WSJ article about Congress and the Health Care law

[BillBrasky]

It is already done. According to the article, which my guess is you didn't read, "Under pressure from Congress, The White House has carved out a special exemption for Congress and it's staffers from Obamacare."

Dems now just have to vote for the Pub-sponsored bill to end the exemption. What kind of odds do you want on that happening?

Of course he didn't read it.

And yes, this is some Grade A bullshit. Kind of like how Congressmen quietly gave themselves the power to inside trade, again.

Yo Al-Shabab not saying I want you to do anything else but if you just have to attack something, a joint session wouldn't be the worst idea. Not a whole lot of lives worth saving in there.

 

[Shorty]

In the SHORT term, probably not much will change with employees of large companies regarding employee coverage itself. Spouse and family coverage is a different issue. Several large companies have already said they are dropping spousal coverage next year.

If the tax on "high cost" plans is implemented as planned, though, I would expect a lot more employers dropping coverage.

 

[RJKarl]

Or maybe the insurance companies will drop the cost of the plans by the amount of the tax. Ever think of that?

 

[WakeandBake]

In the SHORT term, probably not much will change with employees of large companies regarding employee coverage itself. Spouse and family coverage is a different issue. Several large companies have already said they are dropping spousal coverage next year.

If the tax on "high cost" plans is implemented as planned, though, I would expect a lot more employers dropping coverage.

But they were already dropping coverage. You state this as if it is a result of Obamacare, and the data shows that companies were dropping employees at a pretty good clip already. What is your point?

 

[Shorty]

But they were already dropping coverage. You state this as if it is a result of Obamacare, and the data shows that companies were dropping employees at a pretty good clip already. What is your point?

That Obamacare will accelerate it. Companies are either truthfully pointing to ACA as the reason for dropping coverages or using it as a convenient excuse. Either way, people will lose the coverage they have today

The entire ACA exercise is a joke anyway. We are heading toward single payer. Why not just do it? Pick a model that works, like Germany's, not the UK's, and let's do what every other civilized country in the world already does.

 

[Spot the Wonder]

It is already done. According to the article, which my guess is you didn't read, "Under pressure from Congress, The White House has carved out a special exemption for Congress and it's staffers from Obamacare."

First, it's not an "article". It's clearly labeled "opinion" at the top of the page. Second, Congress and staffers were the only employees with employer provided insurance specifically required to use the exchanges. Grassley thought the Dems would bitch, but they said fine. At the time, no thought was given as to how the employer paid costs would be handled. All this exemption talk is nonsense

Several large companies have already said they are dropping spousal coverage next year.

Companies are dropping coverage if your spouse can get insurance through their job. This was the situation in the much publicized UPS case.

The entire ACA exercise is a joke anyway. We are heading toward single payer. Why not just do it? Pick a model that works, like Germany's, not the UK's, and let's do what every other civilized country in the world already does.

The UK does not have single payer, it has government run health care. There's a difference. Canada has single payer.

 

[Wrangor]

You might want to look up 'anecdotal' in your dictionary, too.

What? You gave a personal story about listening to a radio station program and presented it as some sort of fact. I am not sure if you don't know what anecdotal means or if you actually think that it doesn't apply in this situation. Either way you are wrong. Try again smarty pants.

 

[WakeandBake]

That Obamacare will accelerate it. Companies are either truthfully pointing to ACA as the reason for dropping coverages or using it as a convenient excuse. Either way, people will lose the coverage they have today

The entire ACA exercise is a joke anyway. We are heading toward single payer. Why not just do it? Pick a model that works, like Germany's, not the UK's, and let's do what every other civilized country in the world already does.

you serious Clark?

 

[WakeandBake]

What? You gave a personal story about listening to a radio station program and presented it as some sort of fact. I am not sure if you don't know what anecdotal means or if you actually think that it doesn't apply in this situation. Either way you are wrong. Try again smarty pants.

It was a report on NPR intended for ILl residents. I will try to link the story, but it was no anecdotal it was based on actual research, tiddly winks. Your post implied I was talking about my cousin's sister's nephew getting a good insurance rate. This was a news report.

 

[Wrangor]

It was a report on NPR intended for ILl residents. I will try to link the story, but it was no anecdotal it was based on actual research, tiddly winks. Your post implied I was talking about my cousin's sister's nephew getting a good insurance rate. This was a news report.

Actual research that contradicted by actual research that was thus far verified by you saying you heard it on the radio. Cool story Hansel.

 

[WakeandBake]

Actual research that contradicted by actual research that was thus far verified by you saying you heard it on the radio. Cool story Hansel.

you really got me there, stud.

 

[jaybone]

Cruz is McCarthy without that power. Give it to him and he's him. Really hoping he's a freakshow in his private life and something bubbles up. He's an exceptionally gifted speaker but a total prick. Those are two qualities that work well in Washington. Republicans in DC hate the shit out of him though. We'll see. For some reason, Republicans don't hate the bumblefucks in their camp like Bachmann and Steve King and Louie Gohmert.

