NFT: Health insurance premiums

Actually my premiums are the same but my deductible............

Yeah mine is about the same. Premiums up some, deductible and out of pocket maximum are all up. I'm calculating a 20% increase as a total cost increase, but how I end up using the coverage will determine the end cost bump.

from 300 to 600 a month

as did my deductibles.

Doesn't mean it's not expensive though. Both had steadily increased over the last 8 years. I have a high deductible plan.

Premium: $4,160 annual, for family
Deductible: $6,200

group (self and spouse as employees) in NJ and had to replace the plan yet again as Aetna has pulled out of NJ. 3rd time in 3 years due to ACA rules. Went from $1556/mo to $1800/mo. Absolutely crazy!

to the issue of healthcare in this country, but it amazes me that people still feel a level shock when their premiums go up. Insurance costs have gone up every year since the beginning of time. In New Jersey they tend to go up anywhere between 10% and 30% depending on the circumstances.

and deductibles stayed the same.

And checked out ACA plan vs Cobra to continue with my old plan which is 560 a month (single) , THE CHEAPEST plan Bronze was $836 and not nearly as good when comparing them.
Now the cost has gone up about 20% from 4 years ago when my employer was paying 75% and more out of pocket expenses and higher deductibles. I will stay with that until I find a new job which should happen soon.

In comment 13685631 eclipz928 said:

Quote:

to the issue of healthcare in this country, but it amazes me that people still feel a level shock when their premiums go up. Insurance costs have gone up every year since the beginning of time. In New Jersey they tend to go up anywhere between 10% and 30% depending on the circumstances.

It's not so much that they are going up, but the significance of the increase year over year.

While people routinely criticise the political structure and policies, one of the leading factors seems to be how unhealthy we are as a country.

Still I don't see that 20-40% increases year over year are sustainable for anyone.

immediately after the ACA went into effect. I also had a great plan and coverage before. Now, just paying more for the same coverage.

was fully implemented. Part of that was due to the larger insurance companies attempting to overcompensate for any potential revenue losses in the face of what would be a significant change in federal policy and unpredictable consumer behavior under the new law.

But the other part, that I think people still take for granted, is that along with the bump in costs also came more benefits that people received from their plans. The biggest thing were the added protections and lifting of cap limits - but more tangibly were the savings from no longer being required to make copays for things like preventative screenings, wellness visits, and birth control even in comparison to the more comprehensive plans that were previously available.

Again, by nature insurance costs always go up, but all of the data that I've seen indicates that if we maintained the status quo that existed prior to the ACA then the rate of increase of insurance costs would have been much greater. Obviously more needs to be done to not only cut the rate of increase but lower the cost of healthcare altogether.

In comment 13685620 Bubba said:

Quote:

group (self and spouse as employees) in NJ and had to replace the plan yet again as Aetna has pulled out of NJ. 3rd time in 3 years due to ACA rules. Went from $1556/mo to $1800/mo. Absolutely crazy!

Aetna pulled out of NJ? I still have them and my premiums and deductibles haven't changed much at all. Up about 10 dollars a month

But they can not continue to do it.
So next year will be on the employees.

health insurance. Between the premiums, deductibles and co-pays it would cost over $30,000 a year. We don't spend anywhere near that much on doctors and prescriptions. The only problem would be if we have a prolonged hospital stay or surgery. I might be willing to take that chance.

In comment 13685769 Gman11 said:

Quote:

health insurance. Between the premiums, deductibles and co-pays it would cost over $30,000 a year. We don't spend anywhere near that much on doctors and prescriptions. The only problem would be if we have a prolonged hospital stay or surgery. I might be willing to take that chance.

One thing to consider before you jump: the price you’re currently paying for doctors visits, prescriptions, labs, etc is a reduced price due to discounts negotiated by your insurance company. Those discounts go away if you drop insurance. Look over your EOBs to see what discounts you’re getting now. You’ll probably find some things discounted by as much as 90%.

You can often get discounts if you ask and shop around. Unfortunately, the medical industry is generally opaque as far as pricing. There’s usually no published price list. You have to call and ask and negotiate.

Also: many doctors will not see you for anything except emergency care if you have no insurance. Some will see you if you ageee to pay in advance. Again, you’ll need to negotiate rates and terms.

Record signups so far for the ACA this year.
Pace of Sign-Ups Under Affordable Care Act Blows Past Prior Years - ( New Window )

In comment 13685631 eclipz928 said:

Quote:

to the issue of healthcare in this country, but it amazes me that people still feel a level shock when their premiums go up. Insurance costs have gone up every year since the beginning of time. In New Jersey they tend to go up anywhere between 10% and 30% depending on the circumstances.

They've had something to blame for the last eight years or so, even though they've gone up consistently for decades. Small example:

Under the rules of the ACA we are no longer eligible for small group and AETNA is no longer offering individual or family plans in NJ eff Jan 1. We would have liked to stay with Aetna.

to $591 for the lowest level bronze plan with a $6,550 deductible. I am looking at other options with an insurance broker. I may actually have some to consider.

most for the shittest system.

crisis. I wonder if a national plan may be in our future.

I have group insurance through my job. I was expecting to get bent over but the rate increase amounted to about $24 more per month. Everything else stayed the same.

I consider myself very lucky.