IRS Says, Boom!

[taterpeeler]

What makes these prices all the more shocking is that the mandated Essential Health Benefits aren't even included yet. No mention of Mental Health, Maternity, etc..

Also, Humana is charging smokers more than the stated 50% rate-up on the metal plans.

Bronze-HMO-Age53-male-Austin, Tx.= $194 Non-Smoker/$318 Smoker.

The standard $1,500 HSA PPO plan for this smoker is $312 @ mo.

I think Humana has come to its senses and is now AGAINST healthcare reform. They want to assist in its self-destruction. What better way than to show current prices on the same page with the "metal" plan prices? A side-by-side graphic is more powerful than a thousand Obama-Sebelius words. GREAT JOB HUMANA!!
-ac
p.s. When I change the zip code to Dallas, 75201, the metal plan prices aren't shown. None for Illinois or Michigan zip codes either. I suppose it's a project in progress.

u just donkey screwed this thing and kicked the donkey on its head... bingo, the govt now sees reality and maybe he will wake up

 

[Yagents]

With these prices, maybe Allen is right that a mini med market will spring to life. Someone want to explain what this article is saying:
Will regs create a dependent mini med market? | LifeHealthPro

 

[Ann H]

I just put the kiddos to bed and now have a little more time to look deeper into these plans.

These are not yet priced for full Obamacare as Allen in Chicago and Dave 020 pointed out. If you run a male age 53 rate, then change it to female age 53, the premium comes out different. So, it's clearly not community rated yet. But it can only get worse when all the requirements of Obamacare are met, including community rating, 3:1 age bands, GI, etc. But the rumor that I heard is that these plans met the requirements of the metal tiers and are a pilot program for PPACA plans.

In fact, if you select one of the metal tier plans, hit the link to apply for the plan and the link to start the application, you will find in the upper left corner of the page that comes up next, a link to the full benefits summary in pdf format. On the bronze plan, I see that mental health is covered as any other illness, but then I see that normal maternity is excluded. So clearly, this is a test program. However, it's a taste of the premiums to come.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

... I would venture the opinion that utilization and claims experience on health plans is similar to experience on auto insurance. Generally, those with low credit ratings consume more P&C coverage (why the carriers run credit rating) and the same may hold true with health insurance.

My wealthier clients (above 400% by quite a lot) always complain about the rate increases because they have not used any benefits on their plan.

133-250% is not the traditional agent's market...

I think you are correct, Dave. My wealthier clients tend to be much healthier also. I can't imagine why an insurer would place a platinum plan on the exchange. It's a smorgasborg!! If the govt subsidizes the premium (richly in many cases), and also gives cost-sharing subsidies to those at 133-250% of FPL, then the client has no incentive to control costs. Surely the average lower-wage family won't buy a platinum plan, but someone with cancer might, or diabetes, transplant candidates - you get the picture. What an adverse selection!

 

[Yagents]

Not only that, but some of the metal plans don't adhere to the out of pocket maximums that are required to be tied to HSA maximums. $6250 indy, and $12,500 family

 

[Ann H]

So, these are teaser premiums then... Low priced now to entice us to buy the Platinum plan, then we get hit with the real cost in a few months. Nice.

 

[0b1kanobee]

With these prices, maybe Allen is right that a mini med market will spring to life. Someone want to explain what this article is saying:
Will regs create a dependent mini med market? | LifeHealthPro

I believe it is Assurant who is counting on Fixed Benefit Plans to be a good size slice of the pie.

 

[somarco]

If you run a male age 53 rate, then change it to female age 53, the premium comes out different. So, it's clearly not community rated yet. But it can only get worse when all the requirements of Obamacare are met, including community rating, 3:1 age bands, GI, etc. But the rumor that I heard is that these plans met the requirements of the metal tiers and are a pilot program for PPACA plans.

Just a point of clarification. Community rating does not equal unisex. Community rating is much broader in scope.

I believe it is Assurant who is counting on Fixed Benefit Plans to be a good size slice of the pie.

Ass-urant has been pushing ancillary lines quite heavily for probably a couple of years now. Others, such as Humana and GR, tried, but haven't really been successful.

I do believe they (and a few other carriers) are betting the farm on supplemental plans. One of the trade mags had an interview with AFLAC where Amos (Dan?) said he felt their business would grow under Obamacare.

I believe they are on the right track.

 

[HealthGuy]

Assurant Health Access is gonna fly off the shelves as Obamacare rolls out, cuz even with subsidies nobody but the poor are buying his plans because they will be virtually free. I will sell Health Access all day long to those who are affluent who say screw it, I'm not buyin I'll take the penalty but I want something. HealthGuys got the answer, mini med Health Access baby.

 

[taterpeeler]

Assurant Health Access is gonna fly off the shelves as Obamacare rolls out, cuz even with subsidies nobody but the poor are buying his plans because they will be virtually free. I will sell Health Access all day long to those who are affluent who say screw it, I'm not buyin I'll take the penalty but I want something. HealthGuys got the answer, mini med Health Access baby.

stop calling it a dadgum MINI MED.... limited benefit plan is the correct name.

 

[jamesflou]

Wow! This is good reading.