AMERICA’S LARGEST INSURER COULD BE PULLING OUT OF SOCIALIZED MEDICINE
The unraveling, multi-year debacle that is U.S. president Barack Obama‘s socialized medicine law – a.k.a. “Obamacare” – is continuing unabated.
The latest bodyblow? News that UnitedHealthcare – America’s largest insurer – was considering bailing on the program (less than a month after indicating it would expand its Obamacare presence).
“The company is evaluating the viability of the insurance exchange product segment and will determine during the first half of 2016 to what extent it can continue to serve the public exchange markets in 2017,” a statement from the company read.
United Healthcare also announced it was pulling back its marketing efforts for Obamacare-related products in the coming year – a sure sign that the company is exiting the business.
Ouch …
One of the factors in United’s decision? The widespread failure of Obamacare’s government-subsidized cooperatives – which were supposed to ramp up competition in the health care market and drive down insurance costs.
That didn’t happen … the cooperatives proved unable to turn a profit, and now taxpayers are on the hook for billions of dollars in losses.
Oh, and let’s not forget that the corresponding lack of competition will lead to … wait for it … fewer coverage options and higher prices, two things Obamacare was supposed to address.
“Assuming nothing changes in the fiscal model – and after three years, it’s not likely to suddenly improve – that would create a huge gap in choice for many Americans in the next open enrollment period,” Ed Morrissey of Hot Air noted. “Many voters will suddenly find their coverage expired, forced to choose another plan from a smaller list of options, all of which will no doubt become even more expensive for everyone thanks to the decline in competition.”
And remember, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, if you don’t buy health insurance the government can now fine you. And those fines will be getting more expensive with each passing year.
Sort of like your health insurance …
So: Has Obamacare done anything right? Is there any good news to report regarding health care costs moving forward?
No … none. All that’s left to do at this point is discover the precise length and breadth of the shaft.
120 comments
My wife’s healthcare costs rose from $350 a month to $658 in past two years. She has short term health for 5 months until she goes on Medicare and yes I will pay the penalty.
Medicare with a supplement will be $300 cheaper and better benefits. We need to give Obama severance pay and a one way ticket to Chicago now!
So why aren’t you mad at her insurer?
Her insurer is a business that has the right to charge whatever for its services, but it’s government mandates that are driving costs.
Costs were steadily rising before Obama ever entered office.
Try again…
No, he’s got it right. A business should be able to charge whatever they want.
Government mandates were an issue even before the ACA, just at a different level.
The SCDOI tightly controlled who was allowed to sell health insurance in this state, & the companies allowed all sat on a board at the same agency…lol
Government has been restricting access and restricting free markets in healthcare for a very long time…contributing to price increases both before and after the ACA(in addition to money printing of course).
this
That’s why the system is broken. So many pieces of the health care industry charge “whatever” for their services that it greatly inflates the price of health care treatment. You go to the hospital, get an X-ray and a bottle of pills and pay thousands because the hospital charges you a mark up, the pharmaceutical company charges you a mark up, the medical device company that made the X-ray machine charges you a mark up, every last markup that went into anything you used is passed down to you. You’ve already been paying hundreds of dollars to your health insurance company a month as it is. You have to worry that health insurance is going to reject your claim for some bullshit reasoning and jerk you around just to see if they can get you to pay the whole damn bill on your own anyways. If they do accept the claim then they and the hospital jerk each other around for a while and hand you a bill that still costs an arm and a leg.
If the government is corrupted by the industries to stack the deck even further against the patient, I’d also pin a bit of the blame for that on the greedy bastards already ripping us off.
Business is for making a profit with marginal losses. The government is always losing money and never brings in what it owes. If it was a private entity, the government would be out of business.
Why are we talking about running a profit when it comes to whether people can see a doctor and get medical treatment? Insurance company profit means money you paid them and they didn’t pay back.
Insurance makes a living off of taking your money and not trying to give it back. Perhaps the rising costs are tied to insurance having to actually pay out for once so people can be treated? Heavens.
“Insurance makes a living off of taking your money and not trying to give it back.”
Wow, that’s some seriously “Broken Logic” indeed. I didn’t know you were investing in mutual funds, rather than buying insurance protection.
