Health Care Insurance Premium Decrease

[Tennisnut]

My health care insurance premium dropped by $1000 per year. Have others also experienced such a decrease? There was no change in coverage or providers. Could it be that the ACA is proving to provide more preventive care to more people who use these services therefore reducing cost of care. Any other possible explanation?

[Rags123]

What is behind higher health insurance premiums? (http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/health/2015/01/13/what-is-behind-higher-health-insurance-premiums/21717379/)

[Doro22]

Did you recently move here? Our health insurance premium dropped when we moved to The Villages from S. Fl.

[Chi-Town]

I was on private health insurance from 2003 - 2012. Every year it went up significantly, approximately 10% a year. Had nothing to do with the ACA. My wife is still on private insurance and had a premium reduction last year with a slight increase this year. Pounding the ACA is so yesterday.

[Rags123]

I was on private health insurance from 2003 - 2012. Every year it went up significantly, approximately 10% a year. Had nothing to do with the ACA. My wife is still on private insurance and had a premium reduction last year with a slight increase this year. Pounding the ACA is so yesterday.

Not so sure that anyone is "Pounding the ACA " itself.

Folks are just pointing out another of the little white fibs that were told about this law !

There is a lot to like about this law. Bad thing how it was manipulated through (changing standard senate rules, etc) to pass it and this is just one of the things (cannot call it little, because we have yet to see the total impact of this law) that really bother people about the hodwinking.

But the rates will vary all over the country.

WINNERS in this is the insurance industry..they got paid off big time and are enjoying their new found wealth.

[Bogie Shooter]

A listing of "sound bites"!

[Tennisnut]

Did you recently move here? Our health insurance premium dropped when we moved to The Villages from S. Fl.

No. No changes at all and private insurance (Kaiser Permanente) out of California. Have been with them for almost 40 years. Too bad it is not offered here!

[dbussone]

No. No changes at all and private insurance (Kaiser Permanente) out of California. Have been with them for almost 40 years. Too bad it is not offered here!

No thanks. Kaiser is a vulture non-profit. When they want to move into an area they do whatever they can to drive existing physician practices and hospitals out of business, or weaken them to the point they can be bought at below market prices. How do I know? I worked as system executive for a company they viewed as a competitor. They picked on the wrong group.

[B767drvr]

No. No changes at all and private insurance (Kaiser Permanente) out of California. Have been with them for almost 40 years. Too bad it is not offered here!

For the benefit of the reader who is unaware - Kaiser is basically the "Walmart" of healthcare. Their policies are affordable and the coverage is generally limited. They target a distinct demographic.

(A close relative is a physician in the Permanente Medical Group.)

[Paper1]

My health care insurance premium dropped by $1000 per year. Have others also experienced such a decrease? There was no change in coverage or providers. Could it be that the ACA is proving to provide more preventive care to more people who use these services therefore reducing cost of care. Any other possible explanation?

I'm paying my own and mine went up 1200.00 this year with a big jump in deductible. Can't really afford to go to doctor after paying premium.

[zcaveman]

Did you renew your policy or let ACA renew it? I read that ACA will change your policy on its own and give you better or worse coverage.

Z

[sunnyatlast]

No. No changes at all and private insurance (Kaiser Permanente) out of California. Have been with them for almost 40 years. Too bad it is not offered here!

Better look up what your HMO calls being "out of network" and whether they have the specialist you might need here, and then hope that Kaiser does not deny you needed surgery or treatment outside of California, meaning that Kaiser expects you to go back to CA for the needed treatment/surgery. it happened to friends.....BIG wake up call about their Kaiser HMO plan (or anything you buy):

"You pay for what you get!"

Pay cheap, get cheap.

[golf2140]

Son's Ded. went to $6000.00 for hospital care. Thank you govn.

[Tennisnut]

No thanks. Kaiser is a vulture non-profit. When they want to move into an area they do whatever they can to drive existing physician practices and hospitals out of business, or weaken them to the point they can be bought at below market prices. How do I know? I worked as system executive for a company they viewed as a competitor. They picked on the wrong group.

