Giantaxe

The trend has become more pronounced in the last few years, with actual losses (in real terms) for lower wage earners and any increases accruing overwhelmingly to top earners.

thinbrit

scrubbedexpat099

So what was the increase for those who do not self identify as male or female?

Giantaxe

"Slower premium growth under Obama"

Slower Premium Growth Under Obama

http://www.politifact.com/florida/st...ng-under-obam/

Anian

It shows that the Obamacare had no effect on the continually increasing costs of healthcare, you could draw a nearly straight line through if you ignore the blip drop in 2010, the blip that only serves to make the line afterwards look much steeper.

Pulaski

I wonder if part of the increase in premiums is due to the increase in the number of people changing to HD policies?

The incentive, as I have often written here on BE, is that low to moderate users of healthcare services have been overpaying for insurance given the amount they claim, and HD insurance greatly reduces the premiums compared to "traditional" health insurance. So people on HD policies are paying much less into the insurance "pot", leaving those who are high users of health care services to have to pay more of their share.

Giantaxe

That was one of the criticisms of HD policies when they were first brought in.

Thinbrit's link provides no supporting rationale and as such is essentially useless. But I suspect that the claimed increase between 2013 and 2014 is largely because the 2013 "average" would have included all those minimal policies that provided essentially useless coverage and which were outlawed by the ACA. In other words, I doubt it's comparing like to like.

ChocolateBabz

You were right, I just checked and they are on the list. I tell you what the amount of unnecessary paperwork that the doctors and hospitals spew out, you would think they would try and keep their patients and previous patients informed. I remember calling for an appointment and being told they no longer accepted BCBS (can't quite recall if I got a letter, I might have) but I guess they don't need the business if they didn't bother to let me know they were accepting them again. As I said we are not heavy users so seeing a different doctor every time kiddo has an ear infection or strep throat doesn't really bother me, but I don't really want to see a new doctor every time for the more *ahem* personal stuff.

Saying that MIL has been in hospital in UK for coming up for 5 weeks and seen countless doctors and nurses all of whom she has to explain her multiple conditions to every time they come to visit. She went in with severe RA pain, ended up being rushed down with *almost* kidney failure, low platelets, liver problems, a bed sore that refuses to heal and MRSA - so I'll try to stop whingeing.

Stand by for October/November when the new plans/premiums are revealed....

mrken30

I'm just thankful I'm not a young person with expensive education, housing and healthcare, low wages and looking forward to no retirement income.