Texans with Health Insurance Expected to Reach 91 Percent

[STIBROKER]

Texans with health insurance expected to reach 91 percent - Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN - The percentage of Texans with health insurance will increase to 91 percent - up from 74 percent today - after the national health care law takes effect in 2014, the state's Medicaid director told lawmakers Monday.
The law, however, faces uncertainty pending a U.S. Supreme Court review over constitutional challenges, including a provision in the act mandating people to buy health insurance. Those who refuse will have to pay a penalty.
An estimated 2.3 million Texans will still lack health insurance after the Affordable Care Act takes effect,

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Nice, but how 'bout some reality.

Texas before 2014: 74%
Texas after 2014: 78%

 

[STIBROKER]

Nice, but how 'bout some reality.

Texas before 2014: 74%
Texas after 2014: 78%

House committee hears testimony on health care - CBS News


The House Public Health and Insurance Committees met at the Capitol to hear about how the new federal law will affect the state. Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, chairwoman of the public health committee, said she was concerned that small and medium-sized businesses may not be prepared to the new requirements on them to offer health insurance to employees.

 

[GreenSky]

Nice, but how 'bout some reality.

Texas before 2014: 74%
Texas after 2014: 78%

Is that just a WAG or do you have a crystal ball?

Rick

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I'm trying to take an honest guess and what would change. People who don't want to pay for it now aren't going to pay for it in 2014...even after the subsidy. Most of the lower middle have zero disposable income. So making it a $250/mo family plan instead of $1,100 is meaningless.

National stats have it at around 14% of all licensed drivers don't have auto insurance. PPACA thinks they're gonna beat those figures? In most states if you're caught driving uninsured you face jail time.

Mass. has a very high insured rate because if you fail to pay, the state can indeed garnish your wages. Per the PPACA, the IRS will not be able to garnish/levy/lien.

 

[STIBROKER]

Texas struggles with task of setting up insurance exchange | Denton Local News - News for Denton, Texas - The Denton Record-Chronicle - Denton Record-Chronicle

Howard Adams, who runs a farm equipment business in Lubbock, was in good health most of his life.
Then, 13 years ago, he lost sensation in both legs. A neurologist told him he had multiple sclerosis, a disorder causing periodic loss of muscle control, eyesight and speech.
After his diagnosis, Adams' insurance premiums for himself and his five employees shot up from $22,000 annually to $74,300.

 

[stuy119]

Can I assume they didn't mention that claims for the group also went up?

 

[shepnerd]

Texas struggles with task of setting up insurance exchange | Denton Local News - News for Denton, Texas - The Denton Record-Chronicle - Denton Record-Chronicle

Howard Adams, who runs a farm equipment business in Lubbock, was in good health most of his life.
Then, 13 years ago, he lost sensation in both legs. A neurologist told him he had multiple sclerosis, a disorder causing periodic loss of muscle control, eyesight and speech.
After his diagnosis, Adams' insurance premiums for himself and his five employees shot up from $22,000 annually to $74,300.

I'd be curious to see the details on this. Are they saying his premiums went up that much over the 13 years? I dont do much group, but isn't the max rate up on group in TX 60%?

Am I missing something here?

I personally think our current system is a total sham that limits free market and and needs an overhaul, but less free market instead of more is not going to help. We really need to focus on the cost of the care more than how we finance it. Insurance for everyone (separating the consumer from the bill) and government control instead of competition will skyrocket costs and stifle innovation.