Health Care Premiums

[KyFaninNC]

Not meant to start another debate on the ACA. It is here. I want this thread to be for people wanting to share their premium increase/decrease.

The company I retired from is kicking all retirees and dependents (non medicare elgible) into the market place. I have to go on medicare in january anyway, but had to get something for the wife. Here are the numbers:

Had :

Premiums $547.00 per month for us both .
$1250.00 individual deductable
Max out of pocket $3000.00
co-pay after deductable 20%

Going to just for her

Premium $822.00
deductable $6250.00
max out of pocket $6500.00
co=pay after deductable 40%

How do they expect families to pay this? Basically have to pay more and get less.

Anyone else care to share their experiences is welcomed.

 

[cawoodsct]

It's ridiculous.

 

[thabigbluenation]

have comprehensive plan, includes dental, vision, everything basically. max premium cost that includes my wife and kid as well. 99 dollars a week before taxes deducted from my check. 750/1500 deductibles. same premium/coverage last year, same this year and same again next year with no increases over this period. work for a union, what we got from negotiations on the last contract. pretty good deal.

 

[GhostVol]

My premium is $99.00 a month. Luckily, my job covers the rest, even the deductable. I have one of those 'Cadillac' coverages, and the day it is taken away is the day I retire. (VA covers my routine stuff)

IF I had to get it on my own (SC doesn't have an exchange) here's what it would cost me

$827.00 monthly. Deductable $6300.00. Co-pay 33% after deductable met.

My sister is disabled. Doesn't pay a dime for Obamacare. Yeah, she loves it.

 

[KopiKat]

Ayn Rand predicted many decades ago that one of the key components of socialist destruction would be the dependence on guilt. Barrack Obama campaigned for president this way: "if you like you current plan, we want you to keep it."

How was this supposed to happen? Well, in the imaginary mind of Obama, the way it was suppose to happen was like this: although the law would require individuals to ensure coverage, group providers who are not required to provide it should "feel guilty" enough to continue to do it anyway. recipe for doom. If you believed that campaign rhetoric and voted for it, you got suckered.

Nice post, OP. However, in the most technical sense, the company you worked for has not kicked you into the marketplace. They have simply chosen a method that complies perfectly with Obama's law. They have kicked you to . . . you.

 

[warrior-cat]

Wife's company went from her having free healthcare to having to pay $600.00 monthly. Family coverage that work for the company now pay $1,200.00 monthly when they use to pay $600.00 monthly. It is crazy. Obama had no clue as to what he was doing nor does he still after 7 years.

 

[gamecockcat]

My company provides insurance and it's not cheap because our group is max rated. If I had to go onto the ACA exchange (I've shopped to see if I could save any money), my family (spouse, daughter) premium would be $1246/month. $3000/person deductible, 2/family. OOP max is $6250/person, 2/family. So, all told, $15k for premiums, up to $6000 deductibles BEFORE insurance and a possible $27500 total out of pocket in one calendar year (worst case). Remind me again about the Affordable part?

 

[jtrue28]

Sounds like you all know who you're voting for next year.

Our premiums went up slightly. However, my employer tried to make it look like they went down. Family coverage now is $220/paycheck...24 paychecks. Next year, it's $217!!!1111!!!!!.....26 paychecks. So essentially $30/month more next year.

 

[WildcatFan1982]

I'm single and mine through my employer is like $50 a paycheck for the most expensive plan. But I don't understand the coverage at all. I just enrolled in it (new job) and instead of deductibles and copays I was basically given a list of procedures and how much per day it would pay. I've never seen health insurance laid out that way

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Pay for my own health insurance, small business.

$1000/mo family premium (up around $30)
$8300 ded/out of pocket max (up $1100)

Have a child with some very expensive meds so we hit the OOP very early each year, if that OOP keeps going up at that rate I'm screwed.

That's $20k cash every year and rising. Glad I make Paddock money, not sure how those that don't survive it.

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

Sounds like you all know who you're voting for next year.

Our premiums went up slightly. However, my employer tried to make it look like they went down. Family coverage now is $220/paycheck...24 paychecks. Next year, it's $217!!!1111!!!!!.....26 paychecks. So essentially $30/month more next year.

That is insanely cheap. What's your deductible?