Perhaps the rising costs are tied to insurance having to actually pay out for once so people can be treated”
Huh? If they are required to cover (which they are), then by default they are having to “pay out”. Your scenario posits that health insurance coverage is nothing more than a charitable slush fund that can be used just like a voucher.
Maybe we should give everyone Medicare – then everyone would be covered and it woudl be cheaper.
I know it is a little late in the game but was there any reason given for Medicare not heading up Buck Farack’s Fuckcare Program
My wife and I have found the Medicare Program to be efficient and have always received assistance when a problem has occurred
The Medicare Personnel have over 50 years of experience and it makes no sense to me why they were not the HMFIC
Why not give everybody in the country Medicare now?
Sure! We can give everyone a house and a car too! Let’s also give everyone a job, uniforms, err, clothes, and even provide free food.
“A chicken in every pot.”
:)
Other advanced first world countries can.
Why can’t we…..oh yeah, idiots like you only want your tax dollars going to defense spending. I mean, why raise our quality of life with our tax dollars…..right?
One of these days the Social Security and Medicare promissory notes will come due and if they can’t be paid, bend over and kiss your ass goodbye.
Dude, we’ve been printing money to pay the bills for a long time now. There’s no reason to think that’s going to change anytime soon. In fact, everyone should get a car with their health insurance. Two for one special.
We know it isn’t free, we will pay for it through taxes. At the end of the day basic coverage can be taxed and paid for and it’ll come out cheaper for the vast majority of Americans. Middle and upper classes can purchase insurance to get an increase in services.
Yeah, The government can tend to your every need.
I can see everyone dressed in the Mao-style pantsuits that the Hildebeast rocks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO2eh6f5Go0
I’d rather not, thank you very little
Better yet let’s put them all in the VA, the ultimate socialized medicine in the US. The $18 trillion National Debt would look like pocket change.
“…was there any reason given for Medicare not heading up [Obamacare} …”?
Absolutely – by creating Obamacare, the Dems created thousands of new bureaucracy jobs.
I reckon now they can pay thousands unemployment
Actually, unemployment has come down since Obamacare started, haven’t you heard? Course it had nothing to do with Obamacare despite several articles I’ve seen lately attempts to link them.
Instead of constantly reporting that Obamacare is failing why not just point out the Democrat plan for useless, single payer, socialized medicine for everyone except political elites is working? Glass half full.
Single payer, it’s coming. Many have thought that ObamaCARE failing would not upset the Democrats. It was just a rest stop on the road to single payer.
Obama Care will fail, single payer is coming.
I hope so. Far better than what we currently have. It’s how everyone else runs their shit.
You think it is bad now, just wait till single payer hits us.
Why? Have you ever recieved health care in a single payer system?
I have and it was just fine…..and I didn’t pay an outrageous co-pay or premium.
Why is everything fear based with you types?
My sister has lived in Australia for the last few years.
She has no problem with her level of care and pays far less than she did in the States.
While I have no family Down Under, my British friends and Canadian family feel the opposite. The waiting and inefficiency is the most negative comments from them.
How many people in America get refused treatment due to inability to pay? At least a wait time gives hope of actually getting treatment.
Of course she pays far less. Taxes required for it would be less than what most pay in insurance premiums, and the coverage actually makes the doctor’s bill manageable, unlike here where a doctor’s visit WITH insurance can still cost a hundred bucks or more.
Single payer works out for more than just the poor.
Frank, there is a vast difference between the governments and populations of Australia and the US.
I don’t think Australia has the welfare problem that restrains us.
Well if you don’t know about Australia then find out before you shoot off your big mouth. While you are at it research the other countries that have single payer systems: Canada-UK-Germany-Sweden-Norway-Finland-Holland-Denmark-Belgium-France-Switzerland-Italy-Spain-Portugal-Ireland-Japan-Singapore-South Korea and Taiwan. This should keep you busy and off this blog for a while. Give us facts with back up before you make these narrow minded, conservative, tea bagger and bigoted one liners. FACTS boy FACTS.
SIT…Fred…SIT
If an American received health care in a country with single payer, I’m not even sure they would notice. Americans can’t tell if they’ve been medically helped unless they get raped with an enormous bill for it 30 days later.
