Health Exchange Rate Shock Not So Likely, Study Finds
A study by Rand Corp. researchers concludes that predictions of sharp jumps in insurance premiums for coverage purchased through the new online insurance marketplaces may be overstated.
Bloomberg: Premium Increases Under Obamacare May Be Overstated
Predictions of sharp increases in health-insurance premiums for people getting coverage under the U.S. Affordable Care Act have been overstated and many states will see little to no change, researchers at Rand Corp. found. Out-of-pocket premiums for most individuals who buy health plans through new insurance exchanges will decline because of federal subsidies, the Santa Monica, California-based nonprofit research group said today in a report (Armstrong and Wayne, 8/29).
NPR: Study: Price Shocks On Health Exchanges Appear Unlikely
With new health insurance exchanges set to launch in just over a month, there's been a lot of chatter about how shocking the rates might be. One possibility is that adding sick people to a more comprehensive benefits package will cause premiums to soar. Last spring, the Society of Actuaries predicted an average increase of 32 percent because of to the law, which prompted an outcry from opponents of the law. But an analysis just out from the RAND Corp. reaches a very different conclusion (Rovner, 8/29).