Even With The Health Law In Place, Costs Keep Going Up
The New York Times takes a look at the Geisinger Health Plan's efforts to provide care to the community it serves as a means to explore why health care expenses and insurance premiums continue to rise. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell took steps to quell the doubts of insurers who participate in Obamacare exchanges.
The New York Times:
Why Do Health Costs Keep Rising? These People Know
The Geisinger Health Plan, run by one of the nation’s top-rated health care organizations, foresees medical costs increasing next year by 7.5 percent for people buying insurance under the Affordable Care Act. So when Geisinger requested a rate increase of 40 percent for 2017, consumer advocates were amazed. And Kurt J. Wrobel, Geisinger’s chief actuary, found himself, along with other members of his profession, in the middle of the health care wars still raging in this political year. Actuaries normally toil far from the limelight, anonymous technicians stereotyped as dull and boring. But as they crunch the numbers for their Affordable Care Act business, their calculations are feeding a roaring national debate over insurance premiums, widely used to gauge the success of President Obama’s health care law. (Pear, 6/9)
The Hill:
Health Chief Makes Case To Insurers For ObamaCare Marketplace
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell on Thursday sought to calm the nerves of health insurers increasingly in doubt about the fate of the ObamaCare marketplace. (Ferris 6/9)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Feds Tout Health Insurance Exchange Successes As Some Question Viability
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday trotted out insurance executives who have found success selling health plans to individuals via the online insurance exchanges, a key part of the Affordable Care Act. (Liss 6/9)
Outlets also report on health law news in Alaska and Ohio —
Politico:
Alaska Scrambles To Prevent Obamacare Collapse
Alaska, one of the reddest states in the country, is essentially bailing out its insurance market to prevent Obamacare from collapsing. A bill passed by the heavily GOP state Legislature to shore up its lone surviving Obamacare insurer is awaiting the signature of Gov. Bill Walker, a Republican-turned-independent who was endorsed two years ago by former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. The legislation, originally proposed by Walker, sets up a $55 million fund — financed through an existing tax on all insurance companies — to subsidize enrollees’ costs as the state struggles with Obamacare price spikes and an exodus by all but one insurance company. (Pradhan, 6/10)
The Cleveland Plain Dealer:
As Obamacare Plans Struggle, MetroHealth Offers An Alternative To Individual Insurance
As stewards of a hospital that serves a large Medicaid population, executives with MetroHealth have supported the Affordable Care Act, which expanded insurance coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income Ohioans. But that doesn't mean they don't see flaws in the landmark law. On Wednesday, the health system rolled out a program aimed in part at catering to people unhappy with the cost and complexities of their Obamacare plans. The program, called Select Direct, will allow patients to get primary care services by paying a fixed monthly fee. (Ross, 6/9)