I got an email from a friend in ohio. About healthcare.
Quote:
I worked on employer-sponsored health plans from 1998-2005; I work in the healthcare field currently (software). The ACA alone has nothing to do with the increase in rates. The ACA did achieve it's primary goal of getting people coverage. My contention is that rates would be out of control regardless. It's easy to blame because the people that needed coverage are most likely sick people that will in turn inflate the cost.
I can tell you that the market started to change in the 1980's...people started getting used to HMO's, $10 copays, etc. and got spoiled. Starting in the 90's, rates started going up...anywhere from 5-20% per year. Most didn't notice because 1) their employers absorbed the larger percentage of the increase and 2) since the payment is deducted from paychecks it's easy for people not to pay close attention. All the ACA has done is give someone to blame (Obama, et al) for something that was going to happen anyway.
You are correct that the Republicans did dramatically alter Obama's original plan...what was passed was basically a Republican proposal with the approval of the insurance companies. Where the ACA has failed is the area that most required change: cost. One of the provisions of the ACA is that insurance companies can't charge old/sick people more than three times what they charge a young/healthy person. I believe the industry "standard" ratio is 5:1 (not 100% sure if that is still accurate). This is another reason why rates increased dramatically.
Obama "lied" about keeping your doctor because the insurance companies pulled out of markets...if my doctor doesn't accept the insurance that I can get then I do "lose" my doctor. Obama's intent was for no plans to change, but he did not put protections in place to keep the insurance companies in markets and offering the same plans they offered before. It was a mistake to make such a statement.
One prediction I will make, though: record profits for insurance companies (similar to the banks after 2008) over the next 12-18 months. It's things like this that make people think government is only in the tank for big business.
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