Quote:
Originally Posted by chachacha
i was not at the meeting but from other sources i understand that the big cost hike will come from our supplement or replacement policies premiums...for example, i have secure horizons by united healthcare which actually replaces my medicare...the govt gives my medicare payment to them, plus other funds, to administer my health services. my payment for this is currently zero. however, ACA calls for the govt to cut spending to these insurance companies affective oct 2012, thereby passing the cost on to me! HOWEVER, since that is prior to the election, the govt has just happened to fund an 8 billion dollar "project" to study these programs which will provide them money not to raise our costs until jan 2013, well AFTER the election...this project has been criticized by other govt agencies but as far as i know it is going through. i suggest everyone call their supplement providers and ask if a rate hike will go into effect in jan due to ACA.
i think this is the least of the problems with this bill....the long term negative effect on our care concerns me even more.
|
I don't know all that's in the ACA, I haven't read it.
What I do know is this...
- If ACA is repealed, about 30-40 million Americans will return to being uninsured. They will still get healthcare, of course, at hospital emergency rooms. Because the hospitals will have no source of payment for their services, they'll pass them on thru increased fees for service to those who are insured. The insurance companies will pay these claims and pass their increased costs on in the form of increased premiums.
- The Medicaid provisions of ACA will be lost. Tens of millions of indigent citizens, mostly seniors, will have no health insurance or source of payment for either care or housing. The effect on insurance premiums will be the same, for the same reasons, as the above example.
- The whole system of insurance exchanges will be scrapped, leaving the current non-competitive situation where one company typically dominates insurance issued in each state. There will continue to be little competitive pressure to rein in premium increases.
There are probably lots of other improvements contained in the bill that will also be lost. There are also many significant improvements needed, improvements that Congress should be working on now. Like the inclusion of tort reform provisions...oh, forgive me, I forgot about the trial lawyers' lobby.
In summary, what I do know is that if people are concerned about skyrocketing premiums on their healthcare policies, the
last thing they should desire is the repeal of ObamaCare without a well-thought out alternative.