More Of That Change, and it Wont Be Going in Your Pocket

[skyrider 0]

Associated Press – Thu Nov 4, 4:34 pm ET

WASHINGTON – AARP's endorsement helped secure passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Now the seniors' lobby is telling its employees their insurance costs will rise partly as a result of the law.



In an e-mail to employees, AARP says health care premiums will increase by 8 percent to 13 percent next year because of rapidly rising medical costs.



And AARP adds that it's changing copayments and deductibles to avoid a 40 percent tax on high-cost health plans that takes effect in 2018 under the law. Aerospace giant Boeing also has cited the tax in asking its workers to pay more. Shifting costs to employees lowers the value of a health care plan and acts like an escape hatch from the tax.



"Most plan co-pays and deductibles have been modified," Jennifer Hodges, AARP's director of compensation and benefits, wrote employees in an Oct. 25 e-mail. "Plan value changes were necessary not only from a cost management standpoint but also to ensure that AARP's plans fall below the threshold for high-cost group plans under health care reform."



AARP officials said medical inflation is the main reason employee costs will be going up. The health care law is "a small part," said David Certner, legislative affairs director.



Although the tax on so-called "Cadillac" health care plans doesn't take effect for years, employers are already beginning to assess their potential exposure because it is hefty: at 40 percent of the value above $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for a family plan. The tax is intended as a savings measure, to prod employers and workers into more cost-efficient plans.



Certner said AARP's plans are currently under the threshold for the tax. "We intend to stay below those thresholds," he said. "It's not in anybody's interest to move above those thresholds, not the employees' nor the employer's."



AARP officials say the organization's public policy recommendations are made independently of other considerations, including its range of business ventures, from travel, to insurance, to publishing.



The 40 million-strong AARP represents people 50 and older, including retirees on Medicare and Social Security. Its endorsement of health care overhaul came at a critical time last year, days before a close vote on the House floor.



"The impact on AARP employees is not a factor at all in our policy making, which is directed at the impact on our membership and on all older Americans," said Certner.



About 4,500 people are covered by AARP's plans, including employees, dependents and retirees.



"We supported the (health care) package because it contained incredibly important protections for our younger members, who often have problems getting access to care," said spokesman Jim Dau. "And because it helps our older members in Medicare with important new benefits."



Starting in 2014, the overhaul law prohibits insurance companies from turning down people with medical problems, and limits what they can charge older customers. It gradually closes the coverage gap in the Medicare prescription benefit, and improves coverage for preventive care.



The Obama administration says changes required by the law so far have only had a minimal, single-digit impact on premiums. Many benefits experts agree with that assessment but point out that the increases come on top of untamed health care inflation.



AARP warned its employees that more cost-shifting could be in store. "AARP intends to make similar changes, as necessary, in the future to avoid the (health plan) tax," said Hodges' e-mail.



Current forecasts are that the overhaul will only have a small impact on job-based coverage, slightly reducing the number of people who would otherwise be covered by employer plans. Those workers would have access to taxpayer-subsidized coverage through new insurance markets.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101104/ap_on_bi_ge/us_aarp_health_plan

[wmw999 2,452]

Something to consider is that actual costs for health plans have also been going up really, really fast for most companies, and probably Medicare as well. I know it has for mine.

The money has to come from somewhere; insurance companies aren't going to do it from the kindness of their hearts. Many companies are self-insured: i.e. they just use an insurance company to manage the claims, but they actually pay them from company money. It's cheaper for them.

But drugs & health care, particularly for diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, are really taking a toll.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[airdvr 210]

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Something to consider is that actual costs for health plans have also been going up really, really fast for most companies, and probably Medicare as well. I know it has for mine.

The money has to come from somewhere; insurance companies aren't going to do it from the kindness of their hearts. Many companies are self-insured: i.e. they just use an insurance company to manage the claims, but they actually pay them from company money. It's cheaper for them.

But drugs & health care, particularly for diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, are really taking a toll.

Wendy P.

True Wendy, but that's not what we were told. This bill was supposed to reduce costs. Anyone who ever bought into that line must be blind.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wmw999 2,452]

The bill isn't going to reduce costs before it's even frickin' implemented, and if actual costs are going up, all it can do is make that rise slower. I never heard the word magic from anyone who was seriously talking about the HC bill.

More people are getting sicker. Right now, a lot of those people are going to the ER to address that; that's about the most expensive way to fix their illness.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[dgskydive 0]

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The bill isn't going to reduce costs before it's even frickin' implemented, and if actual costs are going up, all it can do is make that rise slower.

All that is happening right now is the insurance companies and such are raising what they can now, cause they wont be able to once the bill is implemented. Same thing happened with credit card rates if I remember right.

Dom

[Amazon 7]

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The bill isn't going to reduce costs before it's even frickin' implemented, and if actual costs are going up, all it can do is make that rise slower.

All that is happening right now is the insurance companies and such are raising what they can now, cause they wont be able to once the bill is implemented. Same thing happened with credit card rates if I remember right.

