General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,696 posts)

142. Kaiser, at least outside of California, is circling the drain.

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 08:34 AM

Oct 2013

For reasons having nothing to do with the ACA, Kaiser repeatedly jacked up the prices to the company I used to work to, and decreased the benefits, and slashed the pool of doctors and pharmacies we were able to use. Even given the extreme health issues in our company, after the second year in a row it did this we were able to find another insurance company to underwrite us at a lower cost with far greater benefits and at least a 1000% improvement in customer service.

On the exchange prices I have seen, Kaiser has consistently been the highest price, so I am surprised Kaiser's price is lower.

Impressed with the concept Kaiser uses, impressed with the execution in California (based on information from friends who use it there), disgusted with it in Ohio based on experiences I had with it personally in the late 70s, and again recently.

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my monthly health care premium goes up 60% January first after ACA implementation [View all] msongs Oct 2013 OP

This is pretty meaningless without a benefit comparison. pnwmom Oct 2013 #1

Percentage isn't very meaningful in real dollars HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #33

Yes -- for women that makes a significant difference. pnwmom Oct 2013 #34

I don't believe this posting dem in texas Oct 2013 #2

MSongs is a legitimate poster. I can believe that the rate is going up, but I want to see bluestate10 Oct 2013 #8

LOL tabasco Oct 2013 #118

He kinda explains it here Packerowner740 Oct 2013 #11

It's typical these days LWolf Oct 2013 #29

pre-determined point of views! Whisp Oct 2013 #40

I've been complaining LWolf Oct 2013 #112

But none of the plans with Essential benefits or the other features pnwmom Oct 2013 #139

Apples and Oranges... LWolf Oct 2013 #141

That may be true. I think what Obama meant was something like pnwmom Oct 2013 #150

That's probably it. LWolf Oct 2013 #154

I agree with you. This is just a step -- but it's a real step. pnwmom Oct 2013 #155

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #54

That's because it's INSURANCE and 55-64 is the HIGHEST cost (in healthcare years) SoCalDem Oct 2013 #160

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #163

how/why would Kaiser know about subsidies? magical thyme Oct 2013 #3

The Kaiser Foundation calculator that the ACA refers you to for estimates on doc03 Oct 2013 #21

Why doesn't the OPer simply go on the exchange to apply for the subsidy? BlueStreak Oct 2013 #59

Mine is going up too, but the coverage is sooo much better and bettyellen Oct 2013 #4

The good thing about that is treestar Oct 2013 #28

exactly, my friend got royally screwed while going for infertility treatments.... bettyellen Oct 2013 #35

That's the best part of it for me... penultimate Oct 2013 #110

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #57

Exactly.. Before, people were paying for a Cadillac, but getting an Edsel SoCalDem Oct 2013 #156

my friend is still on the phone and writing letters a year after giving up trying to have bettyellen Oct 2013 #159

Well, next week you can check it out. rgbecker Oct 2013 #5

as I said, time will tell. I do not believe employees at Kaiser are lying to me btw nt msongs Oct 2013 #7

"Time will tell". Will you come back & tell us if you're mistaken? Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #6

old price divided by new price = 60% increase. As Bill C said, i'ts arithmetic :-) nt msongs Oct 2013 #9

Quite frankly, I don't care that your premium goes up or NOT. Millions of unininsured.... Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #13

two responses to that.... Mona Oct 2013 #15

Some people do not care about 'people' at all and many of us have decided it is sabrina 1 Oct 2013 #36

I believe you are wealthy enough to have a increase but. Notafraidtoo Oct 2013 #41

!!! Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #147

North Carolina still has not expanded Medicaid, so many in NC are suffering while Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #20

Sad response. nt. goldent Oct 2013 #89

spectacularly rude and unhelpful-- this is what makes DU suck.... mike_c Oct 2013 #108

In some places, my frankness can be perceived as "spectacularly rude and unhelpful", but honest.... Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #151

Well. That was insensitive and uncalled for. GreenPartyVoter Oct 2013 #127

A response worthy of FreekRepublic LondonReign2 Oct 2013 #148

I'm sure you know exactly what goes on at "FreekRepublic". Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #149

No really it isn't that simple. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #25

but if one is forced into a new plan that's "better," but costs significantly more... mike_c Oct 2013 #109

Many employers offer a choice of shitty plans. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #130

