"…many people with modest incomes are encountering a troubling element of the federal health law: deductibles so steep they may not be able to afford the portion of medical expenses that insurance doesn't cover." ◼ ("High Deductibles Fuel New Worries Of Health-Law Sticker Shock," The Wall Street Journal, 12/8/13)
"…as consumers dig into the details, they are finding that the deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs are often much higher than what is typical in employer-sponsored health plans." ◼ ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
"The average individual deductible for what is called a bronze plan on the exchange—the lowest-priced coverage—is $5,081 a year… That is 42% higher than the average deductible of $3,589 for an individually purchased plan in 2013 before much of the federal law took effect, according to HealthPocket Inc., a company that compares health-insurance plans for consumers." ◼ ("High Deductibles Fuel New Worries Of Health-Law Sticker Shock," The Wall Street Journal, 12/8/13)
For typical TX couple 'annual deductible is more than $12,000' "In El Paso, Tex., for example, for a husband and wife both age 35, one of the cheapest plans on the federal exchange, offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, has a premium less than $300 a month, but the annual deductible is more than $12,000." ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
For typical MI couple 'a deductible of $10,000' "For a 45-year-old couple seeking insurance on the federal exchange in Saginaw, Mich., a policy with a premium of $515 a month has a deductible of $10,000." ◼ ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
Deductibles 'So High … That It Defeats The Purpose Of Having Insurance'
KY Couple: 'We do know for certain that our deductible will raise from $5,000.00 annually to $8,500.00' "We are covered under my husband's policy through his employer. We have not found out exactly how much the premium is going to rise but have been told to expect between 150% to 300% increase per paycheck. We do know for certain that our deductible will raise from $5,000.00 annually to $8,500.00." (Sen. McConnell, Constituent Mail, 11/19/13)
ID Man: 'the deductibles were so high — $4,000 to $6,000 a year — that it defeats the purpose of having insurance' "Mark A. York, a 60-year-old freelance writer in Hailey, Idaho, said he began shopping after he received a letter saying that his current insurance policy would be canceled because it did not meet the requirements of the health care law. In the exchange, he said, he found policies with premiums similar to what he is now paying, $440 a month, but 'the deductibles were so high — $4,000 to $6,000 a year — that it defeats the purpose of having insurance.'" ◼ ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
CA Woman: Deductible is 'nearly double' "'However you look at it, the son of a gun lied to us,' said Janette Ramsey, a Bakersfield business owner with a weekend home in Ventura. She's losing her current coverage and expects to pay $50 more a month for a policy with nearly double the deductible." ("Many In Middle Class Say They're Squeezed By Health Reform," Ventura County Star [CA], 12/7/13)
TX Man: 'had paid an annual $10,000 deductible before 2012. Now he pays double' "Policies bought before the law was passed were 'grandfathered in' and can remain in place, she said. But that apparently doesn't lock in the cost of premiums or deductibles, said Robert Kecseg, an investment adviser in Lewisville. Kecseg, 61, said he bought a plan before Obamacare took effect. But the insurer that provided the coverage went out of business. When he went to buy new insurance, he found that the cost was much higher. He had paid an annual $10,000 deductible before 2012. Now he pays double. 'It's pretty spectacular,' he said." ◼ ("Obamacare Stirs Anxiety For Thousands With Canceled Policies," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11/23/13)
VA Man: 'the deductibles are way higher, $5,000 or $6,000' "Brian H. Snoddy, 35, of Palmyra, Va., said his wife and two children had a policy with a $330 premium and a $2,500 deductible, but it is being canceled. For new plans with comparable coverage on the federal exchange, he said, 'the deductibles are way higher, $5,000 or $6,000.'" ◼ ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
MI Family: 'the couple's deductible will jump to $6,000 each instead of $4,000 combined' "Kalamazoo residents Mary Swanson and her husband are among the reported 225,000 Michiganders who received cancellation letters from their insurers because their plans did not meet the minimum standards of the Affordable Care Act. The Prudential Preferred Realtor, whose husband owns a construction business, said they currently pay $925 a month… She has been quoted between $1,300 and $1,500 a month for coverage, she said, and the couple's deductible will jump to $6,000 each instead of $4,000 combined. As a result, in 2014 they would need to budget $26,000 a year for health-care, Swanson said." ◼ ("Obamacare's Impact On Kalamazoo Residents: 'We're In The Worst Spot We Could Be,'" Kalamazoo Gazette, 11/23/13)
CA Man: A $5,000 deductible 'sounds really high' "In Santa Cruz, Calif., where the exchange is run by the state, Robert Aaron, a self-employed 56-year-old engineer, said he was looking for a low-cost plan. The best one he could find had a premium of $488 a month. But the annual deductible was $5,000, and that, he said, 'sounds really high.'" ◼ ("On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, But Other Costs Can Be High," The New York Times, 12/9/13)
NC Businessman: 'deductible is increasing by $1,000' Anchor: 'One local business owner told us he is suffering from sticker shock after watching his premiums skyrocket.' … Reporter: '…their health care premium is tripling from $311 a month to $963. He says the letter from his provider also said his deductible is increasing by $1,000.' … Tony Hyatt: 'I really am concerned that the way things are going that the quality of healthcare will go down.' ◼ (WSOC-NC, 11/18/13)
WA Small Business: 'There was one point when we had a $100 deductible. Now, it's $3,000' "She and her husband own A&C Mechanical in Wenatchee, a small business that has struggles every year with the rising cost of health insurance. 'It's literally getting to the point where it's unaffordable, and Obamacare does nothing to help that,' she said. 'There was one point when we had a $100 deductible. Now, it's $3,000.'" ◼ ("Experiences Finding Health Plans Range From Frustration To Elation," The Wenatchee World [WA], 11/23/13)
KY Woman: 'My deductible has doubled along with my premiums. ... This is hardly affordable health care' "I am deeply upset because of the effect this health care act has had on our family's health insurance. It has negatively impacted our finances and our quality of care. The President promised that if you had health care, you would not be impacted. The sad truth is that like my co-workers, my deductible has doubled along with my premiums. The only way to be able to adjust, is for us to either reduce or stop our 401K contributions. This is hardly affordable health care." (Sen. McConnell, Constituent Mail, 11/7/13)
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH): 'My co-pays and deductibles triple under Obamacare' "'My health insurance premiums are going to double,' the Ohio Republican said at his weekly news conference. 'My co-pays and deductibles triple under Obamacare. I'm thrilled to death, as you can tell.'" ◼ ("Boehner: It Took Me 3 To 4 Hours To Sign Up For Obamacare," The Washington Times, 12/5/13)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX): Deductible will triple "Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said he tried for six hours to sign up for Obamacare on Oct. 1 - the first day that the exchanges opened for business - without success. As of Friday, he had not yet enrolled, but a spokeswoman said the options Brady and his wife had found will double their premiums and triple their deductible." ◼ ("Members' Obamacare Sign-Up Headaches," Politico, 12/8/13)
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