Let’s run everything like France.
Or Canada. Or the UK. Germany. Sweden. Switzerland. Japan. Australia. Norway. Finland. Singapore. South Korea. Belgium. Denmark.
Like I said, “how everyone else runs their shit.” Except for maybe China. Let’s run everything like China!
My youngest was a victim of the cult of Obama. Last night, I helped her enroll for her first ever benefits package at her first job that had benefits. Between seeing her taxes, SS, and now paying for a modicum of security, she has her eyes wide open. I let her know I pay more in taxes that she nets. I don’t think she can wait til next November, poor thing. I’m going to have to gently let her know there isn’t a whole hell of a lot of difference with the other side.
Lol
True, my tax bill never seems to change no matter who is in office.
thank you daddy.
Good job..
Hey boy instead of shooting off your big mouth with inane one liners. Kindly give us some facts and numbers. Guys like you shoot off their mouths about the ACA aka Obamacare. Back in the 30’s the Conservatives attempted to block and repeal Social Sercurity and Medicare to no avail. Are you going to tell us that Social Security and Medicare was wrong and it doesn’t work. Apparently and I doubt it when you retire you will not apply, but if you are retired you didn’t file. You boy, are short sighted, narrow minded and bigoted a typical lame brain from Chesterfield County.
“Are you going to tell us that Social Security and Medicare was wrong and it doesn’t work.”
Pssssttttt…don’t go there too hard…it’s set to go bankrupt fairly soon.
Ah no. I didn’t say Social Security and Medicare was wrong and not working. I asked that question to that nob head erneba. Jesus can’t you read and comprehend English? Wow this South Carolina educational system SUCKS
Dude, you missed my point…sssshhhhhh! You must be from Mississippi.
Dude no, Your sense of humor is weirder than mine, and thank god I’m not from Mississippi. Did I spell it correctly? If so the Jesuits and the Irish Christian Brothers would be really pissed.
P.S. you will have your SS & Medicare. Not to worry, it’s the likes of erneba and his fellow tea baggers and sheet people who are concerned that our social programs are working. Have a nice evening.
Had you been from Mississippi, you’d doubtless have substantially more common sense than you are currently displaying….
Mississippi didn’t whine like bitches after Katrina… they just bucked up and began fixing the damage themselves. Self-sufficiency is a big deal there. You wouldn’t understand, fred.
…fred can you expand on how conservatives blocked Medicare in the 30s?
SIT, Fred, SIT.
Is that the best you can do? How bout attempting answer a few questions, or are going to do you usually do, that run and hide. Facts boy facts.
Where do you get your facts, fred.
I READ STUPID I READ. AGAIN MY SUGGESTION GO TO THE LIBRARY OR YOUR LOCAL COLLEGE FOR SEMINARS. It will expand your mind.
It’s obvious that reading hasn’t expanded your mind, you can even answer simple questions.
It’s obvious that you have a smattering of anger and ignorance in your tone and attitude. Upon reviewing my posts I did notice a mistake in the dates when I referred to Medicare they should have stated the 60’s rather than the 30’s. It does not change my opinion and thoughts from the books I read or read, which certainly not from Cracker Jacks! Yes conservatives have attempted to change are trying to fight medicare. It has been an ongoing battle that carried over to ACA. Your little twit
I have a smattering of anger and ignorance in my tone and attitude. I really am laughing out loud.
You finally googled Medicare didn’t you. I gave you several opportunities to correct your mistake but your anger, ignorance and attitude only forced you to dig the hole deeper.
Next time you jump into a discussion don’t insult people right off the bat and get you facts straight…some of us have lived the very history you are trying to discuss. It would also help if you proof read your comments before you post them.
BTW I knew if I called you a little twit you would respond.
Here’s a few words of advice from history:
Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Now that he’s corrected his mistake on Medicare, care to discuss why conservatives were steadfastly against it and Social Security, even though the benefits of both programs are clearly what keeps millions of elderly people above the poverty line today?
I sincerely hope you respond earnestly.
Having watched you troll down this thread the last 30 plus minutes using multiple user names, I sincerely believe you are anything but earnest.
Have a good day.
