l****z 发帖数: 29846 | 1 Deceptive Gov’t Praises Obamacare Subsidies, While Higher Costs Shift to
Americans in Fees and Taxes
Health insurance customers in many states will see major increases in 2016—
some by double-digit percentages—according to a new report by the Kaiser
Family Foundation [1]. And what’s the advice many are receiving to combat
these increases? Just take advantage of Obamacare subsidies, the Advanced
Premium Tax Credit, to reduce the premiums.
This line of thinking is completely backward.
Individuals and families who are facing these health insurance premium
increases next year—a direct result of the Affordable Care Act—are being
told to check out the “savings” by taking advantage of the subsidies
offered through Obamacare. This is a completely upside-down way of
considering health care costs, because while the premium payment might be a
bit lower in the short term, we will all pay for these subsidies with higher
taxes and fees in the long run. This is another deception by the government
—that Obamacare subsidies are “free money,” when in actuality, it costs
all of us more in the end.
According to Kaiser [1], which analyzed premiums in 13 states and Washington
, D.C., costs will increase in several states—and at alarming rates. In
Minnesota, for example, Twin Cities Business reported [2] that those who
purchase individual or family health plans via MNsure, Minnesota’s state
health exchange, or directly from insurers, will see their premiums rise
between 14 and 49 percent next year, an average of 28.5 percent—the highest
increase of any state.
Given that MNsure has one of the lowest rates of exchange enrollment,
resulting in a lack of enrollment dollars needed by the exchange for
operating expenses, Minnesota’s sharp premium increases may be a result of
that low enrollment rate, or alternatively, an attempt to drive people and
their dollars into MNsure for relief from the increases.
But even if the subsidies were the answer—which they are not—a large
portion of those in need of health care coverage aren’t even eligible. For
example, KARE-11 TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul [3] recently profiled a local
freelance writer who pays $700 for Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage for
himself and his wife. Because he is self-employed, the writer does not have
company health care available. His deductible is $4,000—a threshold the
couple must cross in out-of-pocket spending before the 80/20 co-pay begins.
With the 2016 increases, this writer will pay a $1,000-plus monthly premium
next year if he stays with the same policy—meaning this couple will spend
more on health insurance than on their mortgage. And this particular writer
and his wife don’t qualify for advance premium tax credits—along with
about 40 percent of the population.
One reason premiums are rising, reported [2] Twin Cities Business, is that
“plan providers have miscalculated the health levels among those buying
plans via MNsure or directly from insurers. They have turned out to be '
sicker’ and ‘more expensive’ than they anticipated”—something I
predicted when Obamacare was first introduced and became law more than five
years ago. In order for government health care to survive, the young and
healthy must enroll to keep it alive—and that is not happening. Therefore,
costs will continue to increase.
Twila Brase is president and co-founder of Citizens’ Council for Health
Freedom (CCHF, www.cchfreedom.org [4]), a Minnesota-based national
organization dedicated to preserving patient-centered health care and
protecting patient and privacy rights. Celebrating its 20th year, CCHF
exists to protect health care choices and patient privacy. Brase, a
registered nurse, has been called one of the “100 Most Powerful People in
Health Care” and one of “Minnesota’s 100 Most Influential Health Care
Leaders.”
Source URL: http://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/twila-brase/deceptive-govt-praises-obamacare-subsidies-while-higher-costs-shift-americans |
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