Obamacare Master thread

[ExGingi]

Here is what might be a step in the right direction:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-24/trump-shines-a-light-on-health-costs-with-unclear-side-effects?srnd=premium

[shaulyaakov]

Here is what might be a step in the right direction:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-24/trump-shines-a-light-on-health-costs-with-unclear-side-effects?srnd=premium

Who cares what insurers pay hospitals? Doesnt it only matters what a person pays out of pocket?

[grodnoking]

Here is what might be a step in the right direction:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-24/trump-shines-a-light-on-health-costs-with-unclear-side-effects?srnd=premium

The argument to this makes me want to puke.
"And some experts said that consumers aren’t armed with enough information or don’t have the right incentives to make financially sound decisions about their own care"
Experts my @**!
I shouldn't know what I'm going to pay because I don't know what exactly?!
Maybe we should no longer have prices in supermarkets because we won't be able to make a good enough decision to buy healthier foods, rather the store should give us what item it wants based on its "infomed" decision.

"Publicly disclosing competitively negotiated, proprietary rates will reduce competition and push prices higher -- not lower -- for consumers, patients, and taxpayers,” Matt Eyles, president and chief executive officer of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said in an emailed statement"
How the h*ck will that push prices higher?!
Because you once went to a different supermarket to buy crackers at a higher price, because the first store was to cheap.

[yelped]

Here is what might be a step in the right direction:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-24/trump-shines-a-light-on-health-costs-with-unclear-side-effects?srnd=premium

Finally. The whole industry is a giant shell game. Didn't expect the Trump adminstration to have the courage to take the industry on. If the American people vote one of the "progressive" idiots in instead of Trump who instituted some good common sense regulations, that would be a new level of stupidity.

[ExGingi]

It instructs Azar’s agency “to require hospitals to publicly post standard charge information, including charges and information based on negotiated rates” in a way that patients can digest. The regulations to do so should be proposed within 60 days.

I can see how the bureaucrats botch this one.

[ExGingi]

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-06-24/trump-hospital-price-transparency-executive-order-has-limits?srnd=premium

[ExGingi]

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-06-24/trump-hospital-price-transparency-executive-order-has-limits?srnd=premium

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/07/29/trump-proposes-hospitals-publish-prices-negotiated-with-insurers.html


$300/day? what is that supposed to accomplish?

[ExGingi]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-31/drugmakers-alleged-price-fixing-pushed-a-needed-pill-out-of-reach?srnd=premium

[yelped]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-31/drugmakers-alleged-price-fixing-pushed-a-needed-pill-out-of-reach?srnd=premium

This industry is just one big fraud.

[ExGingi]

This industry is just one big fraud.

Aided and abetted by bad policy. And rather than address the core problems, they enacted the disaster called Obamacare and discussing Medicare for all, etc. etc.

[4yourinfo]

Who cares what insurers pay hospitals? Doesnt it only matters what a person pays out of pocket?

I assume let's say your insurance covers 50 percent of the procedure so you would want to know what the negotiated price - as you'll be paying 50 percent. It's not enough to have them state their list price...a while back I tried shopping for an MRI it's impossible Noone knows or says what the price is or may be and the prices can fluctuate hundreds of $

[ExGingi]

I assume let's say your insurance covers 50 percent of the procedure so you would want to know what the negotiated price - as you'll be paying 50 percent. It's not enough to have them state their list price...a while back I tried shopping for an MRI it's impossible Noone knows or says what the price is or may be and the prices can fluctuate hundreds of $

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-us-can-slash-health-care-costs-75-with-2-fundamental-changes-and-without-medicare-for-all-2019-08-15

[ExGingi]

Open enrollment starting tomorrow. Here are some important tidbits and changes (taken from NYS, but I believe most of the changes might apply nationwide).

First, changes to standard plans (lowering deductibles on Silver plans, which is obviously where they want to see people enrolling, while increasing maximum out-of-pocket, and allowing 3 annual visits to PCP not subject to deductible on Bronze plans which will have higher deductible and MOOP):




Useful chart showing FPL % for various family sizes and eligibility based on those (Essential Plan is NY).

[bhoaem]

Your bronze and silver omnia BCBS in NJ may be losing HSA eligibility.

[ExGingi]

Your bronze and silver omnia BCBS in NJ may be losing HSA eligibility.

That's crazy. Instead of expanding and encouraging HSA eligibility, they keep on making it less of an option.

[bhoaem]

That's crazy. Instead of expanding and encouraging HSA eligibility, they keep on making it less of an option.

Thing I dont get is that if you have a high max out of pocket you are no longer eligible. (Over $6,900 individual and $13,800 family for 2020)
Shouldn't that be a reason to make you even more eligible?

[Moe Ginsburg]

What are the practical difference between choosing Fidelis, MetroPlus and HealthFirst in New York City for a Bronze or Silver plan, regarding doctors network (especially in the Brooklyn area) and any other factors?

TIA

[Moe Ginsburg]

What are the practical difference between choosing Fidelis, MetroPlus and HealthFirst in New York City for a Bronze or Silver plan, regarding doctors network (especially in the Brooklyn area) and any other factors?

TIA

Any leads?

[ExGingi]

What are the practical difference between choosing Fidelis, MetroPlus and HealthFirst in New York City for a Bronze or Silver plan, regarding doctors network (especially in the Brooklyn area) and any other factors?

TIA

It's all about the network. Check if the doctors and specialists you care about are on the network. Also dental benefits could be different.

[nucheiner]

I was on Amerihealth (NJ) for 2019.When enrolling for 2020 it's keeping the Billing Account number the same as 2019. Anyone have an idea to somehow force it to make a new billing account number for 2020? (I can move around enrollee groups if that will help)