Health care reform is important to me. I’ve seen my family members screwed over by the system years and years before the ACA ever came along, and the ACA seems to fix a few things that may have actually helped my family out, even if it isn’t perfect.
I feel that I’m being fair with you right now. All I asked was your thoughts regarding why conservatives were against a system that is so popular today. It seems you are just uncomfortable talking about it. To me it is unfathomable that someone today could agree with those that stood against such programs in the past, but I do wonder how people on the other side of the aisle regard conservatives of yesteryear.
If you don’t want to answer, so be it, but I would ask that others note the lack of response to the point fred originally made.
“..why conservatives were against a system that is so popular today..”
The Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare is completely underwater in the polls. it is not popular.
Try to do a little research before posting.
Please see the polling numbersd at the following link.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obama_and_democrats_health_care_plan-1130.html
Come now, as Just Wondering suggested kindly respond earnestly. I trust that you understand that Jefferson was a human and a flawed man. Also I hate to tell you I didn’t need to google Medicare; however I did consider going out for some cracker jacks though. But I came to my senses and realized I made a typing error as I still think I have enough sense and humility to know when an error was made with my fingers and not with my brain. So any way I await your reply,and by the way you do a fair amount of trolling yourself. If I may your lecturing reminded of an old nun that I had in elementary school, but she was considerably more knowledgeable and kinder than you. Sorry sir or madam I’m not going to get into a pissing contest. I await your reply. Sincerely your little twitt.
Good call, another troll, just trying to goad someone into responding to his false assumption,
“care to discuss why conservatives were steadfastly against it and Social Security..”
That is some stupid shit, isn’t it?
They are not smart, but they never give up, it is called being “dense.”
This person has been following me around this blog and trolling me for weeks. I don’t respond because I think the person has mental problems or just plain fucking stupid, or could be a combination of the two.
In general, I don’t respond to people like this. Me being a conservative usually attracts a variety of liberal trolls. Found out a long time ago they just want to engage, not to debate the issue, but use it as a forum for personal attacks and name calling. That is the reason I always respond to him by issuing the command SIT…. Fred….SIT….
Having an idiot goading me into a response is just not going to happen.. He will probably persist, and that is OK, this is an open forum.
On this blog, he is not alone, but he is probably more persistent and substantially less intelligent than the other trolls.
And don’t mistake my lack of engaging as a sign of being fearful about a debate with these troll, it would be a wasted effort and I just don’t have the time to expend on them.
.
This person has been following me around this blog and trolling me for weeks. I don’t respond because I think the person has mental problems or just plain fucking stupid, or could be a combination of the two.
In general, I don’t respond to people like this. Me being a conservative usually attracts a variety of liberal trolls. Found out a long time ago they just want to engage, not to debate the issue, but use it as a forum for personal attacks and name calling. That is the reason I always respond to him by issuing the command SIT…. Fred….SIT….
Having an idiot goading me into a response is just not going to happen.. He will probably persist, and that is OK, this is an open forum.
On this blog, he is not alone, but he is probably more persistent and substantially less intelligent than the other trolls.
And don’t mistake my lack of engaging as a sign of being fearful about a debate with these troll, it would be a wasted effort and I just don’t have the time to expend on them.
Keep up the good fight.
Yes, it is best to ignore pugnaciousness.
English. Do. You. Speak it?
fred can you expand on how conservatives blocked Medicare?
If you read my post I stated “attempted to block and/or repeal”, not blocked. A little further information even the Supreme Court had seriously considered to take action; however to no avail. It’s all in the history books.
What history books cover “attempted to block and/or repeal” Medicare in the 30s?
I have suggestion read and study history books or take classes
A- Will expand your knowledge, understanding and make you think.
B- You will spend less in watching FOX News time
C- You may comprehend how our country and changed over time
It’s that simply.
Medicare you little twit, explain how conservatives tried to block or repeal Medicare in the 30s.
I suggest you try reading history books and taking classes not produced by extreme liberals with an agenda, fred. As for FOX, I agree.
Social Security came about in the 30s, and yes, conservatives did try to block it. Medicare obviously came later, but his point that conservatives stood against it is crystal clear. Ronald Reagan himself spoke out against it as, wait for it, socialized medicine.
