Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumObamacare premiums have been going up due to the medical costs of the previously uninsured
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/us/politics/newest-policyholders-under-health-law-are-sicker-and-costlier-to-insurers.htmlPeople newly insured under the Affordable Care Act were sicker, used more medical care and had higher medical costs than those who already had coverage, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association said Tuesday in a new study of its policyholders.
Because insurers premiums have to cover their medical expenses, the new report helps explain why Blue Cross plans have sought, and insurance commissioners have approved, substantial rate increases in many states. Another round of rate review is about to begin, with insurers generally required to file rate requests for 2017 in the next two months.
New insurance policies are often more generous and comprehensive than individual policies sold before the health care law. The new policies must, for example, cover maternity care and mental health and substance abuse services.
Whether you think the uninsured should be covered, which is a normative question, why does anyone think that moving to a single payer system will be cheaper at the overall system level if you cover MORE people for MORE benefits with FEWER cost controls (deductibles, co-payments)?
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
4 replies, 920 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (0)
ReplyReply to this post
4 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Obamacare premiums have been going up due to the medical costs of the previously uninsured (Original Post)
hill2016
Mar 2016
OP
dogman
(6,073 posts)1. It's called profit.
What does the health insurance industry do for healthcare? They add their profit to the cost. The only cost control they provide is denying care and cutting payments to providers. Parasites are not a good thing for your health.
FBaggins
(27,438 posts)2. In answer to your question
We were told that medical costs would decline because waiting and going to the emergency room will always be more expensive than getting earlier treatment.
Downwinder
(12,869 posts)3. Does not explain why my Medigap
goes up $60.00 April 1st.
However I seem to be getting my money's worth for the extra 50 a month. I am paying 50 for the visit and not getting billed after like I was.