Foxnews Anchor tries - in Vain - to Educate Hakeem Jeffries on Healthcare Premium Subsidies.

[Seymour Flops]

6:30:



She explains to him that "premiums" will not be going up once the COVID subsidies are allowed to expire. Premiums wills still be at the same incredibly high rate that they quickly rose to once Obamacare passed. The change in January will only result in one subsidy not being paid to insurance companies. The overwhelming majority of the premium will be paid for by tax dollars.

Here is a visual from KFF, AKA Kaiser:

If the enhanced subsidies — the purple bar in the 2024 column — go away, a family would have to pay that amount out-of-pocket, which would get added to the green bar above it. But the federal government would still pay for the vast majority of premium costs, the blue bar in the graph. In this case, the federal government would fund “only” 78 percent of premiums, as opposed to 88 percent of the total premium under the enhanced subsidies.

The shocking part is how much premiums were able to skyrocket, once consumers were no longer paying for the majority of them. Clearly, the insurance companies pushed premiums up enough to capture the premium, while leaving consumers still experiencing climbing out of pocket payments for their share of the premiums.

In other words, there is no evidence that this has anything to do with how much it costs an insurance provider to provide coverage, but instead is based on what the market will bear. Once Uncle Sam gives a boost, the market can bear a huge increase.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Of course Hakeem Jeffries knows all this. It's what he gets paid for. His Congressional salary is a pittance compared to how much the insurance companies are paying him.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries - New York District 08

Fundraising profile for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries - New York District 08

www.opensecrets.org

Here is a partial list of donations to Jeffries from insurance companies. It totals more than 2.6 million dollars.

Sorry, it wouldn't all fit on one screenshot, but this goes up to the C's:

 

[MisterBeale]

 

[Winston]

6:30:



She explains to him that "premiums" will not be going up once the COVID subsidies are allowed to expire. Premiums wills still be at the same incredibly high rate that they quickly rose to once Obamacare passed. The change in January will only result in one subsidy not being paid to insurance companies. The overwhelming majority of the premium will be paid for by tax dollars.

Here is a visual from KFF, AKA Kaiser:

View attachment 1172626

If the enhanced subsidies — the purple bar in the 2024 column — go away, a family would have to pay that amount out-of-pocket, which would get added to the green bar above it. But the federal government would still pay for the vast majority of premium costs, the blue bar in the graph. In this case, the federal government would fund “only” 78 percent of premiums, as opposed to 88 percent of the total premium under the enhanced subsidies.

The shocking part is how much premiums were able to skyrocket, once consumers were no longer paying for the majority of them. Clearly, the insurance companies pushed premiums up enough to capture the premium, while leaving consumers still experiencing climbing out of pocket payments for their share of the premiums.

In other words, there is no evidence that this has anything to do with how much it costs an insurance provider to provide coverage, but instead is based on what the market will bear. Once Uncle Sam gives a boost, the market can bear a huge increase.

I am going to explain this, AGAIN. We are talking about the additional subsidies that were granted, under the Biden administration, during the Covid crisis. These subsidies were specifically targeted toward Silver plans on the ACA. What it allowed people to do was enroll in a Silver plan instead of a Bronze plan at about the same cost. That is lower deductibles and lower co-pays. By default, individuals remain in the same plan from year to year. They have to actively select another plan and most will probably turn to those Bronze plans.

That is going to be a significant increase in their out-of-pocket expenses. And it is going to start right out of the gate. For instance, many silver plans have co-pays for doctor and specialist visits in which the deductible, say around $1,500, does not apply. Visit your primary doctor, maybe pay a ten to twenty-five dollar co-pay. Now, with a Bronze plan, the deductible, probably at least five grand, applies to everything but preventive medicine, like a physical. Now it is not twenty dollars to visit the doctor, more like two hundred dollars.

