This needs some attention (or not)

[Froward69]

two years ago I went shopping at e health insurance.
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/Welcome.ds

I could not find any Health insurance policy that I could afford that covered me at work (I am Self employed)
the one I did find I could afford, was from blue cross with a $7,500 deductible at $140 per month. (back Then)
now that same policy is $64 dollars a month. SAME policy I am two years older and the cost NOW is less than HALF?????

NOW that the threat of a public option looms it appears that the Health Insurance companies are (quietly) reducing premium rates to compete with the Public Option.
https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/individual-health-insurance.fs

Using the Kaiser Family Foundation calculator
http://healthreform.kff.org/SubsidyCalculator.aspx
I land at $350 per month.

I have yet to see any adds touting the lessor premiums nor have I heard of ANY premium deductions from anyone anywhere.

Seems to me the premium rates are going lower than any public option could (at least for now) simply with the threat.
We all know the insurance Companies could compete with a public option. It sure seems like they are doing so now.

... As if the public Option dies, my bet is, the premium rates would skyrocket again.

Thoughts?

[Vincardog]

1. Lets get a strong PO and see

[Fearless]

3. Agreed.

And how about instead of spending millions to lobby Congress, insurance companies lower my rates in the meantime??

[Froward69]

5. Yeah I know!!!

Just the threat of a PO is doing the trick it would seem. Still yet again though I have yet to hear of ANY reduced rates on current policies or renewals.

only for new customers it seems. :shrug:

[imdjh]

2. $350 for HMO is normal

[closeupready]

4. This is just as I predicted. They will play nice for a while, and

when the coast is clear, they will go back to gouging the middle class.

This is precisely why a trigger will not work.

[Froward69]

6. Agreed!

[Walk away]

7. I have a $330.00 per month premium here in NJ

I had to give up my expensive/good coverage insurance and go with Blue Cross Blue Shield. Unless I get hit by a bus it covers almost nothing. If I go to my primary care doctor without insurance it costs $100. With this insurance it costs me $30. BS/BS pays nothing. The doctor's office only charges $30 in total for people with this policy.

I think the insurance companies are going to finish buying congress, force the American people to buy their useless product and squeeze us dry.

[Froward69]

8. I bought the $140

Policy from Blue cross. Like you said it covered nothing. when my appendix burst. they refused to pay the bills as I went to the wrong emergency room. (It still did not cover any work related injury.)
I had to cancel it to pay the bills out of pocket (Bills I am still paying on now)

thus Health care became my cause.

Now that same policy is less than half the cost of two years ago!!! aaarrruuuggg!!!!!!!!!! (I am just pissed they are playing these games.)

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. I'm not surprised that Insurance companies are using that tactic