From the @WSJ re US healthcare:

“Employers are sick of the ever-rising price of healthcare, and they are ready to do something about it.”#economy #healthcare #insurance #EconTwitter pic.twitter.com/KbmFsq8qKF

— Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) September 28, 2023

Premiums up more than 4X since 2000, about 6% annual increase per year. Maybe corporations stop proving health coverage going forward.

Tying insurance to employment was as awful as conflating insurance with Healthcare.

I'm sure some useful idiot type will be along and tell us how wonderful obamacare is.

Even though mandatory coverage was struck, they're still accomplishing the intended goal.

Overwhelm the system, implement government run single payer as the solution.

But, of course, not for the elites. Only us plebes.

I had a meeting with my staff today about this. We aren't getting raises this year but our employer is picking up the increases in our premiums Most of them are still upset about the lack of raises because we are all feeling the pinch of inflation. I reminded them about how money supply is the real issue and to remember that when they go to vote.

The difference in what an employee cost compared to what they take home continues its exponential growth.

Dan Scott said:

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From the @WSJ re US healthcare:

“Employers are sick of the ever-rising price of healthcare, and they are ready to do something about it.”#economy #healthcare #insurance #EconTwitter pic.twitter.com/KbmFsq8qKF

— Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) September 28, 2023

Premiums up more than 4X since 2000, about 6% annual increase per year. Maybe corporations stop proving health coverage going forward.

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That looks good to me right now.

We get our HC through my wife's job. Georgetown ISD.

$18,000/year employee contribution for a family of four. Not counting dental and eyes.

Sucks. The insurance itself is fine but man.

My firm's insurance just went WAY up.

by 50%.

FJB and I'm sure Trump will release his health care plan any day now....

Urban Ag said:

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Dan Scott said:

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From the @WSJ re US healthcare:

“Employers are sick of the ever-rising price of healthcare, and they are ready to do something about it.”#economy #healthcare #insurance #EconTwitter pic.twitter.com/KbmFsq8qKF

— Mohamed A. El-Erian (@elerianm) September 28, 2023

Premiums up more than 4X since 2000, about 6% annual increase per year. Maybe corporations stop proving health coverage going forward.

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That looks good to me right now.

We get our HC through my wife's job. Georgetown ISD.

$18,000/year employee contribution for a family of four. Not counting dental and eyes.

Sucks. The insurance itself is fine but man.

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We just went from $600 per year to $14,400 per year for lesser insurance. Quite the increase!

One of the main benefits of big corporations are lower healthcare costs. Many of my corporate friends don't understand how good they have it in this realm. Just oblivious to it.

We knew what we were getting into when we left that world but the sticker shock is still impactful. It never made logical sense to me that companies foot the bill for health insurance. It makes less sense that the government does it before the commies chime in.

There is a better way and the current system or UHC are not the answer. Unfortunately, we are headed to the latter and then we all be living Logan's Run.

I am actually a commercial broker focused on benefits and unfortunately a single digit increase is something organizations are happy about these days. This broken system has in turn created some new healthcare options and carriers that are disrupting the market and we are moving a lot of clients to some of these unconventional options with great results. Our firm is actually moving to one in particular that is Texas based with a nation wide network.

These medical carriers make billions of dollars a year and it's time we fought back. If any of your firms need assistance let me know. Education is paramount when it comes to this stuff.

DrEvazanPhD said:

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I'm sure some useful idiot type will be along and tell us how wonderful obamacare is.

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There is a guy here. I was giving him examples of what happened to me when I was self employed and he said I just had to suck it up for the betterment of everyone else.

The D said:

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DrEvazanPhD said:

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I'm sure some useful idiot type will be along and tell us how wonderful obamacare is.

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There is a guy here. I was giving him examples of what happened to me when I was self employed and he said I just had to suck it up for the betterment of everyone else.

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Like the good Commie he is.

Yep, we're on our way. Stay healthy!

