What If Premiums in the Exchange Go Down Next Year?
Everyone’s expecting them to go up. But what if they go down? Many families could be worse off.
If a family of four headed by two adults in their mid-30s is making $59,625 per year, then the ObamaCare subsidies will make it so the second-lowest cost silver plan costs no more than 8.15 percent of its income, or $4,860.
In Marion County, the two cheapest silver plans are sold by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The cheapest plan costs $7,700 a year and the second-cheapest costs $8,040.
To make that second-cheapest plan cost only $4,860, ObamaCare applies a tax credit of $3,180. So that is the subsidy available for any family of four making $59,625 — NO MATTER WHICH HEALTH PLAN that family purchases in the ObamaCare exchange. It can be a bronze plan or a gold plan. It can be more or less expensive. No matter, that family will receive a subsidy equal to $3,180.
But what happens if another insurer — such as UnitedHealthcare, which sat on the sidelines this year, or MDwise Inc., offers a silver plan in 2015 that’s just a little bit cheaper than the cheapest Anthem plan, say, for $7,500 per year?
In that situation, then Anthem’s cheapest silver plan would become the benchmark for the subsidies. To make a $7,700 plan only cost a family of four $4,860, the tax subsidies would need to be only $2,840 per year — $340 less than they were before.
Now, the family of four could shift plans to that cheaper Anthem plan, and pay no more in premiums.
But if that family doesn’t want to change health plans — and with the narrow networks in these exchange plans greatly restricting patients’ choice of doctors and hospitals, that’s a very real possibility — the family will have to cover the $340 themselves.
That’s an extra $28 a month, or 7 percent more — for exactly the same coverage.
So, the key to affordability next year in the ObamaCare exchanges — at least for those receiving subsidies — is whether the insurers try to undercut each other on price in the silver category.
Such competition will lead to more choices and better prices — but it will either require consumers to switch plans or pay higher premiums. (More)
ObamaCare has to be the most convoluted health care system. Its policies lead to confusion everywhere, especially with individuals and families getting coverage.
For the average person, it must be nearly impossible to keep up with how much ObamaCare will be changing things.
For many health care professionals its difficult to keep up with the daily ObamaCare changes.
“So, the key to affordability next year in the ObamaCare exchanges — at least for those receiving subsidies — is whether the insurers try to undercut each other on price in the silver category.”
First competition is good, now it isn’t. Up is down, down is up.
The health care bill was meant to confuse people.
As long as the public thinks they are getting health insurance, the bureaucrats will do whatever they want.
It is one thing making insurance more expensive for people, but then making it mandatory… Where’s the freedom?
Its not here…
You can rely on the bureaucrats to increase confusion and their bottom line.
I received a notice today from one of the Blues that they expect policies to rise for PPO plans 2.47%, HMO Plans 1.2 and HMO Plans in Kern Co. to go down 13%.
You be the judge.
“Everyone’s expecting them to go up. But what if they go down? Many families could be worse off.”
What??
Well at least we will have more options. Its either change or you’ll have to pay for sticking to the same plan.
Have fun changing your health plans every year to avoid getting taken to the cleaners.
“But if that family doesn’t want to change health plans — and with the narrow networks in these exchange plans greatly restricting patients’ choice of doctors and hospitals, that’s a very real possibility — the family will have to cover the $340 themselves.”
This is probably a conservative estimate as well.
If affordability relies on changing health plans every year, everyone is doomed.