RIGHT you are... just as they cut down the available limits and jacked up the rates even to those who had never been late or over limit.

By doing that they made people who had any outstanding balance on their cards shoot from rather low amounts of debt to credit ratio into much higher debt ratio's. Then the credit reporting agancies lowered a hell of a lot of peoples credit scores because they now had much larger debt ratio's. With a lower credit score.. then the card companies... predators that they are... raised peoples rates again because they were now greater credit risks.



The problem with health care in this country are those seeking to get rich off of the rest of us who are paying for our insurance.

If you think there is no problem... just wait till you do get sick or have an injury and you find out just how fuckin sleazy your insurance company REALLY is.

[skyrider 0]

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Something to consider is that actual costs for health plans have also been going up really, really fast for most companies, and probably Medicare as well. I know it has for mine.

The money has to come from somewhere; insurance companies aren't going to do it from the kindness of their hearts. Many companies are self-insured: i.e. they just use an insurance company to manage the claims, but they actually pay them from company money. It's cheaper for them.

But drugs & health care, particularly for diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease, are really taking a toll.

Wendy P.

True Wendy, but that's not what we were told. This bill was supposed to reduce costs. Anyone who ever bought into that line must be blind.

BINGO

[wmw999 2,452]

Did you read the response?

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[marks2065 0]

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Did you read the response?

Wendy P.

what needs to be read? we all know that every hard working american is going to get a vasaline free pole shooved up our asses until we have nothing left but some time to realize how badly we have been fucked by the takers of this country. If redistribution is so patriotic why don't we see Obama and his buddies giving there extra to what he calls the needy? Why, because now the left is lining their pockets (and a couple rep's) http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100901/pl_yblog_upshot/richest-lawmakers-grew-wealthier-last-year-as-economy-faltered

[wmw999 2,452]

Nearly everyone who is with significant investments grew richer last year. The Dow Jones started the year at 9000; it went to below 7000, and ended the year at between 10 and 11 thousand. It was a banner year for people to get in low and end high.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[airdvr 210]

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Quote

Did you read the response?

Wendy P.

what needs to be read? we all know that every hard working american is going to get a vasaline free pole shooved up our asses until we have nothing left but some time to realize how badly we have been fucked by the takers of this country. If redistribution is so patriotic why don't we see Obama and his buddies giving there extra to what he calls the needy? Why, because now the left is lining their pockets (and a couple rep's) http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100901/pl_yblog_upshot/richest-lawmakers-grew-wealthier-last-year-as-economy-faltered

Interesting article. Particularly telling when several of them made money on stocks real estate while the rest of us were being mounted.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[skyrider 0]

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Nearly everyone who is with significant investments grew richer last year. The Dow Jones started the year at 9000; it went to below 7000, and ended the year at between 10 and 11 thousand. It was a banner year for people to get in low and end high.

Wendy P.

ROFL, the market is at it's lowest ...great time to buy...see that proves recovery! Praise Obama

[airdvr 210]

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Nearly everyone who is with significant investments grew richer last year. The Dow Jones started the year at 9000; it went to below 7000, and ended the year at between 10 and 11 thousand. It was a banner year for people to get in low and end high.

Wendy P.

Sorry...wrong answer. People who were invested in the stock market took a beating. Only now is it returning to the prior level. Anyone who made money in the market prolly had some insider info.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[wmw999 2,452]

The article said they ended 2009 richer than they started it, not that they are significantly wealthier now than they were 3 years ago. How much did they lose in 2008?

I gained money in 2009. I lost money in 2008, but since I thought the growth we were seeing was unsustainable, I didn't lose as much as some. I'd moved into conservative investments (largely bonds) based on my thoughts.

Either way I'm not in the same category as someone who is rich, but, ya know, I'm no super-savvy investory, either. Anyone who invested some actual research into it probably could have done a whole lot better.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

Did you read the response?

Wendy P.

what needs to be read? we all know that every hard working american is going to get a vasaline free pole shooved up our asses until we have nothing left but some time to realize how badly we have been fucked by the takers of this country. If redistribution is so patriotic why don't we see Obama and his buddies giving there extra to what he calls the needy? Why, because now the left is lining their pockets (and a couple rep's) http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100901/pl_yblog_upshot/richest-lawmakers-grew-wealthier-last-year-as-economy-faltered

YO ERROL Check it

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Did you read the response?

Wendy P.

what needs to be read? we all know that every hard working american is going to get a vasaline free pole shooved up our asses until we have nothing left but some time to realize how badly we have been fucked by the takers of this country. If redistribution is so patriotic why don't we see Obama and his buddies giving there extra to what he calls the needy? Why, because now the left is lining their pockets (and a couple rep's) http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100901/pl_yblog_upshot/richest-lawmakers-grew-wealthier-last-year-as-economy-faltered

Interesting article. Particularly telling when several of them made money on stocks real estate while the rest of us were being mounted.