Old price divided by new price? Owl Oct 2013 #93

Just for the record, that is not how you calculate a percentage increase. cbayer Oct 2013 #120

That thought crossed my mind, as well... n/t Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #143

You and bill are incorrect. Soundman Oct 2013 #153

well, you either are, or you aren't, getting a subsidy. Post your income level and age... Schema Thing Oct 2013 #10

not the first post I have seen regarding "sticker shock" of the ACA quinnox Oct 2013 #12

A lot of people are seeing large increases if they don't qualify for subsidies Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #17

You don't usually need to pay the deductible all at once. pnwmom Oct 2013 #46

And remember that the deductible is PER CALENDAR YEAR! If you get an illness that spans SharonAnn Oct 2013 #74

I understand how deductibles work. I also understand pnwmom Oct 2013 #76

We are discussing people who are not eligible and aren't filthy rich. boston bean Oct 2013 #85

(self-delete) pnwmom Oct 2013 #90

I'm in a thread about a duer, and none of that info you state was stated by him/her. boston bean Oct 2013 #94

You're right. I'm in two threads about the ACA now and pnwmom Oct 2013 #97

You haven't read anything that I've stated. boston bean Oct 2013 #98

Knew about subsidies for premiums, but link please for info re these credits for deduct & OOP? nt DeschutesRiver Oct 2013 #157

Here is a link to info about the tax credits -- from the IRS pnwmom Oct 2013 #161

This is the subsidy for premiums; cover oregon plans also have an annual deductible & out of DeschutesRiver Oct 2013 #162

Well, it is a 70/30 actuarial split, and yes you have to pay the deductible before insurance pays Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #135

I understand you have to pay the deductible first. But the way it works pnwmom Oct 2013 #137

I only qualify for subsidies, am not what you would consider low income, and the deductible ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #103

It seems to me that policies vary hugely around the country Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #132

And there are also a lot of people who are spreading untrue stories pnwmom Oct 2013 #138

Reallly?? Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #144

Squeaky wheels. The vast majority will be HELPED by it. kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #37

I'm afraid of it. Reality is going to catch up with people real soon in the next couple of months. Purveyor Oct 2013 #86

They will in some places Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #136

or not SoCalDem Oct 2013 #158

mine is going up too... Mona Oct 2013 #14

There are some types of preventative care that are not pnwmom Oct 2013 #101

colonoscopies are money makers for the hospitals madrchsod Oct 2013 #125

What about your tax credit under the ACA? n/t doc03 Oct 2013 #16

OP was told probably no subsidy. n/t Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #18

I thought everyone was eligible for a tax credit based on income? n/t doc03 Oct 2013 #19

No, about 1/3rd of current private policy holders are not. Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #24

Why because their income is too high? n/t doc03 Oct 2013 #26

Subsidies are available to those who make up to 4X the federal poverty level. kestrel91316 Oct 2013 #39

Heartless BKLawyer Oct 2013 #62

Isn't it less than 46k? Most the calculators I've used seem to lose the subsidies at around 32k/yr. penultimate Oct 2013 #114

Poverty Figures BKLawyer Oct 2013 #116

Totally depends on where the person lives... penultimate Oct 2013 #117

Well, of course. BKLawyer Oct 2013 #123

Oh yeah, $350/mo would make a huge dent.. penultimate Oct 2013 #124

But your calculations are based on pretending that that person pnwmom Oct 2013 #126

Managing Money BKLawyer Oct 2013 #128

One of the three people I know who went bankrupt pnwmom Oct 2013 #129

actually in many cases, 24 states, that actually isn't true dsc Oct 2013 #92

They can get a subsidy. Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #133

do you have a link for that dsc Oct 2013 #140

Maybe not Medicaid but they can get the subsidy on the exchange, according to the code section Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #146

We're only talking like $16/hr where you no longer qualify for anything... penultimate Oct 2013 #113

There are two subsidies available in ACA Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #43

on the other hand, my premium will probably go down by 33% steve2470 Oct 2013 #22

why do people attack someone posting facts about an increase? zazen Oct 2013 #23

Because the op has not presented all the facts. Nt. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #27

because they keep saying the policies are the same. and that is impossible. bettyellen Oct 2013 #47

They may mean out of pocket, and deductibles are the same and the premium is higher. boston bean Oct 2013 #48

