pb4uski
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
+1
Sex trade? Nah, they have better ethics.Pragmatic perhaps, but warped as well. I'm trying to think of any other business that "ability to pay" affects prices as much as medical services and I'm coming up blank.
.....Even if you are already a customer and you price out a prescription, for instance, you are getting the information from the formulary associated with your current policy. Next year you may or may not have that same formulary list, or the list could change......
.....IMO ACA hasn't been the disaster that some pundits predicted........
That would go a long way to making shopping easier. We might need to make a three price mandate...need to add the rich saudi price, hehe.Another interesting measure that might be empowering is a "two price only" mandate. Providers can bill to all comers - insurers, Medicare, cash customers - one price for insurance reimbursement and a second price for immediate cash payment. When everyone has access to the same price and that price is publicly available, insurers and patients alike can begin to make more positive choices.
Bronze is common, I think (that's what I did). But depending on your normal usage of medical services, the cost sharing available on Silver if your income is in a specific range, can be a better deal. Low utilizers that can't get a subsidy have jumped through hoops get catestrophic ("over age 30" "cheapest bronze is >8% of O-MAGI"). So it just depends on your income and how much medical you think you'll need.Have most ER members who got ACA gone for Bronze?
I do ask about the best non-HI price, then check goodrx.com.One might also call local big box pharmacies and ask for their best prices. Some participate in various non-HI drug discount programs.
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Guess that depends upon one's perspective. All data (inc. Fed's) show that since ACA's passage HC costs have continued to rise well above inflation. Against Obama's own oft-repeated benchmark of saving families, employers, and the country $2500/family/yr in HI premiums and costs, ACA has been a disastrous failure. ......
Many felt that the HI rates for 2014 were artificially set a bit high by the HI companies for CYA reasons ('fudge factor' while adjusting to new system). According to this view, cost containment efforts implemented in 2014 (narrower networks, improved efficiencies of care delivery, negotiation of better prices from providers/hospitals/suppliers, etc.) would begin to pay off and 2015 would see a broad premium DEcrease to what would be more "normal" levels. Unfortunately, the premium increases many are predicted to see for 2015 show the fiscal monster of HC inflation marches on. This does not bode well for the years to come.
Have most ER members who got ACA gone for Bronze?
Was bronze for the first half of the year but now have a catastrophic policy that is a bit less coverage then bronze for 40% less. If one is healthy and not on any expensive prescriptions, I think bronze or cat is the way to go.
Guess that depends upon one's perspective. All data (inc. Fed's) show that since ACA's passage HC costs have continued to rise well above inflation. Against Obama's own oft-repeated benchmark of saving families, employers, and the country $2500/family/yr in HI premiums and costs, ACA has been a disastrous failure.
Obama Promises To Lower Health Insurance Premiums by $2,500 Per Year - YouTube
Many felt that the HI rates for 2014 were artificially set a bit high by the HI companies for CYA reasons ('fudge factor' while adjusting to new system). According to this view, cost containment efforts implemented in 2014 (narrower networks, improved efficiencies of care delivery, negotiation of better prices from providers/hospitals/suppliers, etc.) would begin to pay off and 2015 would see a broad premium DEcrease to what would be more "normal" levels. Unfortunately, the premium increases many are predicted to see for 2015 show the fiscal monster of HC inflation marches on. This does not bode well for the years to come.
The Saudi sheikh with a suitcase full of cash is a fantasy. The practice is [-]morally repugnant [/-] distasteful and creates a significant obstacle to health care reform in the US.
Does your catastrophic policy include any preventive, like once a year physicals?
Do you pay the full doctor's bill until you meet the physical or is there also a high copay.
The Bronze copays I've seen are like $75 for a doctor's visit IIRC.
Does your catastrophic policy include any preventive, like once a year physicals?
Do you pay the full doctor's bill until you meet the physical or is there also a high copay.
The Bronze copays I've seen are like $75 for a doctor's visit IIRC.
