You boys are mistaking health care costs with insurance costs.
Costs can be controlled. Greed cannot.
My premium increases have been about 5% per year over the past three years.I've experienced something similar. I go for a yearly checkup every year. I pay a 25.00 co-payment through my Insurance. For the last few years though I've recieved a small bill, last year I got one for 3.60. I called my insurance Co. to get an explanation. They gave me a rather vague reason, they said my medical plan went over the deductable something to that affect, really didn't make much sense to me. I have had the same medical coverage for nearly 25 years through Blue Cross/Blue Shield, I know the costs over the years increase, but I have never had to add to my Co-Payments for Doctor Vists until these last few visits.
During that same time frame the same procedures I have had (routine check ups/visits/lab work) have increased by as much as 15%. So costs have gone up dramatically - premiums paid and out of pocket expenses. Originally Posted by Whirlaway
Our business Health Insurance will see about a 8 percent increase this year from last, but it has steadilly gone up at least 5 percent per year in previous years.pragmatic approach ...
But keep in mind, we were already at the top rung of the payment ladder. I think companies that enjoyed a cheaper rate due to what ever reason are seeing more of an increase percentage wise.
I can say this. One of our largest customers, with about 400 employs, is going to pay the penalties rather than offer the insurance. But their workforce tends to be more in the line of unskilled labor than what we employ. They also have a much larger turnover in personnel throughout the calender year. They do not use a quality insurance package as part of a employs benefit package.
I say give Obamacare at least 3 years to see how things stabilize. If the cost of doing business then goes up substantially due to the mandates, then Companies will simply start passing the cost on to the next level, untill it finally ends up with the consumer. Originally Posted by Jackie S
No matter how you slice and dice it; Obamacare will increase costs for everyone.....and quality of services and access to healthcare will go down for almost all.
Obama promised milk and honey; but in reality we will get a system that most despise and shifts costs to the elderly and middle class. Originally Posted by Whirlaway
No matter how you slice and dice it; Obamacare will increase costs for everyone.....and quality of services and access to healthcare will go down for almost all.I have to side with Jackie S on this. Why predict the worst, gloom and doom, but instead wait and see how it works out. If Obamacare starts costing me a great deal more in the not-too-distant future, I will join others in condemning it. Until then, I'll pay my small yearly increases and thank the Lord that I have health insurance every time I see what my bill would have been without it.
Obama promised milk and honey; but in reality we will get a system that most despise and shifts costs to the elderly and middle class. Originally Posted by Whirlaway
Just can't deal with the fact that Obama promised health insurance premiums would GO DOWN $2500. That, by your own admissions, was a lie. It was a lie in the beginning, is a lie today, and will be a lie when Obamacare "stabilizes".I obviously don't follow politics as closely as I should. I don't remember him promising ME that my health insurance premiums would go down by $2500. Especiallly since I don't pay that much right now. Can you cite an article that shows us that promise and to whom he was promising it?
Admit it, Obama is a liar. You've just proven it. Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy