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Nuclear Unicorn

(19,497 posts)

23. Except the law is designed to prop-up the insurance corporations

Mon Mar 31, 2014, 02:48 PM

Mar 2014

Society of Actuaries who consults with health insurers. The reversal, a response to public anger over a wave of cancellations this fall, added another layer of uncertainty for insurers already unclear about whether they will collect enough in premiums next year to cover medical claims.

The White House told insurers not to sweat it. “Though this transitional policy was not anticipated by health insurance issuers when setting rates for 2014, the risk corridor program should help ameliorate unanticipated changes in premium revenue,” wrote Gary Cohen, the Health and Human Services official overseeing much of the health law’s implementation, in a letter (PDF) to insurance regulators. He suggested the program could be modified to soften the blow.

The risk corridors are part of an obscure set of Obamacare rules intended to protect insurance companies from deep losses if they sign up too many sick people—an insurance policy for insurance companies. It’s one of the so-called Three Rs—reinsurance, risk adjustment, and risk corridors—meant to backstop health plans through byzantine adjustments in the transition to a new marketplace where carriers can’t turn sick people away.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-11-19/a-guide-to-obamacares-backstop-for-anxious-insurance-companies

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My premium is about $100/mo higher with a plan I got from the ACA [View all] penultimate Mar 2014 OP

I hope you have your flame retardant suit on Glitterati Mar 2014 #1

Really? I didn't think I was being negative at all penultimate Mar 2014 #2

Why, of course you're not being negative Glitterati Mar 2014 #4

I don't think anyone here objects to a TRUTHFUL OP like this one. Walk away Mar 2014 #32

I don't see that you are being negative at all. Quess someone either didn't read your post or lumpy Mar 2014 #31

It will be great when we can get rid of insurance companies treestar Mar 2014 #3

Did you see where larger hospital chains are cutting out the middleman (insurance companies)? joeglow3 Mar 2014 #6

Yep, the ACA provides incentives for hospitals and physicians groups to set up their own insurance Hoyt Mar 2014 #26

Even if we had single payer, the insurance companies will still manage cbdo2007 Mar 2014 #13

I agree. BKH70041 Mar 2014 #15

Except the law is designed to prop-up the insurance corporations Nuclear Unicorn Mar 2014 #23

If they go belly up, that would not work, would it? treestar Mar 2014 #29

I have the same issue and understand what you are saying. peace13 Mar 2014 #5

I couldn't imagine paying $900/mo for insurance penultimate Mar 2014 #10

No that is just for one person. peace13 Mar 2014 #20

Or if you hit a max amout of services......one thing my stupid plan had. a kennedy Mar 2014 #7

I had insurance plans offered to me that had max payouts of $100,000 penultimate Mar 2014 #11

Same thing happened to a friend Freddie Mar 2014 #8

I had bypass surgery (6) Keefer Mar 2014 #12

Were you continuously insured? Glitterati Mar 2014 #14

As a small business they simply doubled the rates until you could not afford the insurance. peace13 Mar 2014 #21

Individual plans (not employer) had the pre-existing condition thing Freddie Mar 2014 #17

Ummm. I'm sorry but you're wrong Glitterati Mar 2014 #19

You're right Freddie Mar 2014 #24

AMEN Glitterati Mar 2014 #25

During congressional hearings Notafraidtoo Mar 2014 #36

"but I see how the insurance mandate can be viewed as a form of tax." Bandit Mar 2014 #9

PROOF: Medicare overhead is 3%, but private ins co's 20% overhead (w/o ACA it was much more) ErikJ Mar 2014 #16

Yes premiums have gone up for a few people. But on average more premiums have gone down. totodeinhere Mar 2014 #18

WE need to focus on those out there who are still paying the full load. peace13 Mar 2014 #22

Oh yes. This is only a start. There remains a lot of work to do and hopefully totodeinhere Mar 2014 #30

Here is an example. peace13 Mar 2014 #33

It probably would have been impossible to write the ACA so that at least some people totodeinhere Mar 2014 #34

Thanks for being so honest. Auntie Bush Mar 2014 #27

In a weird way I think your post exemplifies the problem booley Mar 2014 #28

You're paying more and you're getting more, as you are aware. pnwmom Mar 2014 #35