NYT: Health Insurance Companies Seek Big Rate Increases for 2016

[RufusTFirefly]

WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies around the country are seeking rate increases of 20 percent to 40 percent or more, saying their new customers under the Affordable Care Act turned out to be sicker than expected. Federal officials say they are determined to see that the requests are scaled back.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans — market leaders in many states — are seeking rate increases that average 23 percent in Illinois, 25 percent in North Carolina, 31 percent in Oklahoma, 36 percent in Tennessee and 54 percent in Minnesota, according to documents posted online by the federal government and state insurance commissioners and interviews with insurance executives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/04/us/health-insurance-companies-seek-big-rate-increases-for-2016.html

Well, gee. I never saw that coming!

[daleanime]

1. Yeahup.....

I may faint from the surprise.

[tularetom]

2. Being handed a captive audience of new customers wasn't enough for the greedy bastards

Maybe now our "leaders" will recognize that insurance companies have no legitimate role in the provision of health care.

Yeah, and maybe…

[Hepburn]

3. + infinity!

The purpose of insurance companies -- make profits. They deny, deny, deny health care to those who have paid premiums.

Why in the hell it's it readily apparent that this is NOT the way it should work!

[Blus4u]

4. ......

Fuck 'em !

Single payer is the only way to get them under control!

Peace

[jwirr]

5. If there is not one already there should be an oversight committee like public utilities have in

most states.

[djean111]

6. I think they may get a sternly worded letter, or maybe a frowny-face sticker, from the federal

government. Eventually, and not too far off, premiums and co-pays and out-of-pocket will just keep rising and rising and rising.
Yeah, who saw that coming. Be interesting to see what happens when people can't afford to buy stuff because of premiums, etc. And the MIC budget keeps going up, too - will the corporations and "health" industry and the MIC be fighting amongst themselves for their share of steadily decreasing wages?

[jwirr]

8. Maybe this rise in costs to the consumer will be what it takes to move to single payer. We can

only hope. It will depend completely on who we elect in 2016 and I don't just mean to the WH.

[RufusTFirefly]

7. Yes. By all means, let's add an extra layer of complexity to this scam

Only one candidate (at least that I know of) has been adamant all along about the solution to our healthcare debacle.

[pnwmom]

10. Under the ACA these increases have to be approved by the state. n'/t

[pnwmom]

9. This is similar to the rate increases that were happening pre ACA, so the ACA hasn't fixed this.

Or caused it.

But under the ACA, these increases will now have to be approved by the states.

OTOH, obviously more has to be done to limit the costs of health care, and rising prescription costs are a big part of this.

[riverbendviewgal]

11. Being Canadian...we don't have this problem

Our problem is Harper who wants Canada to be American and cut off our health care. He has already cut the federal contribution from 50 percent to 40 percent.

This has affected our health care with some problems. In October, I am hoping (and it looks like it) that our government will be orange. (NDP)

As for private health insurance Canada. It exists for that which Provincial health care does not cover things like prescriptions, dental, eye , hearing aids and massages/chiropractor. Provincial does give $500 toward hearing aids every 3 years and free prescriptions to seniors. (They only pay $100 annually) Eye exams are free for seniors.
I have private health insurance for those things. An extra $300 every 5 years toward a hearing aid. dental and eye glasses. I use it for massage and acupuncture. The private insurance goes up every year. It went up to $60 more annually this year.

Our government negotiates with the pharmas to keep the prices down. Don't know what will happen when the TPP comes in effect.

So thankful I live in Canada.

Happy 4th of July DU.