 

[Wrangor]

you really got me there, stud.

Last word.

 

[Spot the Wonder]

Cruz is McCarthy without that power. ... Republicans in DC hate the shit out of him though. We'll see. For some reason, Republicans don't hate the bumblefucks in their camp like Bachmann and Steve King and Louie Gohmert.

That's because Cruz is supposedly very smart. The other three are dumber than rocks.

 

[Deadbolt]

Last word.

 

[ONW]

Posted this on the other thread by accident.

http://www.factcheck.org/2011/10/fac...ance-premiums/

Interesting article. Brings up pros and cons of the ACA, and the fact that pretty much no one knows what's going to happen. Also didn't know that carriers increasing rates above 10% would have to justify that rate of increase through a formal review.

"look at the projection for long-term growth — 6 percent, or 6.5 percent. That’s not that different from the increases that occurred several years before the law was passed.

Of course, that raises the question of cost control and whether the law can have any success on that front. For now, what happens to health care spending and premiums in the future is an educated guessing game."

"A health policy analyst at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners told us more information will be available as insurance carriers start facing a review of any rate increases beyond 10 percent. (Right now, NAIC too says the law has added about 1 percent to 3 percent to premiums. NAIC has a policy of not allowing its staffers to be quoted by name.)"

"We looked at the premium issue last fall when some insurance carriers in a few states announced double-digit hikes for plans on the individual market and Republicans quickly blamed the health care law. Insurance companies, regulators and experts told us the law was responsible for about 1 percent to 3 percent of rate increases in this market. And it’s the same this time around."

"Health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored family plans jumped a startling 9 percent from 2010 to 2011, and Republicans have blamed the federal health care law. But they exaggerate. The law — the bulk of which has yet to be implemented — has caused only about a 1 percent to 3 percent increase in premiums, according to several independent experts. The rest of the 9 percent rise is due to rising health care costs, as usual.

Furthermore, the increase caused by the law is a result of the increased benefits it requires, a factor Republicans generally ignore. So far, insurance companies have been required to do the following:
◾ Cover preventive care without copays or deductibles.
◾Allow adult children to stay on parents’ policies until age 26.
◾Increase annual coverage limits.
◾Cover children without regard for preexisting conditions.

On the other hand, the fact that the law caused any increase at all cast more doubt on Obama’s promise that the law “could save families $2,500 in the coming years.” We’ve been calling that claim into question for several years now."

 

[ONW]

Additionally, there are around 7 million small businesses in the US of which 97% have fewer than 50 employees so the ACA doesn't apply to them.

 

[BillBrasky]

Additionally, there are around 7 million small businesses in the US of which 97% have fewer than 50 employees so the ACA doesn't apply to them.

Why? What makes the rights of a small business employee different than that of an employee of a large corporation? I mean we all have a right to HC, right?

 

[ONW]

Why? What makes the rights of a small business employee different than that of an employee of a large corporation? I mean we all have a right to HC, right?

No idea, but it does make the ACA being the largest job killer in America claim which will lead to the downfall of small businesses seem like a bit of hyperbole.

 

[RJKarl]

"At the center of the Affordable Care Act is the premise that we need to make health care more affordable and accessible for more Americans, and a new report released today demonstrates just how affordable insurance will be. The report, released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), finds that in state after state, affordable options will be available through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2014.

Nearly all eligible uninsured Americans (about 95%) live in states with average premiums below earlier projections. And nearly all consumers (about 95%) will have a choice of health insurance companies, each of which offers a number of different plans. Competition and transparency are driving a new set of affordable options for consumers -- it is how the law was designed. This new report shows the real impact it could have – a working a family with income of $50,000 could pay less than $100 per month for the lowest bronze plan, after tax credits.

The Marketplace will be run in partnership with States or fully by the HHS in 36 states. In these states, on average, consumers will have a choice of 53 health plans (bronze, silver, gold, and platinum plans). Young adults will have the additional option of low-cost catastrophic or youth plans. And, about one in four of these insurance companies are newly offering plans in the individual market, a sign of healthy competition.

And competition is helping to lower costs. States with the lowest premiums have more than twice the number of insurance companies offering plans than states with the highest premiums. In the 48 States (including the District of Columbia) where premiums are available, the average premium for the lowest cost silver plan in the Marketplace is more than 16 percent lower than projected.

Premiums are even lower for workers and families qualifying for tax credits. For example, in Texas, an average 27-year-old with income of $25,000 could pay $83 for the lowest-cost bronze plan, $133 for the lowest-cost silver plan, and $145 per month for the second lowest-cost silver plan after tax credits. For a family of four in Texas with income of $50,000, they could pay $57 per month for the lowest bronze plan, $239 for the lowest silver plan, and $282 per month for the second lowest-cost silver plan.

And based on the law’s provisions (the premium tax credit and Medicaid expansion), nearly 6 in 10 of the uninsured will pay $100 or less per month for health coverage.

Download the full report here, or for information by state, go to wh.gov/healthreform/map.