers-after-all

[B Calm]

6. My ACA went down $50 per month for the same insurance and my income

hasn't changed.

[rusty fender]

7. BlueCross/BlueShield in NM asked

the State Insurance Secretary for a 51% increase of their individual plans. The Ins. Sec. declined their request so BXBS is dropping coverage of all 35,000 individual policy holders in the state.

I currently have an individual plan and the premium is close to $400/month for one person and has a deductible of $5200. Nothing about it is affordable.