Obamacare premiums to rise 25 percent for 2017
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The HealthCare.gov 2017 web site homepage, as seen in Washington, today. The Obama administration confirmed that premiums will go up sharply next year for health insurance sold to millions of consumers through HealthCare.gov.
WASHINGTON » Premiums will go up sharply next year under President Barack Obama’s health care law, and many consumers will be down to just one insurer, the administration confirmed today. That’s sure to stoke another “Obamacare” controversy days before a presidential election.
Before taxpayer-provided subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan will increase an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the federally run online market, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Some states will see much bigger jumps, others less.
Moreover, about 1 in 5 consumers will only have plans from a single insurer to pick from, after major national carriers such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana and Aetna scaled back their roles.
“Consumers will be faced this year with not only big premium increases but also with a declining number of insurers participating, and that will lead to a tumultuous open enrollment period,” said Larry Levitt, who tracks the health care law for the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.
Republicans pounced on the numbers as a warning that insurance markets created by the 2010 health overhaul are teetering toward a “death spiral.” Sign-up season starts Nov. 1, about a week before national elections in which the GOP remains committed to a full repeal.
The new numbers aren’t too surprising, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, who chairs a committee that oversees the law. It “does little to dispel the notion we are seeing the law implode at the expense of middle-class families.”
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Donald Trump’s presidential campaign also noted the news. “This shows why the entire program must be repealed and replaced,” spokesman Jason Miller said in a statement Monday evening. “While (Hillary) Clinton wants to expand the failed program known as Obamacare, Mr. Trump knows the only way to fix our nation’s failing health care system is complete and total reform.”
HHS essentially confirmed state-by-state reports that have been coming in for months. Window shopping for plans and premiums is already available through HealthCare.gov.
Administration officials are stressing that subsidies provided under the law, which are designed to rise alongside premiums, will insulate most customers from sticker shock. They add that consumers who are willing to switch to cheaper plans will still be able to find bargains.
“Headline rates are generally rising faster than in previous years,” acknowledged HHS spokesman Kevin Griffis. But he added that for most consumers, “headline rates are not what they pay.”
The vast majority of the more than 10 million customers who purchase through HealthCare.gov and its state-run counterparts do receive generous financial assistance. “Enrollment is concentrated among very low-income individuals who receive significant government subsidies to reduce premiums and cost-sharing,” said Caroline Pearson of the consulting firm Avalere Health
But an estimated 5 million to 7 million people are either not eligible for the income-based assistance, or they buy individual policies outside of the health law’s markets, where the subsidies are not available. The administration is urging the latter group to check out HealthCare.gov. The spike in premiums generally does not affect the employer-provided plans that cover most workers and their families.
In some states, the premium increases are striking. In Arizona, unsubsidized premiums for a hypothetical 27-year-old buying a benchmark “second-lowest cost silver plan” will jump by 116 percent, from $196 to $422, according to the administration report.
But HHS said if that hypothetical consumer has a fairly modest income, making $25,000 a year, the subsidies would cover $280 of the new premium, and the consumer would pay $142. Caveat: if the consumer is making $30,000 or $40,000 his or her subsidy would be significantly lower.
Dwindling choice is another issue.
The total number of HealthCare.gov insurers will drop from 232 this year to 167 in 2017, a loss of 28 percent. (Insurers are counted multiple times if they offer coverage in more than one state. So Aetna, for example, would count once in each state that it participated in.)
Switching insurers may not be simple for patients with chronic conditions.
While many carriers are offering a choice of plan designs, most use a single prescription formulary and physician network across all their products, explained Pearson. “So, enrollees may need to change doctors or drugs when they switch insurers,” she said.
Overall, it’s shaping up to be the most difficult sign-up season since HealthCare.gov launched in 2013 and the computer system froze up.
Enrollment has been lower than initially projected, and insurers say patients turned out to be sicker than expected. Moreover, a complex internal system to help stabilize premiums has not worked as hoped for.
Nonetheless Obama says the underlying structure of the law is sound, and current problems are only “growing pains.” The president has called for a government-sponsored “public option” insurance plan to compete with private companies.
Republicans are united in calling for complete repeal, but they have not spelled out how they would address the problems of the uninsured.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed an array of fixes, including sweetening the law’s subsidies and allowing more people to qualify for financial assistance.
The law makes carrying health insurance a legal obligation for most people, and prohibits insurers for turning away the sick. It offers subsidized private plans to people who don’t have coverage through their jobs, along with a state option to expand Medicaid for low-income people.
Largely as a result, the nation’s uninsured rate has dropped below 9 percent, a historically low level. More than 21 million people have gained coverage since the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010.
64 responses to “Obamacare premiums to rise 25 percent for 2017”
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I don’t believe it because Obama promised that they would not go up, and Obama wouldn’t lie.
Vote for Hellary if you want 4 more years of O’bama.
These Gruber voters don’t get it. A Democrat could pee on their heads and they would dance in the “rain.”
DITTO!!!
I will. 🙂
Vote for the Donald if are shorting the stock market.
You’re gonna need the extra revenue you make in the market to pay for the increase in medical costs.