The biggest problem is some people will decide to go uninsured, removing themselves from the risk pool. That means the risk diversification is going to be more narrow, driving up the costs of those that remain insured. It is a snowball rolling down hill and will price health insurance, even with significant government subsidies, out of the range of healthy individuals.

Look, the insurance market, especially life and health, is a damn scam, period. It is the only business that I know of that you can post whatever profit, or loss, you want. Take in a million dollars in premium, pay out a hundred thousand in claims, you can claim zero profit. $900.000 goes into your "loss reserves", invested, in equities, in real estate, in commodities without paying taxes and with no taxes due on the gains. What a racket.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Yes, I had mentioned MTG in another thread. Trump pulled a lot of working class Democrats over to the Republican side. They like their government subsidies, and is part of why they wave the flag and support the troops, all the things that Dems hate.

The Democrats are losing a golden opportunity to get those voters back. If they would push for MTG types to get the subsidies and drop their demand that people who crossed the border illegally and were handed "a legal status" also get tax-funded healthcare, the GOP could be in trouble.

I had heard that the "interesting times" quote was Russian. Whatevs, we see how true it is anytime our bizarre leaders make times interesting.

 

[Concerned American]

Of course Hakeem Jeffries knows all this. It's what he gets paid for. His Congressional salary is a pittance compared to how much the insurance companies are paying him.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries - New York District 08

Fundraising profile for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries - New York District 08

www.opensecrets.org

Here is a partial list of donations to Jeffries from insurance companies. It totals more than 2.6 million dollars.

View attachment 1172632

Sorry, it wouldn't all fit on one screenshot, but this goes up to the C's:

View attachment 1172630

Jeffries is just Schumer 2.0. He avoids questions, does not answer posed questions and ALWAYS uses the democrat tactic of returning to the same gaslighting point that has been proven to be a lie, time and time again. The bottom line is NOT the ACA, the BBB, or NPR. The bottom line is these petulant adults were insulted that they weren't given a soapbox in negotiations so they figure they'll make their point by holding American taxpayers hostage. They have already wasted what could have been three weeks of productive negotiating time in order to make their childish point.

 

[Seymour Flops]

I am going to explain this, AGAIN. We are talking about the additional subsidies that were granted, under the Biden administration, during the Covid crisis. These subsidies were specifically targeted toward Silver plans on the ACA. What it allowed people to do was enroll in a Silver plan instead of a Bronze plan at about the same cost. That is lower deductibles and lower co-pays. By default, individuals remain in the same plan from year to year. They have to actively select another plan and most will probably turn to those Bronze plans.

I was not aware of this Bronze plan/Silver plan distinction. But it reinforces what I've been saying for a while.

The reason the "Affordable" Care Act caused healthcare costs to the consumer to go up so fast is becuase of this pressure to enroll in more expensive plans, and for companies to no longer even offer less expensive plans.

People talk about "Cadilac Plans," but a better analogy would be "Fully Loaded Cadillac Plans." Under ACA, all plans had to include all treatments decided by whoever wrote the plan, i.e. Jonathan Gruber, et al.

So single women has to pay for a plan covering annual prostrate exams, viagar, prosthetic testicals after cancer, or whatever, everyone has to pay for plans covering "gender affirming care" which is incredibly expensive and long term, no ethical or religious exemption for that allowed. Older couples have to pay for pregnancy care plans, and gay male couples had to pay for plans that covered hysterectomies. DINKs have to pay for plans covering child vaccines.

An incredible boondoggle for the insurance companies. They increased their premiums exponentially to cover all of that for everyone, but we didn't notice because so much of the premiums were paid by "government."

That is going to be a significant increase in their out-of-pocket expenses.

It already has been, due to the above.

And it is going to start right out of the gate. For instance, many silver plans have co-pays for doctor and specialist visits in which the deductible, say around $1,500, does not apply. Visit your primary doctor, maybe pay a ten to twenty-five dollar co-pay. Now, with a Bronze plan, the deductible, probably at least five grand, applies to everything but preventive medicine, like a physical. Now it is not twenty dollars to visit the doctor, more like two hundred dollars.