Sorry for the way you feel, however, after 40 years of service, I have been very happy. It appears that The Village Health Service is implementing a Kaiser Permanente HMO model of one stop shopping for health care rather than alacarte brand. I am sorry you felt so threatened by them but understand their user friendly and superior service would be a formidable opponent in the marketplace. Hopefully, the Villages Health can continue to build on their efforts and approach the services of Kaiser Permanente. Being here part time means I do have to have any non emergency service done while in California, however, emergency services are (and have been) covered.

[dbussone]

Sorry for the way you feel, however, after 40 years of service, I have been very happy. It appears that The Village Health Service is implementing a Kaiser Permanente HMO model of one stop shopping for health care rather than alacarte brand. I am sorry you felt so threatened by them but understand their user friendly and superior service would be a formidable opponent in the marketplace. Hopefully, the Villages Health can continue to build on their efforts and approach the services of Kaiser Permanente. Being here part time means I do have to have any non emergency service done while in California, however, emergency services are (and have been) covered.

I respect the fact that you like Kaiser. However, that does not negate their business model.

[Tennisnut]

Found this online :

Kaiser Permanente earns highest rating for quality of care - Sacramento Business Journal (http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2014/01/28/kaiser-permanente-earns-highest-rating.html)

Quality care at a lower price is a good model for the health care industry. I hope they are able to expand to help improve the nations healthcare or at least provide incentive for for other health providers to improve.

[RVRoadie]

There is no secret about what is going on with the ACA. Some groups are paying more so others can pay less. My annual Medicare Advantage costs are up about $3,000 (includes both of us) from what they were when the ACA passed. I assume that money is going to somebody who "needs" it more than I do. Count me as one of the losers. The OP was one of the winners.

[rblammon]

I think I am the big looser. Mine went form $6000 a year with a $750 per person deductible to $12000 a year with a 6000 dollar per person deductible. And I am retired.

[rubicon]

ACA is raising costs restricting patient choice doctors freedom and putting bureaucrats in charge. you can point counter point all you want on individual plans, insurers etc. However there is a movement underway wherein many physicians are ditching the third party payer and establishing a practice that caters directly to patients and at lower rates.

They treat you, you pay and then submit your bill for reimbursement. I know what you are about to say and I also wonder how far this movement will advance. But medicare, medicaid and health insurance have placed such a heavy financial and administrative burden on doctors that something has to give I spoken before how my cardio doc posted that the government has been cutting their fees for four years and will do an across the board 20% reduction for all doctors ending their posting by saying they would continue to provide care but it looked as if they may have to dissolve their practice

[Tennisnut]

There is no secret about what is going on with the ACA. Some groups are paying more so others can pay less. My annual Medicare Advantage costs are up about $3,000 (includes both of us) from what they were when the ACA passed. I assume that money is going to somebody who "needs" it more than I do. Count me as one of the losers. The OP was one of the winners.

My health care is not under the ACA nor Medicare/Medicare Advantage so I must not be supporting anyone who "needs" it. Anyone else in this boat?

[shcisamax]

My health care is not under the ACA nor Medicare/Medicare Advantage so I must not be supporting anyone who "needs" it. Anyone else in this boat?

Just before ACA took over, both my kids had Anthem and they had fabulous policies. Low premium and low deductible. The policy didn't meet ACA standards because it only had $500 in prescription medicine. It was fine with us because they never used prescription meds except for a round or so of antibiotics once or twice a year. Enter ACA and the premiums doubled as well as the deductible.

My insurance from last year almost doubled for this year. The deductible as well.

I would have to agree. Those who got the perks are happy. Those who didn't and now are paying more for other people's insurance are not so happy. It works either way for the insurance companies.

[shcisamax]

There is no secret about what is going on with the ACA. Some groups are paying more so others can pay less. My annual Medicare Advantage costs are up about $3,000 (includes both of us) from what they were when the ACA passed. I assume that money is going to somebody who "needs" it more than I do. Count me as one of the losers. The OP was one of the winners.

Sounds right.

[shcisamax]

Pounding the ACA is so yesterday.

Gee, I don't know that anyone is "pounding" ACA and some people are significantly impacted by the change so, for them, it really isn't "so yesterday".