I spent my last 10 years in corp world working for a European mega company. We had zero employee contribution until the last year I was there. And even then, this was 2018, it was only about $6k/year for the whole family. A "Cadillac Plan" as the esteemed president Hussein would call them. It even covered some cosmetic stuff. Those were the days.

my wife and I pay ~1500 per month just for the two of us. Got our increase notice yesterday. effing sucks.

Old May Banker said:

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Tying insurance to employment was as awful as conflating insurance with Healthcare.

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Americans don't have health insurance, they have health maintenance plans.

Alan Stanwyck said:

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I am actually a commercial broker focused on benefits and unfortunately a single digit increase is something organizations are happy about these days. This broken system has in turn created some new healthcare options and carriers that are disrupting the market and we are moving a lot of clients to some of these unconventional options with great results. Our firm is actually moving to one in particular that is Texas based with a nation wide network.

These medical carriers make billions of dollars a year and it's time we fought back. If any of your firms need assistance let me know. Education is paramount when it comes to this stuff.

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We looked at an unconventional option last year, Health Benefit Alliance. They had some very attractive MEC plans as well as some upper tier coverages.

We ended up going with BCBS.

The feedback we got from our broker earlier this year was be very thankful we didn't go with HBA. He said the folks they put on those plans have been very dissatisfied. There have been lots of coverage issues and they had to change TPAs mid year which caused a whole host of other problems and communication issues.

The other options are out there, but it sounds like they are having growing pains.

Companies pay for health insurance because it's tax free income to the employee and deductible expense for the company.

Almost embarrassed to admit this, but I'm fortunate to have great insurance through my employer. $300/month premium for the wife and I. And I can pay for it before-tax, so the tax savings makes the effective cost about $200/month.

I'm approaching the age when I thought I might retire, but the cost of health insurance on the open market is so stupidly high -- and the quality so low -- that I'll probably work until I can Cobra and then go on Medicare. Ok by me because I enjoy my job, and the additional income from working longer will help offset the impact of Bidenflation.

But it shouldn't be this way. Obama screwed it up for millions of people.

I can think of lots of **** I'd rather be "deducting"

Sims said:

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Alan Stanwyck said:

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I am actually a commercial broker focused on benefits and unfortunately a single digit increase is something organizations are happy about these days. This broken system has in turn created some new healthcare options and carriers that are disrupting the market and we are moving a lot of clients to some of these unconventional options with great results. Our firm is actually moving to one in particular that is Texas based with a nation wide network.

These medical carriers make billions of dollars a year and it's time we fought back. If any of your firms need assistance let me know. Education is paramount when it comes to this stuff.

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We looked at an unconventional option last year, Health Benefit Alliance. They had some very attractive MEC plans as well as some upper tier coverages.

We ended up going with BCBS.

The feedback we got from our broker earlier this year was be very thankful we didn't go with HBA. He said the folks they put on those plans have been very dissatisfied. There have been lots of coverage issues and they had to change TPAs mid year which caused a whole host of other problems and communication issues.

The other options are out there, but it sounds like they are having growing pains.

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Yeah you have to be careful for sure. We don't dabble in MEC plans which is probably what that group pushes, but the fact remains this market is creating some options from new carriers that are financially rated or we wouldn't be able to offer them. There are options out there if the group fits.

All part of the plan. Make health insurance so terrible and painful that people capitulate to single payer government insurance

Any "country club" options in Texas?

ANYONE who's surprised by this isn't economically literate.

Socialized medicine controls the one thing they can control, and that's revenues. It's impossible to control expenses, which will continue to rise as long as there's a third party payer--the government. It's more solid than any physics law.

So these expenses, and therefore prices, will continue to rise indefinitely. What's likely to happen is the government (see Democrats) will do what they always do, which is make a play to completely control the entire healthcare market, which includes insurance, pharma, and all doctors, nurses, hospitals. They'll sell it as "it's the sure way to lower fees and costs", which is 100% bull*****

Since 2000, we've expanded government massively with the Homeland Security and Obamacare. We've probably added $900 billion to $1.50 trillion in debt to our deficit with those two alone. I'll be dead when it hits the fan, but it will hit the fan and it won't be pretty, but it will likely get what the Dems want, which is a destroyed constitution so they can write a new one. without the 247 years of adjudication.