When the market crashes again soon, which is inevitable, boots will be blaming GW Bush.
Vote Trump. He will dump ObamaCare
Mahalo! Obama, we believe!
Here’s the important paragraph that you may not understand:
The sobering numbers confirmed state-by-state reports that have been coming in for months. Administration officials are stressing that subsidies provided under the law, which are designed to rise alongside premiums, will insulate most customers from sticker shock. They add that consumers who are willing to switch to cheaper plans will still be able to find bargains.
Advance Premium Tax Credits are provided to almost everyone who purchases Obamacare and these offset the cost increases in the premiums. If your actual out-of-pocket expenses don’t go up, then it’s not really that big a deal. Your out-of-pocket cost for private insurance likely goes up annually by at least as much, if not more than that for Obamacare.
The few that work will be paying again for the large numbers who don’t work. I see Obamanics. God bless America and soon.
God HELP America,right now.
Thank God for the Middle Class worker!
Correct, Blues, and here’s the other important part:
“But an estimated 5 million to 7 million people are either not eligible for the income-based assistance, or they buy individual policies outside of the health law’s markets, where the subsidies are not available. The administration is urging the latter group to check out HealthCare.gov. The spike in premiums generally does not affect the employer-provided plans that cover most workers and their families.”
Most important is that last line.
“HOPE & CHANGE” “HOPE & CHANGE” get my drift?
Yes we need to change to a single pay system like Canada? Certainly no one would want to go back to the old system.
You gotta be crazy. Our Canadian friends come here for help.
You’re nuts as usual, boots! Why don’t you go and call a Dr in Canada and ask when you can see a Dr. You’ll be long dead before your appointment date!
Boots, why change. We all doing fine, nothins wrong with ObamaCare. Are you questioning Obama? Geez, I thought I’d never hear that from you to tell you the truth. hahahaha
Thank you Obama, Nancy Pelosi (“W’e’ll see what’s it after we sign the bill!) and Harry Reid. You created this monster.
Michelle Obama’s Mom Will Get $160k For Life… Paid By Our Taxes
This is the kind of graft and corruption that happens in places like Iraq and North Korea. Michelle Obama’s mom didn’t earn a pension that’s three times bigger than the average American family’s income.
It seems that just like Barack, the rest of the Obama’s never had real jobs, and instead of live high on the hog off the backs of regular taxpaying Americans.
Congress just announced the most outrageous waste of taxpayer money designed by Obama.
First Grandma Marian Robinson, 79, will receive a lifetime 160K government pension when she leaves the White House next year, according to congressional budget statements.
According to documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Mrs. Robinson earned the lifetime pension for “services rendered as full-time/in-home caregiver” for granddaughters Malia, 18, and Sasha, 15, during President Obama’s two terms in office.
Michelle Obama’s mom got to live like a queen in the White House, but they are going to pay her $160,000 every year for the rest of her life for babysitting her own granddaughters?
If you like your plan, you can keep it – it will just cost you a lot more than it used to.
As if health care didn’t go up prior to Obama.
Best if you don’t try to defend the indefensible. The ACA was created on a lie, confirmed by Mr. Gruber. Do you remember the “stupid public” part? And nobody should be comparing us to Canada.
What? Democrats never lie! Geez
Are you implying Obamacare hasn’t raised the cost of health insurance?
Pelosi: “We Have to Pass the Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-05TLiiLU
And she keeps getting reelected!
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How do all you micro-managing meddling progressives feel about Barry Hussein’s “signature legislation” now? Trump needs to hang this albatross around Waldo Clintons neck every chance he gets. This is real pain the people can feel and the Russians had nothing to do with it.
Well, I was never all that enthusiastic for Nixoncare. A single pay system is the way to go and now there will be more enthusiasm to break the addiction to the medicaL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.
More like most Democratic solutions. The solution is worse than the problem it was intended to “fix.”
Nah, The Democrats will find a way to pin it on someone else but themselves.
Sorry, fstop didn’t mean for my above post to be a reply to yours.
What she really meant was we have to pass this law so that we can really piss you off and, when we go to a true socialist medical system, you will thank us! And, thanks to Donald, there is a very good chance we will have a democratic president, house, and senate – opening the door for this to happen. Where will the Canadian’s go when they need help now?
She lives in a very wealthy are, where the cost of healthcare is not an issue. Out of 320 million people, she’s the head of the Democrats in Congress.
What a crock, Time to return to the free market even as heavily regulated as it was, healthcare was pretty fantastic, now it offers less and costs much more. That’s what the government does do well, lowers quality, raises costs. Vote Johnson! and lets return to a market based economy.
A vote for Johnson is a vote for another 4 years of Obama. Your just throwing your vote away. “smh”
Democrat policies caused the housing meltdown in 2008. Now the health care of millions is in jeopardy because of progressive democrats (and quisling republicans). I wouldn’t trust these incompetents to run a lemonade stand. Unfortunately the goal of progressive democrats is to run our lives from sunup to sundown and everything in between. It’s called Totalitarianism for those of you worship at the alter of Barry Hussein and Waldo Clinton.
How’s all that hope and change working out for ya Obama supporters?! The audacity of lies. “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor”. Right….
