The Health Scare That's Always There

Team Obama is trying to hide the new ObamaCare premiums until after the election but the cat is wriggling out of the bag.

Even NPR is getting into the act with this timely reminder:

Health Premiums And Costs Set To Rise For Workers Covered At Work

Fall is enrollment season for many people who get insurance through their workplace. Premium increases for 2015 plans are expected to be modest on average, but the shift toward higher out-of-pocket costs overall for consumers will continue as employers try to keep a lid on their costs and incorporate health law changes.

Recent surveys of employers suggest that premiums will rise a modest 4 percent in 2015, on average, slightly higher than last year but lower than typical recent increases.

Bus as Chris Conover notes at Forbes, a 4% increase in health premiums in an era of minimal wage growth is painful:

There’s been a fierce debate over whether Obamacare has increased health insurance premiums. Progressives have argued Obamacare is working due to modest projected premium increases on the Exchanges for 2015. Conservatives have retorted that “there can be no doubt that health care today is more costly than it would have been without Obamacare.”  But this argument has focused on the health Exchanges, where only 7-8 million people bought their coverage in 2014. Readers would do well to remember that more than 20 times that number of people rely on employer-provided health benefits (Table C-1).  In the employer-based market, the adverse effects of Obamacare on premiums and affordability are strikingly obvious. 

...

Most discussions of premium trends have failed to address the reality that the purported slowdown in health spending in recent years has occurred at a time that worker earnings also have slowed down relative to earlier periods. For example, the increase in average wages & salaries between calendar year 2012 and calendar year 2013 was only 0.7%. With the exception of the increase from 2008 to 2009 (remember that the recession officially began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009), this was the lowest rate of increase in all the years since 1999–a period which saw increases of 3.0% or more in 6 different years.  In contrast, family health insurance premiums rose 3.8% between 2012 and 2013–a modest increase in absolute terms, but vastly faster than the rise of average wages and salaries.

 

 

Comments

[Old Lurker]

Cross post to save the math:

So Lyle, you linked the story about having about $3,500 places you in the top half of world wealth. See LUN for the story.

OK.

Now look at the maps and charts and pretend we have an open border to the south (and north for rounding purposes).

The US has a per capita wealth of $365,000 so to make the math easy assume that applies to Canada too.

South of the Rio Grande going all the way south, the per capita wealth is "$5-25,000" based on the little colored map. Call it $20,000 to make the math easy.

Now if the 365M people above the Rio Grande throw their wealth into the pot, and the 545M south of the river do the same, then we would all have an average wealth of $130,000 assuming the rest of the world stays the same.

So Jeb, you be the first to toss 2/3 (65%) of your net worth into the pot THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT OPEN BORDERS! (thanks Gus, that felt good!)

[maryrose]

OL:
You forgot to say first
Dos

[Dave (in MA)]

On top of that, NStar and National Grid are going to get whomped with 37% worth of necessarily skyrocket.

[Dave (in MA)]

(customers of NStar and National Grid)

[rich@gmu]

trois

good times. good times.

[narciso]

4%, that's why they are hiding it like 'the Spring Surprise' of the Whizzo chocolate assortment,

[lyle]

Damn, you're good, Dave.

[rich@gmu]

damn it.

Dave-

are those electricity providers?

[Dave (in MA)]

Rich, they're the main suppliers of electricity and natural gas around here.

[rich@gmu]

that is a nice graphic.

[henry]

Rich, don't know who they are... Except they are not me. : (

[lyle]

Wait, that should be:

DAMN, you're good, Dave

[rich@gmu]

YIKES!!! Dave sorry about that.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://dailycaller.com/2014/10/14/TRANDREA-MITCHELL-is-skeptical-that-greg-abbott-is-actually-disabled/.

[henry]

Dave, the electric guys here put a surcharge on people with their own solar, plus reduced the rate they credit for solar production.

[rich@gmu]

henry-

yeah I could use some pricing power and a bit of cash in the ole' wallet, but pretty sure it wouldn't last long.

funployment ...

[Dave (in MA)]

Well, they don't want you stealing the sun's rays without compensating them.

[lyle]

/sobs...

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: lyle | October 14, 2014 at 06:06 PM-

why? we only have 2-ish more years to look forward to ...

>>>they don't want you stealing the sun's rays without compensating them<<< ... lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fzJ_AYajA

[Gus]

Didn't the Jugears tell us that passing JUGEARSCARE would save families $2,500 per year?? When do he savings begin?

[rich@gmu]

gus-

he misspoke.

[RickB]

Gus,

Are you criticizing the Plague Emperor's application of the Merde Touch? What sort of comparative should be used with "It's much worse than..."?

[Danube on iPad]

I am unable to follow anything on this thread.

World class asshole and RINO John Warner stabs Gillespie in the back, praises Mark Warner for his bipartisanship. Christ.

[lyle]

Well, there is that, rich, but my tears come from a more injurious source than the grim prospect of the next two years: Dave reposted a link that I posted...hours ago. I can only conclude that more than a few of you completely skip over my comments!