 

[L Butler]

I pay 175 every two weeks for the Middle family plan that my employer offers. My co pays are 30 dollar for PCP. With a 0 dollar deductible as long as we go in network. Specialist copayment are 40.

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

I pay 175 every two weeks for the Middle family plan that my employer offers. My co pays are 30 dollar for PCP. With a 0 dollar deductible as long as a go in network. Specialist copayment are 40.

These are insane.

The government should deregulate the sale of health insurance but tax the hell out of companies that choose to offer obscenely cheap premium coverage to employees. Because that's what is running the costs up so high.

 

[We-Todd-Did]

My employer announced, last week, 2016 benefits are unchanged, employee contribution is unchanged, and employer cost rose ~2%. Self insured company.

 

[cricket3]

My premium went up this year, from $4 a every 2 weeks to $6 every 2 weeks.

All preventive procedures covered, $2500 deductible and max out of pocket, 100% covered after deductible, and $500 annual employer contribution to my HSA. I'm VERY thankful for what I have.

 

[JumperJack]

All I'll say is that the wife and I have much higher premiums and copays.

I know there are supposedly, somewhere, many people who are finding lower rates. I'm sure they'll pop right into this thread.

I didn't vote for this guy and knew damn well what his brand of socialism would look like. The depressing part is that there are so, so many who support what is essentially stealing and redistribution. The country is essentially f$&@ed because one half carrying the other (rapidly growing) half is not sustainable.

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

My premium went up this year, from $4 a every 2 weeks to $6 every 2 weeks.

All preventive procedures covered, $2500 deductible and max out of pocket, 100% covered after deductible, and $500 annual employer contribution to my HSA. I'm VERY thankful for what I have.

Lolz

 

[Anon1640710541]

but tax the hell out of companies that choose to offer obscenely cheap premium coverage to employees. Because that's what is running the costs up so high.

?

please explain

 

[L Butler]

These are insane.

The government should deregulate the sale of health insurance but tax the hell out of companies that choose to offer obscenely cheap premium coverage to employees. Because that's what is running the costs up so high.

Wow, you have no clue what your talking about. The company I work for is self-funded, this means they pay all their employees claims. They choose to cover almost all of the cost of their employees since it is a benefit that draws good employees. So they pay the cost, it has no affect in 'running costs up'. Costs are so high due to the millions of uninsured that still receive care and the hospitals have to pay for them- the hospitals then charge high costs for the services to the insured people to subsidise the poor and uninsured. Make sense?

 

[cricket3]

Yeah mine is self funded too.

 

[funKYcat75]

 

[G-PIP]

What about the AHCA is making health insurance rates increase?

 

[jtrue28]

That is insanely cheap. What's your deductible?

It's self-funded. Lots of employees allows you to spread the cost. Most people don't use their insurance, but some do.

Deductible for our hospital (I work for a hospital) $200
Deductible for par network is $400
Deductible out of network is $1000

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

Wow, you have no clue what your talking about. The company I work for is self-funded, this means they pay all their employees claims. They choose to cover almost all of the cost of their employees since it is a benefit that draws good employees. So they pay the cost, it has no affect in 'running costs up'. Costs are so high due to the millions of uninsured that still receive care and the hospitals have to pay for them- the hospitals then charge high costs for the services to the insured people to subsidise the poor and uninsured. Make sense?

There are published studies establishing that people not having any invested in their own personal usage of health care is contributing significantly to the hugh costs. It's not just the poor. It's the uninsured and illegals going to the er with no intention of paying, sure. But it's also medicare, it's employees with $4 premiums and no copay and a $0 deductible.

The only people that get screwed are the people like me that pay multiple thousands of dollars a year in premiums and still have a $9,000 oop and avoid the doctor at all costs.

 

[L Butler]

Per ACA guidelines for 2016 the highest allowable OOP for an individual is $6,850. For 2015 it was 6,350 for an individual - $9,000 isn't even allowed for an individual- but yes I agree it's still absurd.

 

[mrhotdice]

Americans are foolish to have ever thought that a Democrat in office would save them money. However when it comes to free health care it's good that all these illegals will be covered for free.

Health care insurance is the biggest disgrace in America and always has been. A family of 3 paying 1000.00 a month is the future if you don't get these Dem. Out of office.

Pass tort reform like most countries and health insurance will drop like a rock but that requires getting the ABA out of the health care business and American politics.

