2015 ACA Premium Increases

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulligan If what I read is correct, all federal ran exchanges are on lock down with no release until it's open. They are not supposed to comment on effectiveness of the web site either... Wanted all the info to be kept out of the election process to prevent any possible voter "backlash" is what I read.

Florida uses a Federal exchange and now two insurers, BCBS and UHC, have released 2015 plans and pricing. They note that people needing subsidies cannot sign up until 11/15 but are otherwise taking applications.

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB Florida uses a Federal exchange and now two insurers, BCBS and UHC, have released 2015 plans and pricing. They note that people needing subsidies cannot sign up until 11/15 but are otherwise taking applications.

Some organizations here have sued to pry the info lose prior to the opening of the exchange, but the clock may run out on it making it mute. Besides for me other than being curious, I will still have 6 weeks to decide at that point anyways if I want a different plan or stay in the one they chose for me.


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[ERhoosier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewer12345 Politick much?

You accuse me of "Politik". I made NO such statement. The delays in publication of 2015 Plan pricing could also be simple bureaucratic incompetence. After all, the issue involves both red and blue states.

But please, O wisest sage, enlighten us. Tell us how this delay is a positive thing for those trying to work out their 2015 budgets?

[M Paquette]

I just did my renewal. On the CoveredCA exchange, all the prices are present. The high end Gold/Silver plans are a bit higher, but my Bronze/HSA plan is unchanged except for the age premium, due to Me vs Entropy. (Curse you Entropy, you win again!)

Having the Silver plans go up means the subsidy amount rises. Persons on a California Bronze plan getting a subsidy are very likely to see their net premium drop.

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERhoosier You accuse me of "Politik". I made NO such statement. The delays in publication of 2015 Plan pricing could also be simple bureaucratic incompetence. After all, the issue involves both red and blue states. But please, O wisest sage, enlighten us. Tell us how this delay is a positive thing for those trying to work out their 2015 budgets?

As Governor "Pappy" O'Daniel pledged to be, I am a forgive and forget Christian. That said, every single post you make on this subject has, shall we say, a certain slant. I am by no means a lover of de feddle gubmint, but I cannot come anywhere near where you seem to get in assigning problems with the exchanges, etc. to malicious intent. Its so easy and much more likely to assign it to incompetence. Lets also not forget that abominably underfunded and marginally staffed state insurance departments have to do all the heavy lifting of sorting through policy details and prices. I once visited the state regulator widely agreed to be the most competent and aggressive (and the one companies hated to deal with the most). The place was straight out of the 70s, complete with "vintage" shag carpet, scarred wood paneling, period furniture, etc. At the meeting I was there to attend it was clear that much of the staff was in the last 5 years or so before the pension kicked in. Some of them fell asleep at the table, none was under 50, and I have never seen so much dated clothing, Ben Franklin hairdos, pince nez glasses and mutton chop sideburns (perhaps they were trying to camouflage themselves with the décor?). That was at the top of the heap.

That said, you really can't wait a few weeks to dig into policy details and pricing? Until I can see pricing I know for certain will not change and policy details that are set in stone, I don't want to waste any time and effort looking at premiums, etc. Why would you? And until the enrollment period opens and we can all transact, nothing is certain.

[MichaelB]

There is no delay in announcing 2015 plans and pricing. Scheduled date is 11/15 and there have been no announcements to the contrary. Prior to ACA our insurer announced annual price increase around the same time, mid-November. It would be nice to have the pricing info now but mid-November is not unusual.

[ERhoosier]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB There is no delay in announcing 2015 plans and pricing. Scheduled date is 11/15 and there have been no announcements to the contrary. Prior to ACA our insurer announced annual price increase around the same time, mid-November. It would be nice to have the pricing info now but mid-November is not unusual.

Never bought HI in FL so cannot comment on that state. In my region, mid-Nov release of HI details IS unusual, at least for individual and lg group markets. There can be last minute changes or 'clarifications', but the basic info is generally available weeks earlier. In recent years I shopped the individual market before blindly signing up with marginal employer-sponsored plan. Employer's annual OE started early Nov and plan details were available mid-Oct. Something is definitely different about how the release of Exchange plan info is being handled here. Not just my impression, BTW, but also that of area independent ins agents I've spoken to. I've heard the same from other states as well.
Those "few weeks" delay can certainly be relevant to the process. For those already on plans with a Dec 31 end date (Exchange or not), the functional ACA OE period is ~6weeks (Nov 15-Dec31 when existing plan would end without renewal or change to another plan). So 3 weeks would represent a 50% longer research period during what is an already busy, busy time of year for HI industry, employers, and consumers alike. Plan premium per se is only part of the issue. Especially for folks needing sub-sub specialist care or very high cost specialty drugs, networks and drug coverages can be even more important. Low HI premiums (Exchange plan or not) can be false economy if your ongoing super specialist & high-cost specialty drug needs are OON. Researching those specific Plan details can indeed take weeks to accomplish. Been there done that trying to help relatives decide on plans.

[Accidental Retiree]

I just received 2015 rate info for my part of CA.

Our Anthem bronze HSA plan will go up 34%, from $900+ to $1212.

That came as quite a surprise.

[M Paquette]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accidental Retiree I just received 2015 rate info for my part of CA. Our Anthem bronze HSA plan will go up 34%, from $900+ to $1212. That came as quite a surprise.

That's a huge change compared to what other CoveredCA Bronze plans have rolled out so far. I wonder how small the pool is for that policy. (Small pools would tend to have more rate volatility.)

[brewer12345]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accidental Retiree I just received 2015 rate info for my part of CA. Our Anthem bronze HSA plan will go up 34%, from $900+ to $1212. That came as quite a surprise.

Is there some reason you would not shop around? With the no-underwriting market we have now, I expect to shop my policy every year at open enrollment.

[Accidental Retiree]

I just got the letter today. When open enrollment comes around, I'll see what else is on offer.

[photoguy]

Covered CA health plans booklet (updated Oct 4th) states that the weighted average change is 4.2%. This seems pretty good to me.

https://www.coveredca.com/PDFs/CC-he...oklet-2015.pdf

[Disappointed]

Photoguy, mine is up 10.5%, just received my notification yesterday.


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[photoguy]

Yeah I'd be disappointed in a 10% increase. Just skimming through the doc it seems like anthem is the big culprit, blue shield is a consistent 6%, and kaiser really held the line.


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[Brat]

My Kaiser NW Medicare Advantage programs 2014 vs 2015: Basic from $39 to $41, Regular Advantage from $119 to $112, Advantage plus Supplemental $39 to $41.

Medicare Part B unchanged.

The Basic skilled nursing facility benefit improved for stays over 20 days B, pharmacy co-pays for speciality meds in the initial coverage stage for both levels of coverage decreased - 25% co-pay will be 33% co-pay.

We were on GEHA which has no co-pays for medical services with Medicare Part B coverage, pharmacy is similar.

It will be interesting to compare costs for GEHA and regular Kaiser 2016 when OPM will be offering +1 plans.