ACA Open Enrollment Period for 2018 is Nov 1 to Dec 15 2017

[audreyh1]

Got a letter today from BCBS about my current plan. Letter said, current play going away. New plan coming, stay tuned. Will get letter with more info before Nov 1.

Both DH and I got the same thing from BCBSTX today! Waaaaah!

Every year our plans go away! They say they are moving us to a new plan.

 

[street]

Got a letter today from BCBS about my current plan. Letter said, current play going away. New plan coming, stay tuned. Will get letter with more info before Nov 1.

I also got a letter today saying my policy will change next year. I wonder if the price of new policy will go up.

 

[brucethebroker]

Are the plans/prices available for viewing yet? I just went to the website and all the info was geared towards open enrollment deadlines, not coverage options.

 

[ziggy29]

Both DH and I got the same thing from BCBSTX today! Waaaaah!

Every year our plans go away! They say they are moving us to a new plan.

What more can they do? At least in our rural area, all they have are crappy HMOs already. Are they making the network even thinner?

 

[SecondCor521]

Are the plans/prices available for viewing yet? I just went to the website and all the info was geared towards open enrollment deadlines, not coverage options.

They are in my state, but I would guess that availability would depend on the state and their staff.

If not now, it should be pretty soon, since (a) open enrollment starts in about 28 days and people obviously need time to research/discuss/decide, and (b) I believe there was some sort of deadline for the insurance companies to get their plans and pricing info to the exchanges about a week or so ago.

 

[MichaelB]

Both DH and I got the same thing from BCBSTX today! Waaaaah!

Every year our plans go away! They say they are moving us to a new plan.

I hope it is a better one this time.

I just got an email from Florida Blue. Tomorrow (Oct 4) they will provide renewal info for current policy holders, along with the option to renew. At least I don't have to wait another month to see the price.

 

[wmc1000]

Our area is going from 4 carriers to 2 but fortunately our existing carrier, Celtic aka Centene or in our state Ambetter by MHS is 1 of the 2 so since we manage our income to maximize subsidies and cost sharing it appears that net premium may be reduced since they weren't the 2nd lowest Silver insurer but this year they most likely are. State approved a 35.7% average rate increase for 2018

 

[MichaelB]

Well, Florida BCBS has policies and prices posted this morning for 2018. Looks like I'll be able to renew with only a 24.4% increase. My new premium will be a paltry $1240 per month.

 

[SheitlQueen]

Just got my renewal information yesterday. My plan is going away and being replaced by a new one with absolutely no out of network coverage (save emergencies). Vision and chiropractic is eliminated.
Deductible going up $200/year, and office visits and specialist visits are going up.
Premium going up from $355/month to $469 after the subsidy.

 

[ncbill]

Hope we get new pricing by the end of the month for my area.

Have to decide by then whether to stay on my ACA plan or switch to my DW's coverage from "employee & children" to "family." For 2017 it was cheaper for me to be on an unsubsidized ACA plan.

 

[ziggy29]

Just got my renewal information yesterday. My plan is going away and being replaced by a new one with absolutely no out of network coverage (save emergencies).

Yeah. this happened in much of Texas, mostly the rural counties, two years ago. There is only one "player" in the game, and two years ago they eliminated all PPO plans and forced everyone into crappy HMOs.

 

[Mulligan]

Hope we get new pricing by the end of the month for my area.

Have to decide by then whether to stay on my ACA plan or switch to my DW's coverage from "employee & children" to "family." For 2017 it was cheaper for me to be on an unsubsidized ACA plan.

I got my notice today for next years premium...I didnt have pull my pants down for the bare ass behind the woodshed beating that was forecasted...Instead I was allowed to keep them on and take the beating. Cost went from $390 to $449 for a silver plan and 3 local veterinary animal clinics as my in network choices.
Since ACA killed my plan Dec. 2015, it has went from $78 (up only $5 total the preceding 5 years ) to now $449 with 30% higher deductible and more narrow networks.
Still hoping next year Congress can maybe get the HSAs doubled and premium payments as accepted use of HSA monies like was in the bill this year. All would be better in my world if that happened.

 

[MichaelB]

Cost went from $390 to $449 for a silver plan

Amazing. I haven't had a premium that low since '07, and every increase I've had since then was greater than the premium you were paying in '15.

 

[Mulligan]

Amazing. I haven't had a premium that low since '07, and every increase I've had since then was greater than the premium you were paying in '15.

From retirement in 2010 to Dec. 2015 it went from $73 to $78 with robust network and $5k deductible... Now its $449 with 7300 deductible. Its amazing to me on the other side of fence though. But this is why it creates so much controversy. Some are getting great deals, others like me getting hosed, and I guess a group like you that have always been used to it.

 

[meierlde]

Just to provide a bit of historical context, the premium on my retiree policy pre 65 went from 232 in 2005 to 495 in 2015 monthly for a single person. Then I got on medicare and things got cheaper. so about 10.3 Per cent increase per annum (along with a slight increase in the company contribution at like 4% per year). So its not a new issue but has been going on for a long while.

 

[Mulligan]

Yes, but the bigger the monthly premium over the years the bigger 20% or whatever impacts the budget yearly. The death spiral is already here as numbers were down from last year if I remember correctly. Joe 6 pack just above the income threshold cant pay these escalating premiums. Everyone usually does what is in their economic self interests. They drop it (and dont have to even pay the penalty if they get no tax refund) if healthy and the sick stay on and we know where the premiums are then going again. I have options fortunately. I can get married tomorrow and join my long time GF’s robust healthcare plan and pay $175 (before cafeteria plan reduces it) and a $200 yearly deductible and ride it until Medicare. Unfortunately most Joe’s dont have this nice fall back option.

