Obamacare

[Stormieweather]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Well duh, they've been going up way faster than the inflation rate for years. They've been driving the inflation.

Yes! I have been working for the same company for 7 years (through this recession). Included in that time are a couple of raises and a promotion (totaling 22%-average of 3.14%/year). And yet, I take home less today than I did 7 years ago, thanks in large part to my insurance costs (which have more than doubled!).

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

Yes! I have been working for the same company for 7 years (through this recession).
Included in that time are a couple of raises and a promotion (totaling 22%-average of 3.14%/year).
And yet, I take home less today than I did 7 years ago, thanks in large part
to my insurance costs (which have more than doubled!).

I suspect many employers have been reducing or holding flat
their contributions to their employee's health care programs.
Certainly the counter-balance of unions during labor negotiations has declined.

I happen to get my family's health insurance through the same non-profit
agency as retired State employees, some teachers unions, etc.
Our premiums have gone up, but not nearly the % that you have experienced.

Also, policies do change (both more and less benefits) what
they offer and what they cover, along with co-pays, fees, etc.

Until the ACA came along, it was either take what your employer gives you,
or go back to college to get an MBA so you can compare the policies of different companies.
At least now there is a bit of common ground (the metal ratings) to compare one to another.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Stormieweather

And yet, I take home less today than I did 7 years ago, thanks in large part to my insurance costs (which have more than doubled!).

Forty years ago, similar problems existed in auto insurance. Costs increasing because the laws created reasons for increasing costs. Finally states began a major rewrite of auto insurance rules. Then auto insurance rates stopped increasing almost exponentially.

We finally have a solution for medical insurance. We should be moving onto other reasons for increases. Instead, many extremists want to destroy government like a child who takes home the baseball because he thought he was safe at first base. (Extremists often don't use the part of a brain that only exists in adults.)

While wackos have distorted the waters, many never noticed another reason for increasing health costs. He claimed he was fixing things. He also blamed Joe Paterno for pedophilia while not doing any investigation? He subverted discovery for some 14 Vioxx lawsuits - a drug that was killing people. Subverted discovery to protect profits and to keep selling a killer drug.

Once 42 major drug companies existed. Each averaged 7 drugs in the innovation pipeline. Merck, once a most innovative company (because its management were doctors), is now a laggard. Must increase profits by increasing profit margins while, well, Merck only has two innovative drugs in the innovation pipeline. So Merck must rape the public with higher prices.

Once 42 companies were doing seven new drugs. MBAs have successfully merged those companies into 13 with only 3 new drugs in the innovation pipeline. So your medical costs for drugs must increase.

Ken Frazier, a lawyer, was preaching he had greatest respect for scientists. Nonsense. He had so little respect for anyone as it even get Joe Paterno blamed by doing no investigation. He should have been disbarred for subverting discovery on so many Vioxx cases. Instead they made him Merck's president. He has subverted the innovation drug pipeline. Same problem is in most other drug companies.

In a responsible market, costs for a new product drop each year. Because every year, innovation makes the product better. Profit margins can be less as the product ages - is eventually replaced with new innovations. Profits no longer have to pay for the initial product development costs. But in a drug industry now run by management that stifles innovation, prices increase every year even as the patent expires. And as we protect those companies by not blaming management who does not come from where the work gets done.

Drug companies have even paid generic drug companies to NOT market their equivalent. To increase profit margins. To protect an industry that does not innovate like it used to.

Another reason why medical costs and insurance rates increase. Frazier is now downsizing Merck because, as a lawyer, he successfully stifled innovation. Trials of new Merck drugs have not been going well. He is spinning downsizing as if it is a corporate refocus.

Frazier is another reason why your insurance and medical costs will increase. Just like in the auto industry, he will continue to subvert your standard of living - to protect and enrich himself. Using the same knowledge that even blamed Joe Paterno for pedophilia. Making decisions without learning anything about the problem.

With the waters so muddied by extremists attacking health insurance, did you notice another of your enemies spinning his excuses?

An industry that once had more than 250 new drugs in the innovation pipeline now has less than 40 - because these companies are now more concerned with profits than with the products. Your medical costs must then increase.

[henry quirk]

Has anyone made use of the 'exchanges' and did you get a good deal on coverage?

[henry quirk]

From the lack of responses: I'm guessin' no one has made use of the exchanges.

Why not?