Exactly BKLawyer Oct 2013 #115

"What use is a policy if the deducible is $6000 per year and the family is of modest means..." solarhydrocan Oct 2013 #131

If it is covering more, than it could be worth it treestar Oct 2013 #30

If you are getting the subsidy, sure Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #44

Yup, and even if everyone who needs subsidies got them (which they don't), woo me with science Oct 2013 #49

If you are not getting the subsidy you can afford it treestar Oct 2013 #50

Really? How do you know this? boston bean Oct 2013 #51

It is the way it is set up treestar Oct 2013 #55

Many will be paying more, in premiums and the same amount in deductibles and oop expenses. boston bean Oct 2013 #60

No, they will get better coverage than they had before treestar Oct 2013 #64

Yeah tell that to the family of four who make 46K and their lousy boston bean Oct 2013 #67

if you endup paying all the deductables? jbond56 Oct 2013 #122

My, isn't that comfortable. woo me with science Oct 2013 #52

WTF? treestar Oct 2013 #56

Utter denial of and contempt for what people are experiencing and reporting. woo me with science Oct 2013 #66

You're Right BKLawyer Oct 2013 #75

Yes, for some of these folks it's awful Yo_Mama Oct 2013 #134

Lets not forget jamzrockz Oct 2013 #152

Subsidize PEOPLE not INSURANCE COMPANIES! leftstreet Oct 2013 #58

Then they will still pay for health care eventually treestar Oct 2013 #61

+100000000 woo me with science Oct 2013 #63

Wrong ProSense Oct 2013 #70

ummm, 80% of a cost they set? Laughable. boston bean Oct 2013 #71

Oh please, ProSense Oct 2013 #77

rate review by who? boston bean Oct 2013 #81

Health insurance rate hikes in nine states deemed excessive by HHS ProSense Oct 2013 #87

I'm looking forward to a 9.9999999% increase year over year. boston bean Oct 2013 #100

There were a couple of states ProSense Oct 2013 #104

According to your prior post it is a review when costs increase over 10% per year. boston bean Oct 2013 #106

HHS is already granting waivers to some states leftstreet Oct 2013 #78

Nonsense. n/t ProSense Oct 2013 #80

(LOL you didn't know that?) n/t leftstreet Oct 2013 #82

The MLR went into effect in 2012 ProSense Oct 2013 #91

Hello, IA, GA? 17 have submitted. Look for more leftstreet Oct 2013 #95

These were temporary, and do not apply to 2014 ProSense Oct 2013 #99

Wrong leftstreet Oct 2013 #102

No, not wrong. The waivers were temporary. n/t ProSense Oct 2013 #105

We've known all along that there would be collateral damage madville Oct 2013 #31

Some information about this: The Straight Story Oct 2013 #32

but of course it would. Whisp Oct 2013 #38

Before kentuckys exchange. Notafraidtoo Oct 2013 #42

Are your overall costs less expensive, ie deductibles, 80/20? boston bean Oct 2013 #45

remember, if Kaiser doesn't spend 80% of premiums on patient care - you get it back ZRT2209 Oct 2013 #53

Yes, this is the key goldent Oct 2013 #88

So you paid good money for shitty insurance before. And Kaiser raised your rates. DevonRex Oct 2013 #65

Assuming you're comparing apples to apples,cases like yours will be the REAL impetus to single payer steve2470 Oct 2013 #68

But the woman in the article is NOT comparing apples to apples. pnwmom Oct 2013 #79

yes, that's why I was careful to hedge my post, people are getting much better coverage now nt steve2470 Oct 2013 #83

Is your policy new and not grandfathered? mmonk Oct 2013 #69

Mine's going up 100% Uben Oct 2013 #72

That's without going on the exchange. It will be interesting to see pnwmom Oct 2013 #84

If you are in a medically-underwritten policy now, your rates will go up Dems to Win Oct 2013 #73

However in Calif. there are currently some 7.1 million uninsured. truedelphi Oct 2013 #111

Edgar Kaiser's Permanente thing... Agony Oct 2013 #96

Misleading headline on your post Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #107

Helpful Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) chart Imalittleteapot Oct 2013 #119

Shop around then TroglodyteScholar Oct 2013 #121

Kaiser, at least outside of California, is circling the drain. Ms. Toad Oct 2013 #142

But it is what KAISER has CHOSEN to do for its profits, not what the ACA law says must happen. WinkyDink Oct 2013 #145