 

[misshathaway]

I got my notice today for next years premium...I didnt have pull my pants down for the bare ass behind the woodshed beating that was forecasted...Instead I was allowed to keep them on and take the beating. Cost went from $390 to $449 for a silver plan and 3 local veterinary animal clinics as my in network choices.

My HMO went bankrupt. No word on what's left yet for 2018. My thought is if I'm going to have to go out of plan anyway might as well get a high deductible and an HSA.

 

[Mulligan]

My HMO went bankrupt. No word on what's left yet for 2018. My thought is if I'm going to have to go out of plan anyway might as well get a high deductible and an HSA.

I just looked at my offering a little more..The HSA plans are becoming more expensive than others due to max deductible limits. My current plan that raised to $448 is now actually NOT HSA compatible as the deductible is apparently to high. To stay in an HSA compatible my premium would rise to $498 or over a $100 increase. They need to tinker with the HSA laws or even they wont be financially feasible to choose over a non HSA plan.

 

[MichaelB]

I just looked at my offering a little more..The HSA plans are becoming more expensive than others due to max deductible limits. My current plan that raised to $448 is now actually NOT HSA compatible as the deductible is apparently to high. To stay in an HSA compatible my premium would rise to $498 or over a $100 increase. They need to tinker with the HSA laws or even they wont be financially feasible to choose over a non HSA plan.

That has nothing to do with the HSA laws, and is all about the way your insurer prices. They have decided to take part of that HSA tax advantage for themselves.

Edit to add - I just looked at the Florida BCBS plans for 2018 to see the difference. The comparable non-HSA bronze plans have higher deductibles and higher out of pocket, but offer similar or even higher premiums. Only one has a premium $40 less than the HSA, and the difference in deductible and TOOP is substantial ($1350 higher). In our case, by setting a more competitive price, the insurer is giving us a reason to prefer the HSA over other options.

 

[Mulligan]

That has nothing to do with the HSA laws, and is all about the way your insurer prices. They have decided to take part of that HSA tax advantage for themselves.

There is more to it Micheal... There is a max out of pocket allowable for HSA compatibles...
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandto...es/irs-sets-2018-hsa-contribution-limits.aspx


For your convenience I will show you mine...
For $449 I can get the $7000 In-network deductible and $7350 In-network out of pocket max, but now non HSA compatible.
For $499 HSA compatible I get $6650 In-network deductible and $7350 In-network max out of pocket.
Notice the in network is lower with the HSA which matches directly the amount in link above.

 

[MichaelB]

There is more to it Micheal... There is a max out of pocket allowable for HSA compatibles...
https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandto...es/irs-sets-2018-hsa-contribution-limits.aspx


For your convenience I will show you mine...
For $449 I can get the $7000 In-network deductible and $7350 In-network out of pocket max, but now non HSA compatible.
For $499 I get $6650 In-network deductible and $7350 In-network max out of pocket.
Notice the in network is lower with the HSA which matches directly the amount in link above.

Mulligan, this is not about HSA regulations, it's the pricing policy of your insurer. The HSA policy has $350 less in total deduction and $600 greater premium. This has nothing to do with HSA regs, it's a pricing decision. They know there is an additional tax benefit to the HSA policy which will drive demand, and they're taking advantage of it by charging a higher price.

 

[Mulligan]

Mulligan, this is not about HSA regulations, it's the pricing policy of your insurer. The HSA policy has $350 less in total deduction and $600 greater premium. This has nothing to do with HSA regs, it's a pricing decision. They know there is an additional tax benefit to the HSA policy which will drive demand, and they're taking advantage of it by charging a higher price.

They have to stay at the $6650 figure. Your math is a given as I have dealt with that for several years. But it is widening because of the limit restrictions. If it was $7000 instead of $6650 the premium still would be less. By the same as other policy, no, but still less...Since $6650 or $10,000 means nothing to me I would rather have the $7000 HSA and save some more crumbs.

 

[MichaelB]

Mulligan, you are saying that the HSA limits are too low, because insurers are offering policies that still meet the bronze actuarial value criteria with higher deductibles. Also, if those limits were raised, the premiums would be lower.

I agree the HSA limits should increase to the limit of the category actuarial value. The premiums may fall commensurate with the increased risk, or they may fall less, or not at all. That depends entirely on the insurer's pricing policy.

 

[Mulligan]

Mulligan, you are saying that the HSA limits are too low, because insurers are offering policies that still meet the bronze actuarial value criteria with higher deductibles. Also, if those limits were raised, the premiums would be lower.

I agree the HSA limits should increase to the limit of the category actuarial value. The premiums may fall commensurate with the increased risk, or they may fall less, or not at all. That depends entirely on the insurer's pricing policy.

Yes, exactly, agree fully with you, which was my original statement about HSA regulation limitations. We weren’t in any disagreement, just in terminology speak.

 

[audreyh1]

Both DH and I got the same thing from BCBSTX today! Waaaaah!

Every year our plans go away! They say they are moving us to a new plan.

OK - we got the brochures on our new plans:

• No change in network - still an HMO "Advantage" plan with some out of network coverage (but no max OOP)
• Still HSA compatible - whew!
• Deductible dropped more than half - a big surprise.
• Big increase in premiums - 28% for me, 25% for DH. I expect the drop in deductible contributed the most to the premium increase.

Since it's so close to our current plan except for lower deductible (and higher resulting premiums) I wonder why they bothered to discontinue our plan and switch us to a new one.

This is the only HSA compatible plan BCBSTX offers now. All the prior HSA compatible plans have been discontinued.