 

[-LEK-]

While I agree with most sentiments in this thread,some of you missed grade school civics. Congress passed the ACA, not Obama.

Congress makes laws.

 

[wildcat1973_rivals160373]

Self-employed. $800/month. $6000 OOP. Family of 5. The kids go to the doctor. My wife and I rarely go.

 

[qwesley]

yeah other than writing the bill, working with pharma to fund and market it, and putting extreme pressure ($) on multiple centrist Dems to vote for it, the WH had nothing to do with it.

 

[qwesley]

Old people are obsessed with their meds and dr appts.

And who is going to ever say no?

 

[crazyqx83_rivals88013]

Old people are obsessed with their meds and dr appts.

And who is going to ever say no?

Luckily millenials will eventually, but all of the greedy boomers will be dead or vegetables by then.

 

[mdlUK.1]

Old people are obsessed with their meds and dr appts.

And who is going to ever say no?

You're going to be old one day and it will happen faster than you can imagine. And you will obsess over your meds and Drs appointments too.

And, when the end is near, you will fight for one more breath just like the rest of us.

I'm 67 and rarely go to the doctor. Unless I'm bleeding or having trouble breathing, I try to tough it out.

 

[mdlUK.1]

Luckily millenials will eventually, but all of the greedy boomers will be dead or vegetables by then.

You are a sick sob!

 

[qwesley]

You're going to be old one day and it will happen faster than you can imagine. And you will obsess over your meds and Drs appointments too.

I get that but the copays are so low they have near zero care about the cost. That is why all news programs with a high elderly demo are nearly 100% pharma sponsored.

Doctors are generally going to order every test imaginable and prescribe meds for cya unless the patient with a high deductible or copay pushes back.

 

[mdlUK.1]

I get that but the copays are so low they have near zero care about the cost. That is why all news programs with a high elderly demo are nearly 100% pharma sponsored.

Doctors are generally going to order every test imaginable and prescribe meds for cya unless the patient with a high deductible or copay pushes back.

True but that's not the old peoples fault. If a doctor tells you you need something, you're going to take/do it.

The fault lies with the politicians and big pharma.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

Luckily millenials will eventually, but all of the greedy boomers will be dead or vegetables by then.

Millenials are the going to say no. They are all a bunch of poosies.

 

[qwesley]

True but that's not the old peoples fault. If a doctor tells you you need something, you're going to take/do it.

The fault lies with the politicians and big pharma.

I just can't agree with that, many/most of those convos with doctors are driven by the patient. They should have some skin in the game. And they are very politically influential. They got Part D passed in 2000 with very favorable terms and pols are terrified of addressing higher copays now that medical costs have soared.

Same thing with SS. Avg age has increased but any time a pol mentions indexing it or raising the age requirements they get crucified.

 

[mdlUK.1]

Same thing with SS. Avg age has increased but any time a pol mentions indexing it or raising the age requirements they get crucified.

Yeah but it's the effing democrats that fight any change to ss. Remember the ad of the republican pushing grandma over a cliff?

I would have loved to be able to opt out of ss and invest that money myself but the dems want no part of that.

And even tho most changes to ss wouldn't affect current retirees, the dems try to use it to scare them into voting for them. And it works.

 

[Anon1640710541]

The way the industry is set up is amazing. The typical member doesn't pay their own premium, only pays a portion of the average claim, and is competely powerless and ignorant in the pricing/negotiating process. It's designed PERFECTLY to hide cost. Basically begging everyone at every step in the way to spend more, more, more. Members, providers, pharma, device, carriers.....everyone. Nobody really has "skin in the game," because someone else is always responsible.

ACA did nothing to address this.

 

[DSmith21]

My wife and I both recently lost our doctors. Each decided to go into a concierge practice due to the effects of ACA. Both of the new practices have about 1/10 of the number of patients of the old ones which means better access to care. In order to be one of those patients though, we would have had to pay an annual fee of roughly $5,000. This same thing has happened to numerous friends. What ever happened to if you like your doctor, you can keep them.

And for all of those with "Cadillac plans", you can expect a huge cost increase or benefit reduction being passed onto you in a year or two. Your employer is not going to just eat the new tax on those plans.

The only people who should really be happy under the ACA are the ones that qualified for the expansion of medicaid. They got something for nothing. However, many doctors are refusing to take new medicaid patients. So those people are having to go to non-local doctors or ones that are less in demand.