Obamacare Sticker Shock Stress Sweeps America

Consumer ‘Too Upset’ To Finish Premium Increase Letter, Democratic Governor ‘Extremely Unhappy’ With Obamacare Unaffordability

“…as a third sign-up season gets under way, President Barack Obama's health care law is approaching limits.” (“Higher Premiums Likely To Slow ObamaCare Signups In Law's Third Year,” Associated Press, 11/2/15)

“Costs are going up on the private, taxpayer-subsidized coverage sold through HealthCare.gov and state insurance exchanges, and many of the more than 10 million eligible uninsured Americans are skeptics. They tend to be younger people on tight budgets, with other priorities for spending their money.” (“Higher Premiums Likely To Slow ObamaCare Signups In Law's Third Year,” Associated Press, 11/2/15)

Double-Digit Premium Increases Hit Americans All Over The Country

“Health insurance consumers logging into HealthCare.gov on Sunday for the first day of the Affordable Care Act’s third open enrollment season may be in for sticker shock…” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

OKLAHOMA: “Oklahomans who buy health insurance on the federal marketplace could be in for sticker shock this year. The Department of Health and Human Services is estimating premiums will jump 35 percent on average for the one company returning to the exchange this year: Blue Cross Blue Shield.” (“Oklahoma Obamacare Premiums See 35 Percent Price Hike,” KFOR, 10/29/15)

“According to HHS, last year, more than 126,000 Oklahomans took their pick of plans from four different companies: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Community Care, Global Health and Assurant. This year, three of those companies dropped out, and only one - United Healthcare - stepped in to replace them.” (“Oklahoma Obamacare Premiums See 35 Percent Price Hike,” KFOR, 10/29/15)

TENNESSEE: “In Tennessee, the state insurance commissioner approved a 36 percent rate increase for the largest health insurer in the state’s individual marketplace.” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

IOWA: “The Iowa insurance commissioner, Nick Gerhart, approved rate increases averaging 29 percent for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the state’s dominant health insurer, and 20 percent for Coventry Health Care. The higher rates, he said, were justified based on the plans’ experience.” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

MINNESOTA: “In Minnesota, officials approved increases averaging 49 percent for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the largest insurer in the market. Even with the increases, the company said, ‘Blue Cross is likely to experience continued significant financial losses through 2016.’” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

“Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota, a Democrat, said he was ‘extremely unhappy’ with the high rate increases.” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

HAWAII: “In Hawaii, the insurance commissioner this month approved rate increases averaging 27 percent for the Hawaii Medical Service Association and 34 percent for Kaiser Permanente health plans.” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

OREGON: “’It really shocks me to see these plans with $5,000 deductibles,” Belinda Greb, 56, of Vida, Ore., said in an interview. ‘It becomes an area of stress as opposed to making me feel secure.’” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

“Ms. Greb said she was too upset to finish a letter she got recently from her insurer, Moda Health, that said her ‘bronze’ health plan, for which she pays $213 a month after a subsidy of $175, would not be offered through the exchange in 2016. The company offered her a similar plan that would cost $265 a month if her subsidy stays the same.” (“Many Need To Shop Around On HealthCare.gov As Prices Jump, U.S. Says,” New York Times, 10/31/15)

NORTH CAROLINA: “The costs of buying health insurance outside the workplace or refusing to pay up are both rising in North Carolina as a new enrollment period for federally subsidized coverage opens on Sunday. The cost of a benchmark plan on the state's federally run online insurance marketplace will go up by 23 percent for 2016 coverage, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said.” (“Insurance Sign-Up Time: Rising Premiums, Tougher Penalties,” Associated Press, 10/30/15)

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's dominant insurer, will be allowed to raise its policies to individuals, whether sold on the exchange or elsewhere, by an average 32 percent next year, state Insurance Department regulators said Friday.” (“Insurance Sign-Up Time: Rising Premiums, Tougher Penalties,” Associated Press, 10/30/15)

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Related Issues: Obamacare, Health Care, Middle Class

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