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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInsurers flocking to ObamaCare
By Elise Viebeck - 06/15/14 06:00 AM EDT
Health insurance companies suddenly want in on the ObamaCare action.
With a difficult launch year out of the way, insurers are seeing a moneymaking opportunity in the federal healthcare program and are lining up to offer plans on the ObamaCare exchanges in 2015.
In the 10 states where data is available, at least 27 new insurers have indicated they will offer plans on the marketplaces in 2015. Each additional carrier will expand the number of plans sold on the exchanges, since none of the carriers already offering plans have indicated they will drop out.
The surge in participation is being touted by the White House, and indicates that many of the ObamaCare exchanges are taking root despite the broader unpopularity of the law and opposition from Republicans on Capitol Hill.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/209358-health-insurers-new-message-on-obamacare-count-us-in#ixzz34pGS7Bqy
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)So much for the "death spiral" doomsayers.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)there is absolutely no way in hell that the 1% is going to let this go away - the US government guaranteeing them a half trillion dollars profit, every year, until the end of time. Why do you think the Repukes have shut up about it? Why do you think the new HHS secretary guaranteed Big Insurance that "single payer won't happen on my watch".
Please, try to wake up. The country and its residents need your help. Cheerleading for this travesty is not helpful
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)and who profits from Medicaid?
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)and hopefully there are some good nonprofit or public options like MinnesotaCare: http://www.health.state.mn.us/clearinghouse/public.htm
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)This will be just like cell phones, TV, and schools - highest cost, worst results. American exceptionalism!
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)Michigan is not that far from Canada.
Do you also object to Minnesota's public option for low income folks?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Why would I object to a public option? One of the reasons I voted for Obama was that he promised that everyone would have that option. Oops!
Here's another clue: If he'd campaigned on guaranteeing Big Insurance 320 million paying customers, and on signing TPP (NAFTA on steroids), and profitizing public schools, and letting the entire Bush Crime Family walk away free, and recommending tolls to use the interstate highway system, and keeping Gitmo open, and enacting "spy on everyone", Decision 2008 might have turned out differently. Now the Dem candidate in 2016 is going to have to fight off his legacy of populist rhetoric followed by a corporatist agenda.
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)Blanks
(4,835 posts)They're guaranteed an income. They'll have to pay for their customers health care (which they're probably not used to having to do), but they know that they've got the money coming in because of the subsidies.
progressoid
(50,143 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Thanks, Mr. President!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)end the complaints that there were only two insurers in NH and limited choices in some other states.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/obamacare-good-news
Next!
csziggy
(34,153 posts)We're trying to plan when my husband can retire - he was working so we could have health insurance - but I'm not sure if any of our providers are covered. Even the providers can't tell me, so I guess I will have to spend some quality time with a BC/BS agent. Goody.
Maybe some other carriers will sign on but I'm not sure I want to make my husband wait on retirement to find out.
hue
(4,949 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)This was announced at the roll out. I can't believe some are just catching on. They want their fair share of the 500 billion guarantee. And guess who's going to pay!
1. The poor - nope, some of them will actually get health care finally
2. The rich - nope, they're the ones making the money
3. Working and middle class people - DING!
If they can figure out a Heritage Care version of US education, this will clinch the title of Most Corporate Friendly 8 years in history.
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)including mutual funds in their 401K and IRA plans?
And many folks are getting much needed health care for the first time in their lives. More insured Americans means more patients are getting treatments, especially if they had been needing it for a while.
Do you oppose the Medicaid expansion too? Who gets rich off of that?
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Maybe you could make a fortune touring the globe convincing all of the rest of the developed countries to forego their no-profit health care and adopt our half-trillion-dollars-per-year-for-nothing health insurance, rated the worst in the free world. This could turn out to be HUGE!!! Let me know how it goes!
IronLionZion
(45,918 posts)Can you even begin to understand the unholy shit that we go through over each and every treatment through Medicare, Medicaid, and the disability programs? It's unreal how much the Republican party fights over each one, because they don't want to pay for patients to get lifesaving treatments.
SSA and CMS have a list for "Compassion Allowance" that allows patients to go through the application process faster if they have a condition where they may die soon before getting through the normal way. Lots of cancers are on this list. Know what's not? HIV! GOP is content to let people die alone in their apartments than get taxpayer funded public health benefits. Those folks can now buy a plan through the ACA, at community rated prices, and their treatments have to be covered. They can not be denied coverage because of their very expensive pre-existing condition.
It's amazing that some people assume single payer is some utopia where conservative parties like our Koch-funded GOP won't screw it up purely out of spite.
Look, I support Jon Conyers' Medicare for all plan HR 676. Go ahead and tell me how many votes you have rounded up in Congress to pass it and let me know how it goes buddy. Complaining on DU is not going to get you single payer but good luck with that.
Also invent a time machine where you go back and convince the Dems to pass it back in 2009. Also use the time machine to help Al Franken's senate campaign and Ted Kennedy's health while you're at it because you need both their votes in the Senate.
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)while imposing strong reforms that benefit the people, no cancellations, no denials, no discriminatory pricing. It significantly expanded the availability of public health insurance (Medicaid) for low income Americans.
This is not a "surprise" to which Americans are just now "catching on" -- unless they never really followed the progress of the legislation in the first place.
The new law obviously isn't single payer or a "government takeover".
It seems to be working modestly well and I'm modestly pleased with it.
The alternative was, of course, nothing. If this bill had failed in the senate we would have had nothing. Probably for at leat another decade or more. Another decade of medical bankruptcy and continued health care disaster for millions.
How about the Medicaid expansion? Anything good you could say about that?
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)lpbk2713
(42,863 posts)Good times.