Obamacare Costs ‘Almost Gave Me A Heart Attack’

‘Obamacare Was Supposed To Reduce Health Expenses For Americans, But That’s Not How It’s Working Out’

“People nationwide expect to pay more in health care plan premiums under the Affordable Care Act in 2017…” (“Health Care Plans To Increase Nationwide Under Affordable Care Act In 2017,” Fox17, 10/18/16)

• “In Michigan, those insured under the ACA can anticipate an average 17 percent premium increase, though many residents says they’re even far beyond those numbers. ‘It almost gave me a heart attack when I opened up the envelope,’ said Scott Winters, West Michigan radio personality and realtor who is self-employed.” (“Health Care Plans To Increase Nationwide Under Affordable Care Act In 2017,” Fox17, 10/18/16)

“Obamacare was supposed to reduce health expenses for Americans, but that’s not how it’s working out... [H]ealth-care costs continue to rise and eat up a bigger percentage of household budgets.” (“Health-Care Costs Eat Up Record 8% Of Household Budgets In Wake Of Obamacare,” MarketWatch, 10/13/2016)

• “The cost of medical care as measured by the consumer price index rose 5.1% from August 2015 to August 2016, the biggest 12-month gain since the early stages of the Great Recession in 2008.” (“Health-Care Costs Eat Up Record 8% Of Household Budgets In Wake Of Obamacare,” MarketWatch, 10/13/2016)

• “In a recent though little-noticed study, economist Ann C. Foster at the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that health costs made up a record 8% of an average household’s budget in 2014, the last year for which data is available. That’s a 40% jump compared to 10 years ago, and a 21% increase since 2010, the year the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed.” (“Health-Care Costs Eat Up Record 8% Of Household Budgets In Wake Of Obamacare,” MarketWatch, 10/13/2016)

Dem Governor: Obamacare ‘No Longer Affordable’

“Insurer withdrawals from some markets and rate hikes of more than 50% in some areas prompted fears that some insurance marketplaces were at risk of collapsing.” (“Regulators Approve Higher Health Premiums To Strengthen Obamacare Insurers,” USA Today, 10/19/16)

“Finalized rates for big health insurance plans around the country show the magnitude of the challenge facing the Obama administration as it seeks to stabilize the insurance market under the Affordable Care Act in its remaining weeks in office.” (“Rate Increases For Health Plans Pose Serious Test For Obama’s Signature Law,” Wall Street Journal, 10/18/16)

• “In eight states, regulators approved premiums that were a percentage point or more higher than carriers wanted, said Charles Gaba, a health data expert at ACASignups.net who analyzed the rates for USA TODAY. As of Tuesday, those states are Arizona, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota and Utah.” (“Regulators Approve Higher Health Premiums To Strengthen Obamacare Insurers,” USA Today, 10/19/16)

• “In states including Arizona, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, the approved rate increases for the market leader top 50%. In New Mexico, the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan agreed to resume selling plans through the online exchanges after sitting out last year, but has been allowed to increase rates 93% on their 2015 level.” (“Rate Increases For Health Plans Pose Serious Test For Obama’s Signature Law,” Wall Street Journal, 10/18/16)

• “Market leaders that are continuing to sell coverage through HealthCare.gov or a state equivalent have been granted average premium increases of 30% or more in Alabama, Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi and Texas, according to information published by state regulators and on a federal site designed to highlight rate increases of 10% or more.” (“Rate Increases For Health Plans Pose Serious Test For Obama’s Signature Law,” Wall Street Journal, 10/18/16)

• “Dominant insurers in Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland and Oregon have been allowed to raise premiums by 20% or more, and rate increases from similarly situated carriers in Colorado, Florida and Idaho are brushing up against that threshold.” (“Rate Increases For Health Plans Pose Serious Test For Obama’s Signature Law,” Wall Street Journal, 10/18/16)