You can trip him up on “Medicare in the 30s” if you want but you are still dismissing the overall point he made, conservatives did not want comprehensive government programs to help the elderly.
True, both bills had opposition from conservatives but had bi-partisan support at voting time. ACA was a poorly written bill that was only supported by the democrats.
“Are you going to tell us that Social Security and Medicare was wrong and it doesn’t work.”
If you listen closely enough, that’s all Republicans talk about, and they constantly push ways to increase the age at which you can withdraw, or completely retool it, or simply get rid of it for people born after a certain year.
They can’t come right out and say they want to kill it though, because then they would lose the elderly vote in a heartbeat and lose 90% of their offices.
Ok, does anyone here know exactly how many different companies are offering healthcare via Obamacare’s “SHOP” market program for this coming year?
I’ll give a few minutes before answering, unless someone here knows the answer.
No, but in my county and in my age bracket, I have a choice of BCBS or Aetna. I was just looking at the website last night. Aetna’s offerings are more expensive than BCBS. Am considering giving up my grandfathered plan since another 10% increase is coming. I have been hanging on to my plan due to all the political uncertainty since it was enacted.
Well, you’re doing better than the “ACA marketplace” for small business here in SC(known as “SHOP”), which has exactly 1 choice:
BC&BS
You can have any “plan” you want, as long as it’s BC&BS.
It’s a total scam.
It is probably going to shake out as Blue Cross Blue Shield of America eventually….the sole provider of health insurance.
Yep, our healthcare is becoming the Lada.
One size does not and should not fit all. Why does a married couple in their 50s need pregnancy coverage? There was a time when a doctors visit was paid out of pocket and wasn’t expected to be covered insurance. This all started going down hill with the inception of that single payer Medicare.
BTW where is that $2500 savings…it must have gone the way of a video.
Medical care are wasn’t as expensive pre-Medicare days. Advances since that time to keep people alive are what is costly. If one didn’t have insurance back then, they used their savings, charity or went on welfare type programs. From what I’ve read about private insurance in those days, it wasn’t that great either.
In 1969 my son was born. I had just gotten out of the service and the birth wasn’t covered by my insurance, preexisting condition. I paid the hospital $300 cash and it covered every thing for the five day stay. Four years later my daughter was born in the same hospital with the same five day stay, $2000, there weren’t that many advances in four years.
i am tears.
Part of the problem is profiteering in the medical industry. When the polio vaccine was invented people cared more about making sure everyone got it than trying to make tons of money off of it. Now big pharma tries to push out harmful drugs, wage huge ad campaigns for them, and pay off doctors to be pill pushers to make billions of dollars.
Since we are talking about Medicare, might as well mention that the government can’t negotiate drug prices because that would hurt big pharma’s bottom line. Better yet ask why we can’t buy the same drugs from across the sea, where they are far cheaper because, yes, other countries’ governments don’t let the companies do to them what they do to us.
Medical costs rise because of advances, but they also rise because of the profit motive. Corporations have a duty to shareholders to produce profit, and they are constantly driving to make more and more of it. That money comes from somewhere. Feel that tug on your wallet yet?
UnitedHealcare’s CEO makes $49.9 MIL per year!
” Advances since that time to keep people alive are what is costly.”
Economics have been removed from who stays alive & who doesn’t. It’s considered “cold hearted” to suggest that someones 85 year old grandma maybe should have the $150,000 heart valve surgery for cost reasons.
I certainly don’t want the government deciding that…but most people now seem uncomfortable with playing the cards they are dealt and personal responsibility and want government to redistribute wealth in the form of healthcare too.
Government healthcare, like all government programs- will devolve to a large, inefficient & expense government run mess that yields mostly poor service.
It might take 10 or 20 years for the full effect of government healthcare to be seen…but it will end up the way all government programs end up.
Failing BY DESIGN. Thanks Dems!!!
Yep—the “marketplace will stabilize”—but NOT like Obama wants—come November of 2016
When Obamacare and the RINOs and OTHER Dims who passed it will no longer have a spleen
And when they try to smoke you with “no GOP voted for it” remind them of what we all know
The RINOs who ran saying they’d “defund it” kept doing lines of RINO Boehner/Ryan snow
That’s right—they DID NOT defund it but now the cringing cowards are asking for your vote
But that long Tea Train IS rolling and we WILL go bowling—separating sheep from the goats !!!