It's too late to bring it up for 2024, but it's coming along with CBDC. It's possible Americans may figure it out, but unlikely, as most Americans don't trust government, but they do trust the sales BS, and 80% of Americans are so stretched out with $17 trillion in credit debt they'd listen to, and vote for anything. Of course it's a lie, but it gets the Dems the last piece of the puzzle for full socialism.

Health insurance is the top reason my wife and mother of 3 continues to work at her Fortune 100 HR job. My small business family plan is stupidly expensive for less benefits. Thanks Obama.

Honest question (not trying to get into a defending ObamaCare debate): The chart shown is nearly linear since 2000. Doesn't that suggest ObamaCare isn't the problem?

TA-OP said:

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Honest question (not trying to get into a defending ObamaCare debate): The chart shown is nearly linear since 2000. Doesn't that suggest ObamaCare isn't the problem?

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Chicago Jesus and all you leftists told us that we'd save $2000 per year with Obamacare. Can you point out on the chart where I can find those savings Larry? Also, "like your doctor, keep your doctor", and other leftist lies have not been forgotten. It seems like since the ACA was passed health insurance premiums have gone up, deductibles have gone up, and out of pocket expenses have gone up.

TA-OP said:

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Honest question (not trying to get into a defending ObamaCare debate): The chart shown is nearly linear since 2000. Doesn't that suggest ObamaCare isn't the problem?

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The problem is we need actual reform and the ACA not only didn't help, it made it worse (note the big jump immediately after).

What would have helped is transparent pricing laws. People would quickly see that health insurance is a crock of **** for anything less than a truly catastrophic claim. I cash pay everything now. One day we'll have something truly horrible happen and we'll use insurance, but right now we've gotten emergency stitches, respiratory issues, etc. for $200-$400. Our child births have only been 3-4K. Literally no point in health insurance for anything short of catastrophic, but since most don't understand the cash pay system (aka lack of TRANSPARENCY) we rely on insurance. As far as I'm concerned, it's anti-competitive and it hurts the consumer

Old May Banker said:

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Tying insurance to employment was as awful as conflating insurance with Healthcare.

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Yes it was. You can thank your friendly federal government for wage limits post-WWII.

The Banned said:

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TA-OP said:

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Honest question (not trying to get into a defending ObamaCare debate): The chart shown is nearly linear since 2000. Doesn't that suggest ObamaCare isn't the problem?

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The problem is we need actual reform and the ACA not only didn't help, it made it worse (note the big jump immediately after).

What would have helped is transparent pricing laws. People would quickly see that health insurance is a crock of **** for anything less than a truly catastrophic claim. I cash pay everything now. One day we'll have something truly horrible happen and we'll use insurance, but right now we've gotten emergency stitches, respiratory issues, etc. for $200-$400. Our child births have only been 3-4K. Literally no point in health insurance for anything short of catastrophic, but since most don't understand the cash pay system (aka lack of TRANSPARENCY) we rely on insurance. As far as I'm concerned, it's anti-competitive and it hurts the consumer

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I've tried to cash pay and for some things the man simply won't let you. Example: I've had an ongoing frozen shoulder issue for some time and then along came a nerve issue out of nowhere that was unrelated. Both required physical therapy. I was already going to PT for the shoulder.

Baylor would not let me do two different types of PT. I offered to cash pay for my shoulder PT and then just do my nerve PT on insurance. Nope. Wouldn't take cash.

So, I cancelled shoulder PT and shifted to the other one because it was more debilitating at the time. Luckily, I found a trainer at my gym who actually helped me get through my shoulder issue more effectively than going to PT.

I am lucky my company pays almost all of our premiums, but the coverage is crap. I pay cash for everything unless its cancer or something major. I am going to Mexico in 2 weeks for stem cell therapy on my back along with some dental work. Substantially cheaper and its a mini-vacation.

Health insurance costs are transitory

Riding that freight train toward Single Payer Libtopia!

Get ready for the needle, Grandma!