MINNESOTA: “Minnesota's Democratic governor said Wednesday that the Affordable Care Act is ‘no longer affordable’ for many, a stinging critique from a state leader who strongly embraced the law and proudly proclaimed health reform was working in Minnesota just a few years ago. Gov. Mark Dayton made the comments while addressing questions about Minnesota's fragile health insurance market, where individual plans are facing double-digit increases after all insurers threatened to exit the market entirely in 2017.” (“Democrat Dayton: Health Law 'No Longer Affordable' For Many,” The Associated Press, 10/12/2016)

• ‘The reality is the Affordable Care Act is no longer affordable for increasing numbers of people,’ Dayton said...” (“Democrat Dayton: Health Law 'No Longer Affordable' For Many,” The Associated Press, 10/12/2016)

• “Few states have embraced the health care law more strongly than Minnesota under Dayton... But after several years of steadily increasing premiums, top state regulators said this fall that Minnesota's individual market is in ‘a state of emergency.’ The state scrambled to stop all seven companies that sell insurance directly to consumers or through the state exchange, MNsure, from fleeing for 2017, but the state's largest insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, is still exiting.” (“Democrat Dayton: Health Law 'No Longer Affordable' For Many,” The Associated Press, 10/12/2016)

• “[L]ast week, Minnesota officials announced that premiums for the seven insurers on the individual market are rising 50 to 67 percent.” (“Rising Premiums Rankle People Paying Full Price For Health Insurance,” Kaiser Health News, 10/07/2016)

• “The rate hike follows increases for this year of 14 percent to 49 percent... On average, rates in the state will rise by about 60 percent, said Shane Delaney, a spokesman for MNSure, the state’s marketplace for Obamacare plans.” (“Near ‘Collapse,’ Minnesota To Raise Obamacare Rates By Half,” Bloomberg Markets, 9/30/2016)

ARIZONA: “'Obamacare' in Arizona: 2 remaining insurers hike rates by 50-75 percent. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona will sell marketplace plans in all counties but Maricopa, hiking rates 51 percent. Centene Corp. will sell ‘Ambetter’ plans in Maricopa, with 74.5 percent rate hike.” (“'Obamacare' In Arizona: 2 Remaining Insurers Hike Rates By 50-75 Percent,” Arizona Republic, 10/19/16)

PENNSYLVANIA: “Pennsylvania regulators approved individual plan rate increases Monday of 33%, which is eight points higher than requested.” (“Regulators Approve Higher Health Premiums To Strengthen Obamacare Insurers,” USA Today, 10/19/16)

NORTH CAROLINA: “Rates will soar. Blue Cross raised 2016 premiums for its marketplace plans by one-third, on average, making its coverage in Greensboro and some other communities more expensive than its competitors’. It sought another 19 percent hike for 2017, then asked for more after Aetna’s decision [to leave the North Carolina marketplace]. While the state will not disclose final rates until late this month, [Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina chief executive Brad] Wilson confirmed that regulators have agreed to the higher amount, averaging about 24 percent — a main reason the insurer is staying.” (“In North Carolina, ACA Insurer Defections Leave Little Choice For Many Consumers,” The Washington Post, 10/14/2016)

OKLAHOMA: “Brace yourself for a big health insurance increase if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company is proposing a 76 percent increase of all individual Affordable Care Act compliant plans.” (“Oklahoma Health Insurance Premiums Expected To Spike In 2017,” News 9 Oklahoma City, 10/04/2016)

• “News 9 spoke with Fred Imel last year at this same time after he learned his health insurance rates were going up. Wednesday, we were back at his accounting office crunching the numbers again on another rate increase. ‘$1,875 a month,’ said Imel as he punched numbers into his adding machine. ‘Yeah, that’s $22,500 a year.’” (“Oklahoma Health Insurance Premiums Expected To Spike In 2017,” News 9 Oklahoma City, 10/04/2016)

