Surge in ObamaCare signups surprises experts

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The number of people signing up for ObamaCare has surged in the first few weeks of open enrollment this year, contrary to dire predictions.

The spike in sign-ups is good news for supporters of the health-care law, but experts warn the early numbers don’t necessarily signify a trend. Final enrollment numbers could still be much lower than in the past, they say.

The first ObamaCare open enrollment period of the Trump administration has been surprisingly robust, despite the uncertainty caused by nearly 10 months of repeal attempts in Congress, rising premiums and insurer exits.

Through the first 18 days, nearly 2.3 million people have signed up for insurance coverage through ObamaCare exchanges, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a number that has outpaced the same period under former President Barack Obama.

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/361623-surge-in-obamacare-signups-surprises-experts?rnd=1511456754

[Blue_true]

1. Trump voters who now know what Obamacare does for their asses. nt

[Cicada]

2. Because of the dumb way Trump eliminated subsidies many plans are insanely cheap

Somehow because of the interplay of the law on subsidies and the price hikes forced by Trump’s cuts in subsidies to insurers some getting Obamacare subsidies can get covered by the generous gold plans for one or two dollars a month even tho the less generous silver plan costs a hundred times more. I know someone who would have to pay $249 a month for a silver plan, which on average pays 73% of medical costs, but only has to pay $2.50 per month for a gold plan from the same insurer. The gold plan pays on average 80% of costs. And I know several others here in northern CA getting insurance for 2018 for crazy low insurance premium costs. Now if you don’t get subsidized that isn’t true but if you get big subsidies like many I know it is like a super Black Friday bonanza sale. Thank you dumb President Trump!

[steve2470]

3. Not surprising to me at all, I was forced to buy from the exchange

4 years ago, I had a platinum plan for a (at the time) high price IMHO. Now, the same exact plan would cost me over $2k a month (I'm retired and not eligible for Medicare yet).

Thank god for the exchanges. I was able to get a silver plan for an affordable price.

[Guilded Lilly]

4. I signed up last week...

New city, new individual insurance co. Silver plan, saved over $160 in premiums from last year for almost the same coverage, with less deductible and out of pocket. Medicare will kick in in five months.