Obamacare's Broken Promises: Americans Facing Double-Digit Premium Increases Across The USA

Today in Washington, D.C. - June 4, 2015:
The House reconvened at 9 AM today. The House took up H.R. 2577 — "Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes." The proceeded to consider Amendments to bill.

Yesterday, the House passed another appropriations bill: H.R. 2578 (242-183) — "Making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes."

The Senate reconvened at 9:30 AM today and resumed consideration of H.R. 1735, the Fiscal Year 2016 Defense Authorization bill.

At 10:30, the Senate voted 61-34 to adopt an amendment to the bill offered by Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) that would add funding to upgrade the Army’s Stryker vehicles. At 1:45 PM, the Senate begins voting on amendments to the bill offered by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).

In a speech on the floor this morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “Obamacare is a mess. It’s a law filled with broken promises, one that’s been plagued by failure, and one that’s caused costs to skyrocket for millions — after the supporters of this law promised costs would fall. I speak to you now in the wake of a bombshell revelation from the Administration: that many insurers are now requesting to raise premiums by double-digits across the country.

<“Numbers for Kentucky, for instance, just came out yesterday. Most of the insurers on the commonwealth’s Obamacare exchange are looking to raise premiums. Some of the proposed increases are as high as 25%, and some Kentuckians may now face double-digit premium increases for the second — or even third — year in a row.

“This is more bad Obamacare news for the people I represent. And in some states the proposed increases are even more alarming, if you can believe it.

“Kentuckians can look next door for proof of that, where some Hoosiers could be hit with a 46% jump in their premiums. Or, if they look south to Tennessee, they’ll see that premium hikes of 36% have been proposed.”

Just yesterday, the AP reported, “Iowa's largest private health insurer is proposing double-digit increases in premium rates for some of its individual plans next year, citing higher medical and prescription drug costs and greater use of services.

“Wellmark Health proposed the increases for 16 of its plans, including one increase of nearly 35 percent, in filings with state regulators and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Iowa-based insurers proposed rate increases of at least 10 percent for 30 separate plans, according to the federal HHS. The company serves 1.7 million Iowa residents.

“The proposed increases would apply to plans sold on the health insurance exchanges created under the federal health care law, as well as individual coverage sold through brokers and agents. . . . Coventry Health Care of Iowa proposed rate increases for 12 of its plans, ranging from nearly 11 percent to 20 percent. Time Insurance submitted two plans, proposing increases of 22 percent and 66 percent. . . .

“Wellmark said that, for every $1 in premiums paid by members in 2014, the company was spending $1.28 on health care claims, government fees and administration. ‘Thus current premium levels are too low to support the business, and will need to be increased substantially’ the company said.”

In the Granite State, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported, “Minuteman Health Inc. — which entered the New Hampshire exchange market this year with the lowest premiums — has requested rate increases ranging from 42 to 51 percent for next year, according to healthcare.gov, the online exchange established by the Affordable Care Act. Maine Community Health Options asked for premium increases between 19 and 22 percent.

“Both companies attributed their proposed increases in part to the Premium Assistance Program, the name for the Medicaid expansion program that is scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1. . . .

“Maine Community estimated that claims from the Medicaid patients will be 61 percent higher than its current risk pool, according to a statement filed with healthcare.gov. Tom Policelli, the chief executive of Minuteman, said his actuaries had similar numbers when they worked out the proposed increase.”

And CNN writes, “Hold onto your wallets ... many insurers want to substantially hike rates on Obamacare policies for 2016. Many are proposing double-digit premium increases for individual policies, with some companies looking to boost rates more than 60%, according to a list posted Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.”

According to the Obama administration’s own website for its unpopular health care law, several states have insurers seeking rate increases of over 50%: Delaware has one seeking a 54% rate increase, Utah a 58% increase, Virginia a nearly 60% increase, New Mexico 65%, Alabama nearly 71%, Nevada nearly 73%, Alaska nearly 78%, Arizona nearly 79%, and in Idaho, there’s an insurer seeking a 100% rate increase.

As Leader McConnell said, “These are huge numbers. They affect real people. We’ve seen the truth of that statement in the stories we hear from our constituents about how Obamacare’s massive cost burdens affect them.

“Take the Kentucky small business owner who wrote to say that his plan is now being cancelled thanks to Obamacare. ‘My monthly premium will increase from $610 to approx[imately] $1200,’ he said, ‘and this is with high deductibles.’

“Or take the constituent of mine from Floyd County who recently wrote to say that she can no longer afford her Silver Obamacare plan after the monthly premium spiked by more than 75 percent. ‘I was forced to take the Bronze Plan,’ she said, which ‘isn't worth the paper or ink to print it on.’ These are the kinds of stories that have become all too familiar in the age of Obamacare.”

He concluded, “It’s about time the President and his party worked constructively with us to start over on real health reform that can lower costs and increase choice, instead of hurting the Middle Class the way Obamacare does. That’s what the American people deserve.”

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