Yes. Just as I do, they will need to sit and compare plans, try to estimate if it is worth getting the silver plans to have the lower co-pays. I actually alternate my dental plans from the least to the most expensive - the most expensive having the most benefits - and get any work done on those years, while just getting cleaning on the cheap plans.

When was it decided that people like MTG's kids should never have to make a budget or deal with anything ever being more expensive than it was last year?

The biggest problem is some people will decide to go uninsured, removing themselves from the risk pool. That means the risk diversification is going to be more narrow, driving up the costs of those that remain insured. It is a snowball rolling down hill and will price health insurance, even with significant government subsidies, out of the range of healthy individuals.

But even if "everybody" (not covered by an employer) gets health insurance, it will be mainly government paying the premiums. Congress seems willing to give the insurance companies as much as they can without the voters catching wise, which never seems to happen. They'd be paying less premiums but for more people.

So 50 million people who don't have employer plans can get government-paid (mainly) insurance for 4,000 per year or 100 million people can get the same insurance that costs 3,000 per year and it will amount to the same.

Look, the insurance market, especially life and health, is a damn scam, period. It is the only business that I know of that you can post whatever profit, or loss, you want. Take in a million dollars in premium, pay out a hundred thousand in claims, you can claim zero profit. $900.000 goes into your "loss reserves", invested, in equities, in real estate, in commodities without paying taxes and with no taxes due on the gains. What a racket.

It is insane, but our congress is bought and paid for in a bi-partisan way.

 

[Concerned American]

I was not aware of this Bronze plan/Silver plan distinction. But it reinforces what I've been saying for a while.

The reason the "Affordable" Care Act caused healthcare costs to the consumer to go up so fast is becuase of this pressure to enroll in more expensive plans, and for companies to no longer even offer less expensive plans.

People talk about "Cadilac Plans," but a better analogy would be "Fully Loaded Cadillac Plans." Under ACA, all plans had to include all treatments decided by whoever wrote the plan, i.e. Jonathan Gruber, et al.

So single women has to pay for a plan covering annual prostrate exams, viagar, prosthetic testicals after cancer, or whatever, everyone has to pay for plans covering "gender affirming care" which is incredibly expensive and long term, no ethical or religious exemption for that allowed. Older couples have to pay for pregnancy care plans, and gay male couples had to pay for plans that covered hysterectomies. DINKs have to pay for plans covering child vaccines.

An incredible boondoggle for the insurance companies. They increased their premiums exponentially to cover all of that for everyone, but we didn't notice because so much of the premiums were paid by "government."

It already has been, due to the above.

Yes. Just as I do, they will need to sit and compare plans, try to estimate if it is worth getting the silver plans to have the lower co-pays. I actually alternate my dental plans from the least to the most expensive - the most expensive having the most benefits - and get any work done on those years, while just getting cleaning on the cheap plans.

When was it decided that people like MTG's kids should never have to make a budget or deal with anything ever being more expensive than it was last year?

But even if "everybody" (not covered by an employer) gets health insurance, it will be mainly government paying the premiums. Congress seems willing to give the insurance companies as much as they can without the voters catching wise, which never seems to happen. They'd be paying less premiums but for more people.

So 50 million people who don't have employer plans can get government-paid (mainly) insurance for 4,000 per year or 100 million people can get the same insurance that costs 3,000 per year and it will amount to the same.

It is insane, but our congress is bought and paid for in a bi-partisan way.

This has all been rehashed a jillion times. When are people going to realize that our government is NOT IN THE HEALTHCARE BUSINESS AND TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE SUBSIDIZING IT. It is redistribution of wealth to people who are either unwilling or incapable of making intelligent decisions. NOT THE GOV'T'S PROBLEM. Get rid of the ACA.

