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145 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
part ignores the part about denying coverage that we can actually afford to pay for, regardless of the name of the law. 
And while I'm here on this thread, I have no idea what the OP thinks they are saying, but it doesn't make sense.
You don't pass a bill that institutionalizes the insurance companies even more than they already are, and have it result in single payer.
K&R
... exactly when willst this miracle that thou speakest of come to pass?"
Just kidding... I think you might be right, and here's why I think it. I recently was in the hospital for 4 days. First bill I got, my part was a whopper of $1,668.00. Of course I didn't pay it right off. (I have Humana to the hilt,) because as time passes by, it usually goes down when the ins pays dribble by dribble. I called today to see if it had come down a bit and to see if I should pay my bill yet, and I was astounded to hear that my part had fallen to $450.00, and was told to wait for a month until I get the next bill and to then pay it. They said it will come down more! Year before last I was in and out of the hospital 4 times (short stays, 3-4 days.) It cleaned me out. Something happened to allow me this good fortune, and I have nothing to attribute it to, unless it was some part of Obamacare kicking in! I do hope you are right about Single Payer being the only solution, since Insurance Companies are now having to pay more.
... exactly when willst this miracle that thou speakest of come to pass?"
Just kidding... I think you might be right, and here's why I think it. I recently was in the hospital for 4 days. First bill I got, my part was a whopper of $1,668.00. Of course I didn't pay it right off. (I have Humana to the hilt,) because as time passes by, it usually goes down when the ins pays dribble by dribble. I called today to see if it had come down a bit and to see if I should pay my bill yet, and I was astounded to hear that my part had fallen to $450.00, and was told to wait for a month until I get the next bill and to then pay it. They said it will come down more! Year before last I was in and out of the hospital 4 times (short stays, 3-4 days.) It cleaned me out. Something happened to allow me this good fortune, and I have nothing to attribute it to, unless it was some part of Obamacare kicking in! I do hope you are right about Single Payer being the only solution, since Insurance Companies are now having to pay more. 
"small businesses and those who buy individual policies will, as far as I can tell, be screwed"
How Small Business Owners Get Health Insurance
As with any economic policy issue, there has been much discussion of how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect small businesses...As our recently released Employer Health Benefits Survey shows, small businesses are much less likely than larger businesses to offer health benefits to their workers. Half of businesses with 3-9 workers and 73% of firms with 10-24 workers provide health insurance. That contrasts with 98% of firms with 200 or more workers that offer health coverage.
The workers in these firms that do not offer coverage must rely on employer-based insurance through a family member, buying insurance in the individual market (assuming they can afford the coverage and do not have a pre-existing health condition), or in many cases going uninsured.
But what about the owners of these small businesses? They’re pretty much in the same boat. The following chart shows how small business owners with 1-24 employees now get insurance:
<...>
A few striking things emerge from this analysis:
<...>
This suggests that the biggest effects the ACA will have on small business owners may not be changes in the rules for the small business insurance market, but rather the changes in the individual insurance market: guaranteed access to coverage and no premium surcharges for people with pre-existing health conditions, limits on how much premiums can vary by age, a requirement that all insurers cover a set of “essential” benefits, the creation of health insurance exchanges, the requirement to be insured, and tax credits to make premiums more affordable. In fact, an estimated 60% of small business owners now buying insurance in the individual market have incomes up to 400% of the poverty level and would be eligible for tax credits in exchanges or Medicaid, and 83% of owners who are now uninsured would be eligible for subsidized coverage (split about equally between tax credits and Medicaid).
http://healthreform.kff.org/notes-on-health-insurance-and-reform/2012/september/how-small-business-owners-get-health-insurance.aspx
As with any economic policy issue, there has been much discussion of how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will affect small businesses...As our recently released Employer Health Benefits Survey shows, small businesses are much less likely than larger businesses to offer health benefits to their workers. Half of businesses with 3-9 workers and 73% of firms with 10-24 workers provide health insurance. That contrasts with 98% of firms with 200 or more workers that offer health coverage.