/more sobbing ;)

[narciso]

Really, Danube, he was already on record supporting Mrs, Nunn, and for those with longer memories, Chuck Robb,

[jimmyk]

If only for campaign purposes, it would be helpful to know what aspects of 404care are responsible for costs going up for employer-sponsored plans. The NPR article isn't so clear (unsurprisingly). Rs need to be able to point out exactly what 404care is costing people to keep the momentum up for repeal, and make sure even people not on the exchanges understand that it's hitting them in the wallet, and undoubtedly reduced quality.

[Miss Marple]

lyle,

That has happened to me several times.

I just figure I don't add enough bells and whistles to get people to comment on what I post.

OR, it simply means that the story is so important that it needed to be reported.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Danube on iPad | October 14, 2014 at 06:22 PM-

lol ... JATFI.

I'm having difficulty following the thread too.

lyle-

don't take it personally. YIKES!!!

[RickB]

That has happened to me several hundred times.

But I never sob about it.

I just add names to The List.

[Extraneus]

Really, Danube, he was already on record supporting Mrs, Nunn, and for those with longer memories, Chuck Robb,

Do Dems have such bipartisans, or did I miss that episode?

[narciso]

the premium against preexisting conditions, the birth control and prenatal insurance, and other goodies required under the plans, the host of Pawn Stars, said his employees insurance went from 19,000 to 30,000, the number of exemptions, makes the premiums much more likely to necessarily skyrocket

[henry]

Jimmyk, it's a long list of free stuff (e.g. contraception with zero copay, ending limits on chriropractor visits, etc.), plus the end of pre-existing conditions, plus taxes. I just snuck through with my grandfathered plan one more time (with a lot of mandates added) -- an ACA compliant plan would cost at least double what I pay today.

[Captain Hate]

Somebody needs to tell Trandrea that being disabled is something other than having ginormous acne craters on one's face.

[maryrose]

lyle:
I always read your posts ,{she said trying to be a brown-nose}

[maryrose]

Many states are mandated to let people know on Nov.1st how much their premiums will be increased because of a rule that demands a 60 day notice. Obama group doesn't want the rates to be known but they will be, in many states BEFORE the election.

[Captain Hate]

maryrose, did you see this that narc linked on the prior thread?

http://twitchy.com/2014/10/14/tea-party-president-in-stop-common-core-t-shirt-denied-access-to-john-kasich-event/

[narciso]

Somebody help me out here, we already know who Risen's sources was on Merlin, so why was he asking for anonymity,

[Captain Hate]

Even Poppin' Fresh responded to DirtRoad Barbie's attack without an "In fairness". That's as close to a Code Red as you get with the Tepid Gas crowd.

[narciso]

Zell Miller crossed over on somethings, and so did Lieberman, and they practically made him the Wicker Man,

[GMax]

Are you sitting down?

New England College out with a new poll:

Brown 48%
Shaheen 46.5%

BOOM! Great movement since they started at Shaheen + 7 weeks ago...

[Iggy]

Yes, but a ginormous crater in the middle of her cranium does amount to a pretty significant disability, Cap'n.

[Extraneus]

In order for the Democrat party to become unified, as they are today, they needed to purge some people. Miller and Lieberman both ended up speaking at Republican conventions before drifting off into the sunset.

And it wasn't like they did this while in power. Those guys weren't exactly dispensable.

[Iggy]

Removing the medicaid expansion crowd, which needed none of the Barry Goldberg variations of ACA to be implemented, are there more or fewer insured than before Barrycare?
Anyone know?

There are almost certainly fewer insured than there were under the unspeakable Bush I assume, even after six years of Barry's scalding economy.

[clarice]

ANY REP SENATE CANDIDATES RAISING THIS ISSUE? Any of them reminding voters of the turds the President and Dem Senate shoehorned into office--and what is likely to follow--i.e. Perez unless the Republicans get a good solid Senate majority?
Why not. The moron voters don't even seem to get there are three branches of Govt .

[RickB]

I can't figure out which demographic is supposed to be dumb enough to fall for 'hide the ball' regarding premium, deductible and copay increases. I don't believe that even the Lackwitz Sisters are that gullible.

Isn't "they wouldn't hide good news" the obvious reaction?

[Rob Crawford]

Anyone else suspect "The Missourian" commenting on Ebola threads at Insty is a CDC intern? Total incredulity towards the CDC line, repeating the same talking points over and over, and utter indifference towards the victims of the administration's policies.

[Jojo]

"Even Poppin' Fresh..."

Not surprising he responded. His wife is blind so no wonder he'd be sympathetic to any situation like that.

"I come at this question from a little different point of view. I lost my sight when I was 24 years old. I am totally blind, and have never seen my husband, son, daughter-in-law, or two precious granddaughters. I know them intimately -- they are the closest people to me in my life -- but I have never "seen" them. My son, David was born about four years after I lost my sight, and I was blind when I met and married my husband, Ed." -- Marcia
Morrissey

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Marcia-Morrissey-What-Does-God-Really-Look-Like.html

[narciso]

the Appeals Court, reinstated the Voter ID decision in Texas,

[GMax]

Hear Hear. Why its alright to require ID in Indiana, Ohio and Texas and not in Wisconsin is certainly not clear to me. Especially with the composition of the Supreme Court today...

