Reply #12: Let's play with some numbers for a bit.

[lapfog_1]

When the exchanges are set up, there will be plan offered to young adults (with no pre-existing conditions) which might be affordable for many people, say $7000 a year ( $583 a month ). Why do I say "no pre-existing"... didn't we get rid of that? Nope. The companies cannot deny you insurance, but they sure can charge you more money. Up to 50% more.

And why a young adult... because they can charge older adults ( over 50 ) up to 3 TIMES what the young adult is charged.

What I'm driving at is "what will be the AVERAGE premium for adults"?

My guess is that it will be something over $1000 a month, probably $1200. or $14,400 a year.

The majority will pay this through their employer provided plan, some will get subsidies, many will not but will pay it anyway because everyone wants health insurance.

How many... let's say 200 million. That's an industry income of $2.88 Trillion dollars. They are (by this bill) restricted to 15 percent profit margin. That's a mere $432 Billion dollars. That's their PROFITS. For handling the money.

How many more politicians do you think they can buy with $432 Billion? They bought enough this time with something like $600 million dollars. If they spend 5% of their annual profits on lobbyists and campaigns and fake astroturf movements (like FreedomWorks aka Tea baggers), that's over $21 BILLION dollars. 5% of profits.

Even if my numbers are off by a factor of TWO, it's still $216 Billion in profits, $10.5 Billion to influence public policy.

Do you think that there will be any further regulation on them?