GEORGIA: “Shela Bryan, 63, has been comparing prices for individual health insurance plans since May, and she can't believe what she has been seeing. ‘They cost a thousand, $1,200 [a month], and they have a deductible of $6,000,’ she said. ‘I don't know how they think anyone can afford that.’ Bryan, who lives in Hull, Ga., ... is turning to the individual insurance market in what is shaping up to be the most expensive year for the 400,000 or so consumers in Georgia who buy their own policies...” (“Rising Premiums Rankle People Paying Full Price For Health Insurance,” Kaiser Health News, 10/07/2016)

• “In Georgia, consumers who don't get insurance through their employers or don't qualify for tax credits to help pay for policies they purchase are facing double-digit premium increases. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, the only insurer offering plans throughout the state, received an increase of more than 21 percent from the state insurance commissioner. Humana was awarded a 67.5 percent hike.” (“Rising Premiums Rankle People Paying Full Price For Health Insurance,” Kaiser Health News, 10/07/2016)

DELAWARE: “Delaware Obamacare rates increasing again ... Delawareans who have Obamacare plans and are not eligible for federal subsidies or tax credits will face increases of up to 35 percent to their monthly premiums starting in January...” (“Delaware Obamacare Rates Increasing Again,” The News Journal, 10/06/2016)

TENNESSEE: “BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee was granted a 62 percent rate hike, while state officials approved a 46 percent increase for Cigna.” (“Rising Premiums Rankle People Paying Full Price For Health Insurance,” Kaiser Health News, 10/07/2016)

• “…seismic changes to the state’s insurance…” (“BCBST's Exit From 3 Obamacare Markets Sends Shock Waves,” The Tennessean, 9/27/16)

FLORIDA: “Florida authorities gave plans there an average 19 percent bump.” (“Rising Premiums Rankle People Paying Full Price For Health Insurance,” Kaiser Health News, 10/07/2016)

WISCONSIN: “The state insurance commissioner says premiums will rise an average of nearly 16 percent next year for Wisconsin health insurance plans on the Affordable Care Act exchange.” (“Premiums Up 15.9 Percent For Insurers In Federal Exchange,” The Associated Press, 10/10/2016)

SOUTH CAROLINA: “Prices for Obamacare health plans will skyrocket in South Carolina next year, and only one company will sell them, the state Department of Insurance announced Tuesday. Following the departure of Aetna and United Healthcare, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina remains the last option for Affordable Care Act customers in this state... More than 200,000 Obamacare shoppers in South Carolina face fewer choices for coverage next year. They should also expect sticker prices for their premiums to increase an average 27 percent.” (“Obamacare Customers In South Carolina Face Fewer Choices, Higher Prices Next Year,” The Post and Courier, 10/04/2016)

MONTANA: “State officials Wednesday released the final 2017 rates for health insurance on Montana’s individual market, with average increases ranging from 27 percent to 58 percent.” (“2017 Individual Market Health-Insurance Rates Filed; Average Increase Up To 58%,” MTN News, 9/14/2016)

COLORADO: “Colorado residents who buy their health insurance themselves will pay 20 percent more on average next year, and, for the first time, residents in 14 counties will have the choice of only one carrier offering plans in their area via the state health insurance exchange.” (“Colorado Health-Insurance Rates To Jump 20 Percent On Average For Individual Buyers In 2017,” The Denver Post, 9/20/2016)

• “The increases are the largest in Colorado since the 2014 launch of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. In some parts of rural Colorado, premium increases will top 40 percent, according to figures approved Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Insurance.” (“Colorado Health-Insurance Rates To Jump 20 Percent On Average For Individual Buyers In 2017,” The Denver Post, 9/20/2016)

Obamacare: ‘The Craziest Thing In The World’

“President Barack Obama said his signature health-care law has ‘real problems’…” (Bloomberg, 10/3/16)

FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON on the consequences of Obamacare: “It’s the craziest thing in the world.” (“Bill Clinton Bashes Obamacare As ‘Crazy System’ While Campaigning For Hillary,” The Washington Times, 10/4/16)

• “‘You’ve got this crazy … the people are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half,’ Mr. Clinton told voters.” (“Bill Clinton Bashes Obamacare As ‘Crazy System’ While Campaigning For Hillary,” The Washington Times, 10/4/16)