The workers in these firms that do not offer coverage must rely on employer-based insurance through a family member, buying insurance in the individual market (assuming they can afford the coverage and do not have a pre-existing health condition), or in many cases going uninsured.
But what about the owners of these small businesses? They’re pretty much in the same boat. The following chart shows how small business owners with 1-24 employees now get insurance:
<...>
A few striking things emerge from this analysis:
<...>
This suggests that the biggest effects the ACA will have on small business owners may not be changes in the rules for the small business insurance market, but rather the changes in the individual insurance market: guaranteed access to coverage and no premium surcharges for people with pre-existing health conditions, limits on how much premiums can vary by age, a requirement that all insurers cover a set of “essential” benefits, the creation of health insurance exchanges, the requirement to be insured, and tax credits to make premiums more affordable. In fact, an estimated 60% of small business owners now buying insurance in the individual market have incomes up to 400% of the poverty level and would be eligible for tax credits in exchanges or Medicaid, and 83% of owners who are now uninsured would be eligible for subsidized coverage (split about equally between tax credits and Medicaid).
http://healthreform.kff.org/notes-on-health-insurance-and-reform/2012/september/how-small-business-owners-get-health-insurance.aspx
Good stuff.
"I do not think you really understand the bigger picture"
...I fully understand the big picture, and an article quoting a wingnut paper is nothing but fear mongering.
Health Insurers Threaten To Increase Premiums, Even As Profits Soar
By Igor Volsky
Some of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are warning investors that they’ll raise insurance premiums by as much as 116 percent next year, as the coverage expansion provisions in the Affordable Care Act go into effect and millions of uninsured Americans begin purchasing coverage.
The threats of premium increases come as the industry is experiencing record profits and are part of a well-coordinated publicity campaign to alarm Americans about the cost of coverage, while downplaying mechanisms in the law that will cushion them from rate shock. The effort comes as insurers seek more favorable regulatory changes that would, in part, allow companies to charge older people more for coverage.
United Health Group Inc., Aetna, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield are ringing the alarm, attributing the possible cost increases to general health care inflation as well as provisions in the health care law, which require insurers to offer more comprehensive coverage, particularly in the individual health care market, and limit the companies’ ability to set premiums based on beneficiaries’ health care histories, age, or sex.
<...>
Insurers have long complained that the law’s more rigorous standards would raise prices, although since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, national health expenditures have decreased and insurers in the individual market have followed the trend, posting fewer double digit increases. Sudden rate hikes were considered the norm before the law went into effect and applicants were regularly denied coverage or priced out of it altogether. Insurance commissioners have also begun reviewing rates more carefully and insurers have had to spend 80 cents out of every premium dollar on health benefits, rather than administrative overhead.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/03/22/1761011/health-insurers-threaten-to-increase-premiums-even-as-profits-soar/
By Igor Volsky
Some of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are warning investors that they’ll raise insurance premiums by as much as 116 percent next year, as the coverage expansion provisions in the Affordable Care Act go into effect and millions of uninsured Americans begin purchasing coverage.
The threats of premium increases come as the industry is experiencing record profits and are part of a well-coordinated publicity campaign to alarm Americans about the cost of coverage, while downplaying mechanisms in the law that will cushion them from rate shock. The effort comes as insurers seek more favorable regulatory changes that would, in part, allow companies to charge older people more for coverage.
United Health Group Inc., Aetna, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield are ringing the alarm, attributing the possible cost increases to general health care inflation as well as provisions in the health care law, which require insurers to offer more comprehensive coverage, particularly in the individual health care market, and limit the companies’ ability to set premiums based on beneficiaries’ health care histories, age, or sex.
