2015 ACA Premium Increases

[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]

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]

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]

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-health-plans-booklet-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.