Chuck Schumer Blames ObamaCare for Premium Increases

[CuteOldGuy]

But Chuckie! I thought you were for it before you were against it?!

Here's what's up:

Over the last few weeks, Democrats have become increasingly concerned that ObamaCare is driving up health insurance premiums in their states. One of the several promises (they’ve since become broken promises) that the Obama Administration made about the law was that it would keep insurance premiums down, making coverage more affordable. That just hasn't happened.

Rochester, New York-based WHEC covered the anticipated 10% rise in premiums for the Empire States insured in 2014. “Some healthcare experts are warning that premiums could go up by more than 10% on January 1st when Obamacare kicks in across the country,” said WHEC’s Ray Levato. “This is on top of the annual increases we’ve seen in insurance premiums. It’s going to mean less money in your paycheck. Less money for groceries. Less for gas. Less for your family.”

Among the people they talked to for the story was Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who talked about the need for state regulators to “protect families.”

“Our Insurance Department is empowered to protect families and we’re going to watch them like a hawk to make sure they do,” he said. “Because if they don’t, these rates could go through the roof. It’s in part because of Obamacare but health care costs have been going up by double digits for years and years and years. The good news is in this bill there’s a way to stop it.”

But Schumer, one of the Obama Adminstration’s staunchest defenders in the Senate, was also asked if ObamaCare is contributing to the rise in premiums. “It’s in part because of Obamacare,” he responded, “but health-care costs have been going up by double digits for years and years and years.”

Here’s the video:

http://www.unitedliberty.org/article...emium-increase

That's right, Chuckie. Health care costs have been increasing. Obamacare was supposed to stop that, instead it's become part of the cause.

When will you people finally understand?

[CJ7]

Chuckie is right, but

CBO found that for most Americans, very little would change. If you get insurance through your employer, or through the government, then Obamacare probably won’t effect you much. When we talk about premiums changing, we’re talking about the minority of Americans who buy health insurance on their own or through a very small employer.

For them, on average, CBO predicted premiums would increase because subsidies would make it possible for them to purchase higher-quality insurance. In other words, with more money to purchase insurance, they were going to purchase better insurance — that is, after all, the point of the law. But if you held the insurance product constant, then premiums for the same policy in the same market would actually fall, as the risk pool would get a bit healthier.

The intent of Obamacare is to ensure that almost all Americans are covered by high-quality insurance that they can afford. To say that the law will move many Americans onto more costly insurance products is simply to restate part of that premise more negatively, and to leave out the effect of the subsidies, or the change in the underlying insurance product, is to mislead.

Translation;

better insurance cost more, subsidies offset costs.

The End.

[CuteOldGuy]

It ain't gonna happen that way, CBJ7, no matter how much kool aid you drink.

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy

It ain't gonna happen that way, CBJ7, no matter how much kool aid you drink.

course not, in your intellectual life youre smarter than the CBO

[Chica Chaser]

Originally Posted by CJ7

CBO found that for most Americans, very little would change. If you get insurance through your employer, or through the government, then Obamacare probably won’t effect you much.

But if you held the insurance product constant, then premiums for the same policy in the same market would actually fall, as the risk pool would get a bit healthier.

What a load of unadulterated horseshit. In the real world that ain't happening.

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

What a load of unadulterated horseshit. In the real world that ain't happening.

and you know this how? Tea leaves?

I forgot, you and cof are smarter that the study from the cbo. My bad.

[Pharmaguy729]

you mean the same CBO who scored Obmacare as deficit neutral in order for it to be passed through reconciliation then later said it would cost over 2.7 trillion over 10 years?... yeah, that would be the CBO I would question

[Chica Chaser]

Originally Posted by CJ7

and you know this how? Tea leaves?

I forgot, you and cof are smarter that the study from the cbo. My bad.

Glad you asked. My paycheck stub tell me everything I need to know.

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by Pharmaguy729

you mean the same CBO who scored Obmacare as deficit neutral in order for it to be passed through reconciliation then later said it would cost over 2.7 trillion over 10 years?... yeah, that would be the CBO I would question

no, but I was aware about all of the shit the media threw out, and Obie saw fit to quote . if you weren't, you can be now ...


http://centristnetblog.com/daily/cbo...over-10-years/

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

Glad you asked. My paycheck stub tell me everything I need to know.

[NiceGuy53]

Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

What a load of unadulterated horseshit. In the real world that ain't happening.

Unadulterated horseshit is what CBJ7 specializes in.

[3Jacklover]

CJ7, I am in the healthcare consulting business and you are incorrect. Especially, if you are a small employer < 50 employees. Your rates are going to go up more then 10%. If your over 50 employers many of these companies will just quit offering health insurance and pay the fine.
Don't forget the $63 annual transitional fee that all insured with have to pay for next three years. If you have two kids and a spouse it is $63 x 4 next three years. Nothing in Obamacare addresses way the costs are so high for medical care in US. One thing that is long overdue is RX pricing. It is a crime that you can get the exact same drug in Canada and Mexico for much less then USA.
Nothing in Obama Care addresses this. Only way costs go down for medical care is is all providers take less money ! Doctors already bitch that there not paid enough by Insurance Co. Can't say I have ever heard of any doctor going broke.

[Jackie S]

This is a rather timely thread. We met with our Insurance Carrier this morning.

We have fewer than 50 employees. In 2009, our health insurance package foe our employs was approx. $85,000. This year it will be a little over $140,000. The biggest increase came in 2012 and 2013.

There is one advantage for us in requiring everybody have Health Insurance. In order to keep top employs, we offer a very generous employment package, including health insurance. Several of our competitors offer very little. That means we have to absorb the cost on bid jobs when going heads up against them.

Now, they will be forced to offer at least the mandated minimum, or pay the penalty, which will level the playing field.
Aside from our labor cost, (wages), health insurance is our single biggest operating expense.

[CJ7]

Originally Posted by Jackie S

This is a rather timely thread. We met with our Insurance Carrier this morning.

We have fewer than 50 employees. In 2009, our health insurance package foe our employs was approx. $85,000. This year it will be a little over $140,000. The biggest increase came in 2012 and 2013.

There is one advantage for us in requiring everybody have Health Insurance. In order to keep top employs, we offer a very generous employment package, including health insurance. Several of our competitors offer very little. That means we have to absorb the cost on bid jobs when going heads up against them.

Now, they will be forced to offer at least the mandated minimum, or pay the penalty, which will level the playing field.
Aside from our labor cost, (wages), health insurance is our single biggest operating expense.

smart business, I had the same mindset which I put to excellent use for over a decade. In my case, the cost was offset by quality employees doing a quality job, and that led to consistently growing the business, and that increased profits. Win Win. Reputation outweighs advertising cost ... word of mouth FREE, advertising, not so much.

As for other small business owners (unlike yourself) that have substandard ins, they qualify for SHOP, and receive tax credits to offset their bottomline. IMO until the program grows some legs nobody knows exactly how this is going to play out.

[steamyromance]

The only thing that will ever bring down the cost of health care is tort reform!
More people going to the doctor = more law suits = higher malpractice insurance costs for doctors.
I play golf with a retired OBGYN he has to keep paying his malpractice insurance for the next 5 years, its FN insane.