If you can find your doctor or any doctor.
Soon we’ll all be flying over to Mexico to get our cheap healthcare! haaaaaa
What Lies? Go ask any Democrat supporter and you’ll hear them say Democrats never Lie except on the bed.
Thanks Barry! You’re a prince! Insurance companies love them some Barry, ever notice that half the ads on TV are insurance companies? They’re sure crying the blues.
I will, for the rest of my life, be infinitely proud that I voted for McCain and Romney. I can tell my grandkids with a straight face that I tried to prevent one of the worst disasters and most unqualified agitators in U.S. history become president.
And since I will absolutely not vote for either Clinton or Trump, I guess I’m voting Libertarian for the first time in my life.
seems reasonable, what with all the illegal immigrants that need medical coverage, the chronically unemployed, fourth and fifth generations on welfare and the limited pool of working stiffs that pay into the ponzi scheme, costs naturally need to rise.
may need to raise the premiums another 75% next year when democrats import even more immigrants from the mid-east and open the u.s. borders.
If Hilary wins GOD help us and we should all change our names to “Jesus Pedro Gonzalez” then just freeload like the rest of them! I’m tired of subsidizing for the illegals so I’ll just join them!
Time to push for medicare for all. The US needs to enter the 21st century and cover all of its citizens and not just allow the medical industrial complex to make tons of money. We don’t need to hold any more health fairs. Nixon care was fun while it lasted but it is time to move to a plan that will work.
Boots, you say “cover all our citizens”. Don’t you mean to say “cover all our citizens and illegal immigrants and the next 65k refugees from Syria”? Plus with open borders, isn’t anyone who can get in the country covered? It’s their right, right? By the way, the generations that poured in and had babies, well, they and their families are all citizens as well. Also, I don’t believe you understand the ACA and you’re only repeating talking points. Call some of the medical Device companies and ask how the ACA has advanced research. At one time we were the leaders of the world in medical research. And, do you remember the average family was suppose to save $2500.00 per year, and you could keep your doctor? Remember Gruber? They knew it was a lie. Remember keeping your doctor? Government must stop penalizing one group to try to help others. And with open borders, do you believe we need guaranteed healthcare for all of North and South America? Isn’t it everyone’s right?
Boots, You crack me up. All Hail Obama. hahahahahahaha, the Pied Piper himself
Not a horrible idea that was premature and executed terribly! If he thinks this was his legacy it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Obama endorsed Caldwell for his integrity, right? We’re all good now. Move along folks, nothing to see here.
SA what gives? This is a bad time to be highlighting the meltdown of Obamacare with the election right around the corner. Can’t you find any more women that Trump has “groped”?
LOL!
OBAMA’S FALSE PROMISES-
“If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. PERIOD!”
People are getting dropped by their doctors. Fewer to choose from in an HMO plan.
“If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. PERIOD!”
Bull.
It amazes me that the administration presents the ACA as a “plus”, and the majority of Democrat voters believe it, even though premiums have increased, etc. Apparently they believe a government run system is efficient.
Subsidies for healthcare premiums. We the middle income people will pay higher premium to help those who will get subsidized health plans. This is another way to collect taxes. As each year goes by how much more are we going to pay for health insurance premiums due to the subsidies.
How rich is Obama going to be after he is no longer president? Will he follow in the footsteps of the Clintons amassing great wealth and not owning any businesses that justifies such wealth?
It’s a no brainer. lol
Does Japan and China planning to have open borders like what Hillary wants? If they all agree to open borders than I guess it is okay, if these countries do not want open borders than people need to really think about voting for her. These two countries are one of the oldest in Asia if not the oldest.
obama: “Under my Affordable Care Act, the average American family will save over $2500/year”. How soon STUPID Americans forget. But an obama-compliant media is strangely silent on that fact. Why so?
Remember that the insurance industry – which in large part is subject to NO government regulation – was in on the promulgation of the ACA and this news makes me wonder if the industry built in a “get-out” clause – or clauses – in order screw the public over. And embarrass the President. Don’t forget to look at congress when examining this situation.
“If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. PERIOD!” You forgot “END OF STORY!”after PERiOD!
On a local level, failure of Obama Care feels a lot like the direction Honolulu’s rail is going. Compare the passiate sales pitch from our elected officials promising great things from Obama Care and fast forward to more promises on how good Hawaii’s rail is is going to be. It’s hard,to believe how seeming smart people can be so wrong with their judgment and make promises they can’t keep……
All our cries and complaints are worthless unless you GET OUT AND VOTE. Don’t sit home this year people – we have to vote!
I voted Obama/Hillary . . . . . NO MORE!!! Trump, all the way!
Meanwhile, non-Obamacare coverage for Medicare supplementary insurance rose by 75%. The main purpose of the entire medical system in the US is to generate massive profits for insurance companies and Big Pharma. Obamacare was just a bandaid on a broken artery. USA ranks 37th in the world for healthcare but #1 on the cost of healthcare. We do not receive quality healthcare for the outrageous amount of money we spend on it because most of it is profit for corporations. This is way beyond Obama, Hillary or Trump. The corporations own all three of them..