<...>
Insurers have long complained that the law’s more rigorous standards would raise prices, although since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, national health expenditures have decreased and insurers in the individual market have followed the trend, posting fewer double digit increases. Sudden rate hikes were considered the norm before the law went into effect and applicants were regularly denied coverage or priced out of it altogether. Insurance commissioners have also begun reviewing rates more carefully and insurers have had to spend 80 cents out of every premium dollar on health benefits, rather than administrative overhead.
- more -
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/03/22/1761011/health-insurers-threaten-to-increase-premiums-even-as-profits-soar/
Health insurers are full of shit, and there are other mechanisms that will keep them in check.
Seniors saved over $6 billion on prescription drugs as a result of the health care law
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/03/20130321a.html
April 2012: $1 Billion In Rebates Coming Under ‘Obamacare’
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002613579
Sec. Kathleen Sebelius
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for High Premium Increases
The Affordable Care Act prohibits some of the worst insurance industry practices that have kept affordable health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. It provides families and individuals with new protections against discriminatory rates due to pre-existing conditions, holds insurance companies accountable for how they spend your premium dollars, and prevents insurance companies from raising your insurance premium rates without accountability or transparency.
For more than a decade before the Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums had risen rapidly, straining the pocketbooks of American families and businesses. Oftentimes, insurance companies were able to raise rates without explanation to consumers or public justification of their actions.
The Affordable Care Act brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases by requiring insurance companies in every state to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10% or more. Insurance companies are required to provide easy to understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, and any unreasonable rate increases are posted online.
And it's working.
A new report released today shows that the health care law is helping to moderate premium hikes. Since this rule was implemented, the number of requests for insurance premium increases of 10% or more has dropped dramatically, from 75% to 14%. The average premium increase for all rates in 2012 was 30% below what it was in 2010. And available data suggest that this slowdown in rate increases has continued into 2013.
- more -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/holding-insurance-compani_b_2742501.html
Holding Insurance Companies Accountable for High Premium Increases
The Affordable Care Act prohibits some of the worst insurance industry practices that have kept affordable health coverage out of reach for millions of Americans. It provides families and individuals with new protections against discriminatory rates due to pre-existing conditions, holds insurance companies accountable for how they spend your premium dollars, and prevents insurance companies from raising your insurance premium rates without accountability or transparency.
For more than a decade before the Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums had risen rapidly, straining the pocketbooks of American families and businesses. Oftentimes, insurance companies were able to raise rates without explanation to consumers or public justification of their actions.
The Affordable Care Act brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny and transparency to health insurance rate increases by requiring insurance companies in every state to publicly justify their actions if they want to raise rates by 10% or more. Insurance companies are required to provide easy to understand information to their customers about their reasons for significant rate increases, and any unreasonable rate increases are posted online.
And it's working.
A new report released today shows that the health care law is helping to moderate premium hikes. Since this rule was implemented, the number of requests for insurance premium increases of 10% or more has dropped dramatically, from 75% to 14%. The average premium increase for all rates in 2012 was 30% below what it was in 2010. And available data suggest that this slowdown in rate increases has continued into 2013.
- more -
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sec-kathleen-sebelius/holding-insurance-compani_b_2742501.html
Rules finalized for the good stuff in Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022415967
Wendell Potter Agrees: Big-Profit Health Insurance Almost Dead
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002390746
"personal observation over months---save your breath."
Personally, I think those "personal observations" not only suck, but they're silly as hell.
This is a board that can use some of that! Some people need to stop trashing Obamacare and talking up its benefits. It is the one thing that will give the public the political will to want single payer and quit buying the right wing's bullshit.
can counter all the propaganda.
I never saw the Roberts decision coming. I am pleased the SCOTUS ruled in favor, but I was convinced (and wrong) that they would shoot it down on the mandate.
I agree with you that it is a step toward Single Payer...with a time delay. It certainly wasn't a step backward. 
"It's also one of the most twisted pieces of conservative garbage ever passed into law, and it will be a NIGHTMARE down the road. "
...you scream "NIGHTMARE," but Howard Dean say "asset": http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022560359
Wonder who is likely correct?