YO ERROL Check it

I go for that thing I was taught about making sure your audience knows what you are talking about....

And since so many of these guys seem to get butt hurt so often... ya gotta talk to them about what they know

[rushmc 23]

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The bill isn't going to reduce costs before it's even frickin' implemented, and if actual costs are going up, all it can do is make that rise slower. I never heard the word magic from anyone who was seriously talking about the HC bill.

More people are getting sicker. Right now, a lot of those people are going to the ER to address that; that's about the most expensive way to fix their illness.

Wendy P.

Administative costs are going up at my company

and I am paying for them next year

Obamacare is the cause

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[ianmdrennan 2]

Our company's healthcare costs have been rising in excess of 17% per annum (which is why we keep switching HC providers). There is no noticeable change for next year. I just dont see how Obamacare can be blamed. HC was a racket before Obama, and will continue to be afterwards. At least, now, people cant be denied coverage.

Performance Designs Factory Team

[Amazon 7]

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Our company's healthcare costs have been rising in excess of 17% per annum (which is why we keep switching HC providers). There is no noticeable change for next year. I just dont see how Obamacare can be blamed. HC was a racket before Obama, and will continue to be afterwards. At least, now, people cant be denied coverage.

The usual suspects will ALWAYS fail to see that costs have been rising very fast ofr a lot of years now.

I was paying a lot of money every year for my healthcare... and MAN was I suprise surprise surprised when they did not pay for an injury to my shoulder.

It is a VERY good thing that I only had to pay for the doctors and the MRI out of my pocket when United Health Care refused toi pay due to it being a "pre-existing" condition ( It was never injured before... the other one had been injured before but I guess you only get treatment for one shoulder in a lifetime)

Had I taken the doctors advice to have surgery I would have had THOUSANDS of dollars more to pay when the assholes would not have paid.

I know I am not alone....thousands of people have had similar stories. I really hope no one I like here ever gets the same treatment I did... those of you here I don't like.. well I hope you get the very best care your insuranceis willing to pay for since you believe in your insurance so much.

I would rather have seen a true public option ... since my experience with private companies has been expensive for no health care other than pain pills with a big co-pay.

[skipbelt 0]

there is no doubt obumacare is increasing and will increase health care costs over and above what they would have otherwise . the omb has confirmed this.
and in addition the incompetent administration monetised our debt , almost guaranteeing an immediate 20% reduction in our net worth...
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101105/D9J9UVMG0.html

[Amazon 7]

Quote

there is no doubt obumacare is increasing and will increase health care costs over and above what they would have otherwise . the omb has confirmed this.
and in addition the incompetent administration monetised our debt , almost guaranteeing an immediate 20% reduction in our net worth...

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101105/D9J9UVMG0.html

Would you like some cheese with all that???

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Our company's healthcare costs have been rising in excess of 17% per annum (which is why we keep switching HC providers). There is no noticeable change for next year. I just dont see how Obamacare can be blamed. HC was a racket before Obama, and will continue to be afterwards. At least, now, people cant be denied coverage.

We the kids are added back that has no effect

The admisistrative costs are nuts

And with this new "plan" you can just pay the penalty until you get sick and then get the care

That will keep the price down huh

We have been sold a bill of goods that HC is broken. Gotta have that good disaster to pass laws anymore. Exspecially those that intrude into our lives so deeply
Not gonna pass the legal test anyway so we will see what is next

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 23]

Quote

Quote

there is no doubt obumacare is increasing and will increase health care costs over and above what they would have otherwise . the omb has confirmed this.
and in addition the incompetent administration monetised our debt , almost guaranteeing an immediate 20% reduction in our net worth...

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20101105/D9J9UVMG0.html

Would you like some cheese with all that???

Great answer seeing as how your point was punted out of the park

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[Amazon 7]

Quote

Quote

Our company's healthcare costs have been rising in excess of 17% per annum (which is why we keep switching HC providers). There is no noticeable change for next year. I just dont see how Obamacare can be blamed. HC was a racket before Obama, and will continue to be afterwards. At least, now, people cant be denied coverage.

We the kids are added back that has no effect

The admisistrative costs are nuts

And with this new "plan" you can just pay the penalty until you get sick and then get the care

That will keep the price down huh

We have been sold a bill of goods that HC is broken. Gotta have that good disaster to pass laws anymore. Exspecially those that intrude into our lives so deeply
Not gonna pass the legal test anyway so we will see what is next

Do you have a clue of what is in the HC Bill that the Tea Dregs are pushing???
No difference I can see other than screwing more young women as the party policy. Get raped.. have that kid for Christ.

[airdvr 210]

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Do you have a clue of what is in the HC Bill that the Tea Dregs are pushing???
No difference I can see other than screwing more young women as the party policy. Get raped.. have that kid for Christ.

You really should have that attitude looked at...I think it's infected.

Amazing that even after last Tuesday some still cling to the idea that jamming the HC bill through behind closed doors was the right thing to do. I guess we'll see.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne