Consumers See Noticeable Uptick In Healthcare Costs

Ted

FYI: In our latest November Consumer Pulse Report, we saw a noticeable drop in the percentage of consumers who have health insurance. We also ask survey participants how current healthcare costs compare to costs one year ago. As shown in the chart below at right, consumers have been noticing big increases in healthcare costs across the board recently. Premiums, deductibles, copays, and overall costs had been trending lower up until mid-2016, but over the last five months they’ve been going up and up. This cost data suggests to us that the new administration shouldn’t get much pushback from the public when dealing with healthcare reform.
Regards,
Ted
https://www.bespokepremium.com/think-big-blog/consumer-pulse-health-insurance-drops/

TSP_Transfer

Insurers/Hospitals Begin Lobbying Efforts

After ObamaCare: Insurers look to GOP for help
BY PETER SULLIVAN - 12/06/16 06:56 PM EST thehill.com/policy
Health insurers on Tuesday offered up a list of actions they’d like to see Congress take once the ObamaCare repeal effort begins next year.

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the leading lobby group for the insurance industry, acknowledged that “significant changes” are coming to the Affordable Care Act.

“Those changes can either begin a stable transition to a better approach, or they can bring about even more uncertainty and instability,” AHIP wrote in a summary of arguments it has been making on Capitol Hill.
AHIP is taking a less negative take on repeal than other parts of the healthcare industry.
Hospitals on Tuesday took a more aggressive tack, warning against the effects of repealing ObamaCare without a replacement.
The American Hospital Association released a report saying that repeal of ObamaCare without a replacement could mean hundreds of billions of dollars of losses for hospitals.
“Losses of this magnitude cannot be sustained and will adversely impact patients’ access to care,” the AHA said.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/309123-after-obamacare-insurers-look-to-gop-for-help
AHIP doc by Peter Sullivan on Scribd Making Health Care Work for Every American:Solutions to Deliver More Competition, Market Stability & Affordable Coverage
Americans deserve affordable health care coverage that works. Whether it's through their employer or on their own, through Medicare or Medicaid, our commitment is to deliver affordable coverage that improves individual health and offers financial protection. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will see significant changes. Those changes can either begin a stable transition to a better approach, or they can bring about even more uncertainty and instability. Everyone wants an individual market that works. That's why we should all work together to find solutions that deliver both short-term stability and long-term improvement.
https://www.scribd.com/document/333454038/AHIP-doc#from_embed

msf

"AHIP, the leading lobby group for the insurance industry ..."

I know it's "mere puffery", but when a company or organization starts out by identifying itself as the leader in a field, one has to take what follows with a grain of salt.

The NYTimes identifies AHIP as

a leading industry trade group ... one of two major groups representing insurers. ...

While its clout has been reduced by the departure of large members like the UnitedHealth Group the organization has a powerful voice in Congress.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the other major trade group, has not yet said what it needs from Republican lawmakers to continue operating in the market.

Everyone agrees some changes are needed. "Even President Obama, who pushed the law and the marketplaces through Congress, has suggested some improvements."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/business/health-insurers-obamacare-republicans.html

davidrmoran

just wait a few more weeks:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/12/12/the-republican-obamacare-repeal-plan-comes-into-terrifying-focus/