I'm not really much into the politics of this thing and my measurement stick is really short - how does this thing impact me? It looks like for the first time in history health insurance rates in Oregon will actually decrease from the prior year. Amazing! State releases Oregon's 2015 health insurance rates for individuals, small businesses | OregonLive.com
Arkansas and Connecticut will also be seeing lower prices.
Not according to data from OP's link.
As of Aug 15 update, ave 2015 rates AR +11.7% and CT +5.4%
ACA state exchanges
Not according to data from OP's link.
As of Aug 15 update, ave 2015 rates AR +11.7% and CT +5.4%
ACA state exchanges
Connecticut rejected Anthem's (the state's largest insurer) 12%+ initial proposed rate hike and the revised number was an average decrease of .1%. I don't think the PWC graph includes that update, but I couldn't find any links to the source material on the PWC graph.
After rate hike rejected, Anthem to decrease premiums next year | The CT Mirror
Prior to the ACA, even a 5.4% increase would be pretty good news. But that was then...and I was promised...etc. etc.
I don't think you can fairly use the .1% decrease across the Anthem plans (all medals) to conclude that the expected 2.9% decline for a Bronze Plan shows that there's a net increase of 2.8% in the cost of that Bronze Plan. The Standard Bronze $5,000 deductible plan that you've highlighted has an approved decrease of 7.3% (not .1%). Using your methodology, 2015 will bring a net 4.4% decrease in the cost of that bronze plan accounting for benefit changes. For standard Silver, the decrease is 1.67% (2.7% expected increase versus 1.03% increase). There is a increase for Gold of less than 1% (.7% expected versus 1.5 approved).As is the case for some other states/regions, the rate change analysis in CT is complicated by the fact that important features are changing in 2015 for some of the more popular Plans. For example deductibles and OOP max are rising significantly for Bronze Plans. Bronze 1 deductibles will rise from $3200indiv/$6500 family to $5,000/$10,000. Other features are changing as well. Exchange actuaries estimated that net effect of these Bronze Plan design changes for 2015 (EXcluding inflation) would decrease premiums by 2.9% vs 2014. Considering that the CT Ins Dept approved a decrease of 0.1%, these rates are actually a net ~2.8% INcrease when corrected for changes in coverage features (e.g. increased deductibles/OOPmax's). CT's Gold Plans had no coverage design changes, but rates still increased 1.5-4.2%. So not a real 'apples-to-apples' rate decrease in CT, but still better than the figures PWC has posted on their site.
Access Health CT’s 2015 plans: See what’s changing | The CT Mirror
After rate hike rejected, Anthem to decrease premiums next year | The CT Mirror
I could not find source material for PWC link either. IIRC, PWC only lists it's own research as source material so we do not know precisely how they calc their figures.
As is the case for some other states/regions, the rate change analysis in CT is complicated by the fact that important features are changing in 2015 for some of the more popular Plans. For example deductibles and OOP max are rising significantly for Bronze Plans. Bronze 1 deductibles will rise from $3200indiv/$6500 family to $5,000/$10,000. Other features are changing as well. Exchange actuaries estimated that net effect of these Bronze Plan design changes for 2015 (EXcluding inflation) would decrease premiums by 2.9% vs 2014. Considering that the CT Ins Dept approved a decrease of 0.1%, these rates are actually a net ~2.8% INcrease when corrected for changes in coverage features (e.g. increased deductibles/OOPmax's). CT's Gold Plans had no coverage design changes, but rates still increased 1.5-4.2%. So not a real 'apples-to-apples' rate decrease in CT, but still better than the figures PWC has posted on their site. .....
Significant medical price increases were partially offset by favorable membership assumptions and reductions in ... administrative expenses. Combined, these factors produced a 3.3 percent increase in rates. The remainder of the 9.8 percent increase was driven by changes related to federal and state health care reforms, including an increase in the federal fee that is included in Exchange pricing, a reduction in federal subsidies of the premiums on (the) new Exchange, and a modest expansion of dental benefits for children.