2013
I have been looking at the health plans offered in various state marketplaces. The pattern is clear and quite simple. You get what you pay for. There are no bargains.
Premiums run from the sublime to the ridicules. Which means all bets are off for 2015. I put my zip code in Massachusetts in that state’s connector and was offered fifty-three different plans, none of which was cheap or as we say these days, “affordable.” One platinum plan for a couple was over $22,000 a year.
But here is the reality (as obvious as it should be). The HMOs are the least expensive because of limited and closed networks, but in some cases still have high out-of-pocket costs. Premiums vary widely based largely on deductibles and co-payments. Some plans have a generic drug co-pay of $30 … more than most generics cost … after satisfying a deductible.
So what does it all boil down to? You pay now through premiums or you pay later through out-of -pocket costs. With the possible exception of Americans receiving (I said possible) substantial subsidies, it’s hard to see how many people will see all this as affordable.
Even if the goals for enrollment are reached, success or failure must be measured on costs, that’s total costs for everyone, taxpayers, enrollees, employers, etc. The outlook there is questionable at best. 😿
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I’ve been shopping on the website too. A 62 year old couple earning $63000 will not get a subsidy. On a silver plan they will be paying over $1500 a month. drop their income down to $62000 and they get a premium it will be $661. Now in my state $63000 is not a lot of money. $18,000 a year for premiums is almost 30% of their income. If they own a home their property tax can easily be $10,000 in my state. Still have a mortgage at $1000 they are up to $40,000, heat at $2000 groceries, gas, utilities, taxes and other insurances car payments there isn’t a lot of money left over. It makes you understand why people are complaining about keeping their crappy$10,000 policy. When you see $18,000 and then there is still a deductible and co pays before you can ever use the insurance you have to question whether it is worth paying the extra $8000 a year just in case especially if medical expenses have never reached the $3000 deductible. Sadly or lucky me we don’t make $63,000 so we do qualify for a subsidy. We have paid for our own insurance for the last 40 years. It worked for us but we didn’t have any serious illness,. Do I think Obamacare is great … no In the last 40 years we would have never met the deductible but it certainly is more security than what we have if a serious illness occurs and with our subsidy we will be paying less than the $912 a month we are paying now. And on a side note the $912 a month is thanks to Obamcare. Our premiums were $4800 when Bush was in office 2nd term, it rose up to $12,800 by the time Obamacare passed the law that 26 year olds were allowed to be on their parents policy. We were concerned that with increases of over $1000 a year we wouldn’t be able to afford the insurance premiums until we could go on medicare. When the law changed that 80% of premiums had to go to medical cost we got a nice refund and no increase. but a reduction . The next year a smaller refund no increase. Then a smaller increase and a 5% increase ( the state we have insurance started that law a year early). There is no doubt in my mind we would be at $18,000 for a crappy policy today if health care reform didn’t happen. Now the only thing I need is to find away to get through this darn application process in time. I’ve been working on it since Nov 17. Lots of freezes, systems down, live chats and phone calls and still haven’t been able to complete the process.
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Your numbers are inaccurate. A silver plan in a high cost state is about $6,049 per year without subsidy.
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It goes by age though. A couple 60 and 62 making $63,000 will pay this amount.
In my state that isn’t a lot . I just signed up for my husband and my self. Make $62,000 and you get a subsidy Premium is $1558.77 subsidy is $897.39
This is $63,000 no subsisdy premium $1558.77
Advance EPO SilverHorizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseyEPODeductible$1,500Coinsurance30%Out of Pocket Maximum$5,000More DetailsFind a ProviderMonthly Cost$1,558.77Premium: $1,558.77Subsidy: $0.00 – See more at: http://www.valuepenguin.com/ppaca/exchanges/nj#sthash.mOe1DAaA.dpuf
This is $62,000 with $897.39
Advance EPO SilverHorizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseyEPODeductible$1,500Coinsurance30%Out of Pocket Maximum$5,000More DetailsFind a ProviderMonthly Cost$661.39Premium: $1,558.77Subsidy: $897.39 – See more at: http://www.valuepenguin.com/ppaca/exchanges/nj#sthash.mOe1DAaA.dpuf
Go to Value Penguin or Kaiser. I just signed up yesterday. A premiums for my husband and myself 60 and 62 years old is $1558.77. Which is over $18,000 a year and 30 % of their income.
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yes the subsidies you refer to are key. I read the cap here is 65k in income, no doubt making many in the so-called middle class ineligible for any premium subsidy and thereby really “unaffordable”
Members of congress have it made, no exchanges for them and they are subsidized in their health care by our taxes. IF i GOT IT WRONG i STAND CORRECTED!
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Actually members of Congress are treated like all other federal employees and most employees of large corporations where they pay about 30% of the premium.
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