Anyone Else Worried About Health Premiums Going UP?

[toystory1130]

We have been getting letters from my DH job reminding us of the new changes coming up in Oct. I've been wondering how much our premiums will be going up. Not sure where I can find any slack in the budget to cover it. Anyone else concerned?

 

[McKelly]

Yes, I am worried. We already pay over $600.00 a month, 30/60 co-pays with $3000.00 per person deductibles. While I know none of the calclulators out there are completely accurate because it isn't October 1 yet, the calculator I did use said I would pay an addditional $2800.00 a year for the same type of plan...

I actually just texted my DH to check with his HR department about what is going to happen with his health insurance. He works for a small company. My job has started to keep everyone under 30 hours a week, so they don't have to pay insurance.

A close friend of mine received a letter from her DH's employer stating that if their spouse had health insurance available to them at work, the spouse needed to switch on to their own plan. The only way they could keep the family plan is if insurance wasn't available to the spouse.

 

[nunzia]

What do you mean worried? It's a done deal. Premiums will go up again, in a two step process, one rise being in October and 1 being in January. It's over 10% total and since Obamacare was passed this is the 4th such increase. Insurance is our biggest bill by far and deductibles are huge.

 

[McKelly]

What do you mean worried? It's a done deal. Premiums will go up again, in a two step process, one rise being in October and 1 being in January. It's over 10% total and since Obamacare was passed this is the 4th such increase. Insurance is our biggest bill by far and deductibles are huge.

I am worried because I am not sure HOW MUCH it is going up, not that I don't know IF it will go up. Insurance has been going up for years.

 

[Judyat]

I am not worried. I have looked at the rates that many states have released for their exchanges and they look good if you use them. Subsidies will help many with their coverage. Take a look at your state's healthcare exchange if they have released their rates or when the exchanges open October 1. Facts are not bearing out what some are saying against it. And there's a lot of misinformation being spread out there. I know here in New York rates will be lower and there will be more plans available. They have released the plans and rates by county. All of the information and details on them will be available starting October 1.

 

[grassmower]

I sat in on the meeting with our ins. brokers yesterday and we're expecting a 8-15% increase. That is anywhere from a $32 - $60 dollar a month increase for employees depending on level of coverage.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) What is there to worry about?
2) It is a done-deal.
3) Premiums are going up and/or coverage is going down.
4) ObamaCare notwithstanding.
. . . yes, you can buy el-chepo plans for $100 AFTER taxes subsidize you
. . . but, coverage-for-coverage insurance is more expensive
5) Fact of life.
6) There has been NOTHING done to reduce health care costs.
7) In fact, ObamaCare has worked just he opposite. *


* I have been called in on three different mid-size companies to help with their
benefit packages. In each case, their group premiums went up over 17%. In
one case, the premiums went up 22%.

 

[dansamy]

1) What is there to worry about?
2) It is a done-deal.
3) Premiums are going up and/or coverage is going down.
4) ObamaCare notwithstanding.
. . . yes, you can buy el-chepo plans for $100 AFTER taxes subsidize you
. . . but, coverage-for-coverage insurance is more expensive
5) Fact of life.
6) There has been NOTHING done to reduce health care costs.
7) In fact, ObamaCare has worked just he opposite. *

* I have been called in on three different mid-size companies to help with their
benefit packages. In each case, their group premiums went up over 17%. In
one case, the premiums went up 22%.

I'm a nurse. The ONLY good things I see in the ACA are the elimination of lifetime caps, insurance regardless of preexisting conditions and required coverage of preventive care.

 

[nunzia]

I am worried because I am not sure HOW MUCH it is going up, not that I don't know IF it will go up. Insurance has been going up for years.

Right..I understand. The October and January rises are directly caused by Obamacare..and many of the plans that were offered are no longer available, I quit my job (poor timing but oh well) and the plan we have my DH on (his company does not offer it) is an HSA and no longer available. I could have been added on for an outrageous rate and the deductible would reset with me added to the family deductible and since he is undergoing a very expensive treatment we would need to pay ANOTHER 5 K of deductible for him so no thanks. I'm sorry..I was being a little snarky..the whole thing is a crap shoot..especially with all the changes, waivers, companies not needing to implement this coming year, exchanges not being in place etc. No one knows. I do know letters are going out everywhere with plans changing or being dropped. The AVMA has decided to quit offering health insurance all together so all members of that are thrown in a bind. To be safe I would guess between 10 and 15% for now with who knows what to come next. Incredibly frustrating but certainly to be expected. I've been trying to budget with my income loss, retirement coming etc.,a nd it is always the health care unknown that will leave it all in a big mess.

 

[nunzia]

I'm a nurse. The ONLY good things I see in the ACA are the elimination of lifetime caps, insurance regardless of preexisting conditions and required coverage of preventive care.

I have heard there is a wrinkle in that no lifetime cap thing..we'll see.

 

[dansamy]

I have heard there is a wrinkle in that no lifetime cap thing..we'll see.

There probably is.

I just don't see how this will make health care "affordable" for ALL.

 

[PuppyPrincess]

Subsidies will not help any of my employees as they are above the "poverty" line and what they pay for their healthcare is less than 9.5% of their household income. The calculator I found, I know it's only an estimate, for me would have me paying 13.8% of my household income for 70% insurance coverage. Of course, I could take a coverage that covers less, and pay less. But, if I keep my employer's plan, it covers more and I'm paying less. That's if my employer keeps insurance. They aren't sure what they are doing yet because rates are going up about 30% for next year. Working for a small company, if we have one person who used the insurance hard last year, we get penalized for it.

 

[HM]

I'm a nurse. The ONLY good things I see in the ACA are the elimination of lifetime caps, insurance regardless of preexisting conditions and required coverage of preventive care.

As well as coverage for student dependents until age 26. All of these things are important.

Also, our rates go up every year and the coverage doesn't get any better. It's been a constant for at least 10 years for me. I used to get 80/20 coverage at work, three years ago it changed to 70/30. So, I don't get the worry about it 'this time'. Haven't you all had to deal with this every year?

 

[Gr8t Fan]

At the firm where I work, we got our renewal notice and our group premium went down by a little over $500 a month. I was worried because my daughter fell and broke her ankle requiring surgery last spring, and I was sure our renewal would be sky high, so it was a welcome relief.

 

[tvguy]

Ours went down by 25%, HOWEVER our $20 copay went away, we have to pay 100% of everything (visits, services, prescriptions) until we hit $5,000 for the family, then the $20 copay kicks in.

 

[Pigeon]

Health insurance premiums have been going up as long as I've been paying for insurance.

 

[luvmy3]

Like pp's have mentioned our premium has gone up and coverage gone down every year, so this will be no different.
Dh and I have a plan though, I'm going to milk my insurance for all its worth. I never go to the doctor, this year I'll go for everything. I put off my annual tests, not this year. If I'm paying for it, I'm using it, at least I'll feel like I got my money's worth when the year is over

 

[wiigirl]

Mine actually went down $10 this year??

 

[Planogirl]

We already make high payments at my company plus they cover part-time people so I don't know if we can expect any changes or not. I also agree with those who say that their rates go up constantly anyhow.

 

[wendow]

I'm in the "I'm worried" group. We already pay $800 a year and the coverage stinks with high deductibles. We aren't in a great spot financially to handle paying more. We'll find out soon I hope.