The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012...trol-abortion/

For those with inherent difficulty connecting these dots.

Birth control at the "exclusive cost of the supplier", which BTW will raise the price of everything else they sell, reminds me of the NCAA's mandate of full face shields or cages on hockey helmets. We're going to see EVEN MORE problems, more "accidental pregnancies", all because some broad can't keep her legs shut as she now feels infallible.

[Rover]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Looks like Obamacare is reducing premiums after all:

http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2013/06...rket-premiums/

Thoughts?

[joecct]

Looks like Obamacare is reducing premiums after all:

http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2013/06...rket-premiums/

Thoughts?

For some, yes. For others, no. We will have to wait for full implementation to guage the law's effect.

Has a central control made anything better?

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Looks like Obamacare is reducing premiums after all:

http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2013/06...rket-premiums/

Thoughts?

Housing prices in Buffalo went up during the housing crash of 2007. What's your point?

[Rover]

Has a central control made anything better?

I would say the banking system being rescued during the Great Depression might be a good historical example. I'll now sit back and read the requisite head explosions from some of our righty friends.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

I would say the banking system being rescued during the Great Depression might be a good historical example. I'll now sit back and read the requisite head explosions from some of our righty friends.

Someone forgot about the crash of 1937. So unless you think the government is trying to start World War III in order to get a better economy, I'd stop taking history out of context.

[Rover]

Someone forgot about the crash of 1937. So unless you think the government is trying to start World War III in order to get a better economy, I'd stop taking history out of context.

Heh, you guys are like Pavlov's dogs.

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Heh, you guys are like Pavlov's dogs.

Who's Pavlov? Some new NPR host or something?

[FreshFish]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Looks like Obamacare is reducing premiums after all:

http://wonkwire.rollcall.com/2013/06...rket-premiums/

Thoughts?

A more accurate story would be that Obama'care' has introduced more annual volatility into health insurance premiums, so that in years in which claims are lower than anticipated, some policyholders will receive refund checks, while in the year following the year in which claims are higher than anticipated, premiums will spike more than they otherwise would have.

We discussed this issue at length before: a sensible law would have used something like a five-year rolling average (or even a three-year rolling average) of claims-to-premium ratios to smooth out annual volatility (or a ratio of five-year rolling average of claims over a five-year rolling average of premiums, if you prefer).

You can't in all seriousness ask us to look at one year's data and somehow try to convince us that it's a "trend." Even in your most rabid cheerleader costume, you generally have more sense than that!

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

A more accurate story would be that Obama'care' has introduced more annual volatility into health insurance premiums, so that in years in which claims are lower than anticipated, some policyholders will receive refund checks, while in the year following the year in which claims are higher than anticipated, premiums will spike more than they otherwise would have.

We discussed this issue at length before: a sensible law would have used something like a five-year rolling average (or even a three-year rolling average) of claims-to-premium ratios to smooth out annual volatility (or a ratio of five-year rolling average of claims over a five-year rolling average of premiums, if you prefer).

You can't in all seriousness ask us to look at one year's data and somehow try to convince us that it's a "trend." Even in your most rabid cheerleader costume, you generally have more sense than that!

Refund checks? That doesn't sound right. Wouldn't they hang onto the money as a rainy day for when claims go high?

[FreshFish]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Refund checks? That doesn't sound right. Wouldn't they hang onto the money as a rainy day for when claims go high?

That is now against the law.

Leaving out the qualifiers, the law mandates that if claims are less than 80% of premiums in any one year, then refunds need to be sent out so that claims are at least 80% of premiums for that year. On a rolling-average basis, that is actually fairly reasonable, as market competition already drives premiums to that level anyway. Before the law, companies were always shopping their group health insurance when it came up for renewal for exactly that reason.

However, if claims exceed 100% of premiums in any one year, then companies now have no choice but to eat the loss, which is really stupid: revenue is capped but expenses are not capped. They have no recourse at all. Another reason why a rolling-average calculation makes sense.

Some of these ideas are so basic, you have to wonder just who actually wrote the law and what could they possibly have been thinking. It really does look like a college sophomore did a few internet searches and cut and pasted stuff together without any consistency or context!

[Rover]

A more accurate story would be that Obama'care' has introduced more annual volatility into health insurance premiums, so that in years in which claims are lower than anticipated, some policyholders will receive refund checks, while in the year following the year in which claims are higher than anticipated, premiums will spike more than they otherwise would have.

We discussed this issue at length before: a sensible law would have used something like a five-year rolling average (or even a three-year rolling average) of claims-to-premium ratios to smooth out annual volatility (or a ratio of five-year rolling average of claims over a five-year rolling average of premiums, if you prefer).

You can't in all seriousness ask us to look at one year's data and somehow try to convince us that it's a "trend." Even in your most rabid cheerleader costume, you generally have more sense than that!

Not saying its a trend but we've all seen the hyperbole about how premiums were going up 10000% compounded daily and the like, so its nice to inject some reality into the discussion.

As I've said repeatedly, I can live with any adjustment that would strengthen the law (for example, if you wanted to enact tort reform and get rid of medical devices tax). That's problematic when one party refuses to acknowledge its existence except to hold three dozen meaningless repeal votes on it.

[joecct]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Not saying its a trend but we've all seen the hyperbole about how premiums were going up 10000% compounded daily and the like, so its nice to inject some reality into the discussion.

As I've said repeatedly, I can live with any adjustment that would strengthen the law (for example, if you wanted to enact tort reform and get rid of medical devices tax). That's problematic when one party refuses to acknowledge its existence except to hold three dozen meaningless repeal votes on it.

Except the OTHER party steamrolled the passage. When you get 0 votes of the opposition, perhaps it is time to rethink things. However, the Dems were heady with power (just as the GOP was) and decided that if they had the keys, the car was going where they wanted to go, and never mind the gang in the back.

Now, perhaps in reflection, the direction taken was not the best, but it is tough to admit you made a mistake.

[FreshFish]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

it is tough to admit you made a mistake.

yeah, we can "adjust" the law so that none of the original remains, that's just fine and dandy. but no way can we repeal it.

[unofan]

Re: The PPACA - Implementation Phase I

Except the OTHER party steamrolled the passage. When you get 0 votes of the opposition, perhaps it is time to rethink things.

Tell you what, I'll be ok repealing Obamacare when Wisconsin, Kansas, Florida, et al repeal everything they passed on party line votes in the last 4 years.