 

[MisterBeale]

Yes, I had mentioned MTG in another thread. Trump pulled a lot of working class Democrats over to the Republican side. They like their government subsidies, and is part of why they wave the flag and support the troops, all the things that Dems hate.

The Democrats are losing a golden opportunity to get those voters back. If they would push for MTG types to get the subsidies and drop their demand that people who crossed the border illegally and were handed "a legal status" also get tax-funded healthcare, the GOP could be in trouble.

I had heard that the "interesting times" quote was Russian. Whatevs, we see how true it is anytime our bizarre leaders make times interesting.

It's all about the economy. Life has been unaffordable for a majority of Americans since the scamdemic transferred all that wealth and made the cost of living unreasonable. . . that includes healthcare.

Trump and MAGA promised to do something about that, thus far they haven't. If some progress is not made by the mid-terms, they will lose congress.

 

[Seymour Flops]

It's all about the economy. Life has been unaffordable for a majority of Americans since the scamdemic transferred all that wealth and made the cost of living unreasonable. . . that includes healthcare.

Trump and MAGA promised to do something about that, thus far they haven't. If some progress is not made by the mid-terms, they will lose congress.

We're less than ten months into the administration.

October 2026 will be the time to look at whether life is more affordable or not.

But, yes. If the economy is in trouble, the Dems could pick up some seats.

 

[Greenbeard]

The shocking part is how much premiums were able to skyrocket, once consumers were no longer paying for the majority of them.

Your graphic shows premium growth of ... zero. Over the 2020-2024 period, which as I recall wasn't known as being a time of static cost growth in the global economy. Yet the ACA entirely stopped premiums from growing during a time when the general price level was rising by like 20%? Definitely astonishing, thanks for highlighting.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Your graphic shows premium growth of ... zero. Over the 2020-2024 period, which as I recall wasn't known as being a time of static cost growth in the global economy. Yet the ACA entirely stopped premiums from growing during a time when the general price level was rising by like 20%? Definitely astonishing, thanks for highlighting.

$7,320 - $7,132 = $0.00?

Public school grad, I see.

 

[Greenbeard]

$7,320 - $7,132 = $0.00?

Public school grad, I see.

In real terms, it's more than a 14% drop. You were right, the ACA continues to shock!

 

[Seymour Flops]

In real terms, it's more than a 14% drop. You were right, the ACA continues to shock!

That's nice.

It doesn't change the fact that premiums are shockingly higher than Americans realize we are paying. Because more than 80% of it is being paid by Americans through taxation and subsidies.

Subsidies to already extremely wealthy health insurance providers who give millions to individual congressmen through soft-money PACs.

Doesn't change the fact that premiums are not "about to double" or anything of the sort. The amount that people pay as the consumer's part of the premium, rather than as taxpayers will go up, but the premiums will not. As you point out, they have stayed stable after the huge jump when Obamacare was passed.

If that causes people to drop out, the insurance providers will adjust the premiums so as not to lose their customer base, which is more than five times more lucrative than it would be due to the tax-funded subsidies.

No wonder Democrats are fighting so hard to keep illegal aliens who were granted "a legal status" on the subsidy gravy train. It's what their bosses in the health insurance industry demand.

 

[cnm]

It is insane, but our congress is bought and paid for in a bi-partisan way.

It's exceptional.

 

[cnm]

This has all been rehashed a jillion times. When are people going to realize that our government is NOT IN THE HEALTHCARE BUSINESS AND TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T BE SUBSIDIZING IT. It is redistribution of wealth to people who are either unwilling or incapable of making intelligent decisions. NOT THE GOV'T'S PROBLEM. Get rid of the ACA.

The dog whistle is strong in this one...

 

[Failzero]

Brother look like a Sudanese War Lord in a suit & tie …

 

[initforme]

Pay high ptemiums and your insurance company cany deny a claim. Thats wrong. If the claim is legit then its covered without regards to cost. Case closed.