(YEP—includes your worthless, flag-ripping rear-end, too, Joe-I-Lie-To- Conservatives-Wilson)
Rolling downhill if the New Morality Tea Party gets their way, yikes.
Who da thunk? I got notification recently that my Obamacare premiums (Blue Cross of SC) are going up 40% next year! Ain’t no way folks can afford this garbage at these rates!
I check the SC DOI website regularly looking for the rate announcement for my grandfathered plan. ACA Blue Choice plans Max possible increase 16.5% Min 6.13% Average 8.89% – BCBS Max 14.77% Min 4.91% Average 8,66%. If you received an increase larger than those – they slapped you with an age increase along with the premium hike. That’s pretty standard, every 5 years I’ve received the double whammy.
I worked for a company that was a service provider for UnitedHealthcare. This is their normal process for trying to pressure the Feds into some sugar. You think they’re going to give up access to the markets? No likely. If you sell pies for a lving do you actively try and reduce the number of pies you sell?
Pogo reported this long go. Thanks for catching up.
Of course we’ve all known what a fraud Obamacare is, for a while. The liberals are just figuring it out…
I did.Thank you.
Yep, in between blowing GrandTango and attacking commenters’ families. LMAO!!!!!!!!
There really is a group of democrats that has replaced god with government. Government can solve any problem, like Healthcare or home loans, or running banks, or student loans. Get it through your heads – government money only causes a bidding war with the people that actually work. Insanity. Can you liberal progressives name one government that wasn’t a dismal failure or a black hole filled with government money. But…onto the next failed government program. Ignorance is bliss.
united health care pulls out of obamacare. too bad fred farkels dad didnt do the same ultimate fail
I was a licensed agent for United insurance in 1980. Was real simple take all you can and pay back nothing. The cruise trips, elaborate parties is what you’re paying for.
Nobody cares.
thought provoking
In case your interested UnitedHealthcare’s CEO makes $49.9MILLION per year. Thanks itsbushesfault and your mama should have swallowed.
the “young and healthy” premium payers obama said would foot the bill arent paying. what a shock. these same young adults who want there student loans expunged. doomed to fail. surely obama backers are starting to see the light.if not theres no hope
*You’re
Beginning to come apart in every direction, is it not???…
Let Liberalism go unabated, as it has been with Obama, and it will collapse on itself…as it is doing…
7 million people have insurance who did not have it previously. next year, a small portion of those 7 million might have….gasp…fewer choices!!! we may as well surrender to ISIS at this point.
Yes, to hell with the costs- 7 million people baby! Next stop welfare for the world! We can print money to success.
http://www.ibtimes.com/unitedhealth-group-mulls-losses-blames-obamacare-ceo-stephen-hemsley-took-home-66m-2194436
UnitedHealth Group Mulls Losses, Blames Obamacare, But CEO Stephen Hemsley Took Home $66M In 2014
Ah hah, the free market at work.
May pull out of the exchange. No company can offer health insurance and not comply with rules of the act.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/260935-anthem-aetna-stand-behind-obamacare-plans
Major insurers Anthem, Aetna standing behind ObamaCare plans
This is the one area where Carson has the best plan. “Concierge” will work better than any other medical system, because it puts the doctor back with the patient instead of a freaking computer. It will give best service for poor and rich alike. The plan is so good, I expect Trump will do it, once he is elected. (not a preference, just a feeling.)
This was the actual Carson plan, presented to Congress for a ‘grant’ and all:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/carsoncare-the-doctors-needy-patients-fund-that-went-nowhere-216111
Carson may actually be the biggest, longest term GOP grifter this cycle.
‘Concierge’ works only at the doctor’s office and only when you have the money for your annual fee.
I’ll wait a week, when this story, too, will be found to be false, like the other Politico stories about Carson.
Now, the way Carson explained it to me, the concierge plan is quite logical and everyone will be able to afford it. Since I am already on a concierge plan, the change will be meaningless for me, but you will be pleased and well served.
Obamacare is educating millennials, thank you democrats. Now single payer will NEVER happen.