[Captain Hate]

Jojo, doesn't Poppin' have some health issues of his own? There's nothing in his Wiki entry but that might be because he doesn't want it publicized.

[Captain Hate]

I think DoT and others explained that the Wisconsin voter ID law wouldn't be applied because early voting ballots went out under the old rules and they wanted equal enforcement of the law. I'm sure the opponents did their best in dragging their feet on the law to produce this disequilibrium and don't get me started on "early voting".

But I think that was the underlying rationale of why it wouldn't be universally applicable.

While typing this I got a robocall from George Voinovich; I slammed the phone down as quickly as if it was the Restraining Order.

[narciso]

the Newsbuster link on Carlos Slim's take, reminds how the strigoi reacted when Cleland was challenged in that 2002 race

[GMax]

So if some fraudulent ballots get through, we have to count all the fraudulent ballots. WTF?

[Frau Miau!]

Clarice sez: "Why not. The moron voters don't even seem to get there are three branches of Govt"

Welcome to Barry Rock Candy Mountain.

[GMax]

rock candy = crystal meth

[narciso]

Here is the link:

[Captain Hate]

Take it up with Queen Roberts, GMax.

[Frau Miau!]

Even better, GMax. There's even free delivery via an Obamaphone.

[GMax]

"Everybody in Cleveland got themselves an Obamaphone". How about you CH?

[narciso]

Dread Pirate Roberts,@ as MarkO would say, as for why they didn't take the previous case, why not a spirited dissent,

[Captain Hate]

I don't live in Cleveland, GMax. Are you gonna start taking shots at me because I answered a question you had even though I didn't particularly agree with the answer? But it was the correct answer no matter how much you or I might not agree with it.

[Miss Marple]

I cannot believe Greta seriously just asked Lindsey Graham if he is running for president.

[narciso]

Just call them Moloch's Court and be done with it,

[Rob Crawford]

Good news! The abusers in Rotherham will be held account, and the officials who let them get away with it will be punished!

...

Nah, not really. The records have "gone missing". LUN.

[GMax]

Honestly take a breath CH. It was joke. A joke One that went over your flat head, but a joke, OK? Nothing about your response, or anything else. I was not really looking for a response or arguing with you or frankly anything else. If you wish you can consider me a non entity and just never respond to me, then you never have to get your back up over absolutely nothing at all...

Sheesh

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

Ok GMax; sorry for the overreaction.

[Miss Marple]

In case you were wondering about the guy who does those anti-Obama posters out in Los Angeles, his name is Sabo and here is his web site:

http://unsavoryagents.com/

[Iggy]

--So if some fraudulent ballots get through, we have to count all the fraudulent ballots. WTF?

Posted by: GMax | October 14, 2014 at 07:13 PM--

The actual reasoning was; any ballots received without proof of ID would be scrubbed, effectively disfranchising that voter.

Plausible, but as others have noted, a manufactured plausibility due to stringing things out as long as possible.

[AliceH]

Headline in a WaPo story:

Black voters in St. Louis County direct their anger at the Democratic Party

Includes this:

So on Nov. 4, the 27-year-old assembly line worker and hip-hop musician from a deeply Democratic community plans to take bold action. He says he will vote for a white Republican.

“Just because they’ve got the D next to their name, that don’t mean nothing,” said Seals, who lives a few blocks from where a police officer shot Brown. “The world is watching us right now. It’s time to send a message of our power.”

Many African Americans in Ferguson and across St. Louis County, angered over their leaders’ response to the fatal shooting, say they will be taking their outrage to the ballot box and voting against a Democratic Party that has long been their automatic choice.

Wow.

[GMax]

Sounds like the answer is to ban early voting. Fine by me, there has always been absentee voting, if you have a decent excuse. Early voting is an open invitation to commit fraud, especially when no ID and an piece of mail marked occupant allows same day registration...

[AliceH]

Link to WaPo story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/black-voters-in-st-louis-county-direct-their-anger-at-the-democratic-party/2014/10/14/e6957b8a-4f02-11e4-aa5e-7153e466a02d_story.html

[Miss Marple]

Well, it seems that the panic is causing all sorts of goofs by the dems. Here is Hickenlooper, the dem Colorado governor, saying that rural Coloradans can't appreciate complicated issues:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vRMvdp6qdQ

I am happy to see mass implosion.

[Jane]

I proposed the following to my liberal friends who suggest that voter ID is so mean to old people and stupid people who all seem to be minorities in their world - because there is no issue with fraud:

NO voter ID but anyone convicted of voter fraud gets a mandatory life sentence.

Crickets.

[rse]

On the cdc, saw some dr friends this weekend who retired from there and now pursue other things and they could not understand why they are saying what they are.

OT but I knew the JOMers with ties to CL would appreciate this new video. http://community-wealth.org/content/cleveland-model-how-evergreen-cooperatives-build-community-wealth

May I say that that front last night and today was rainwise worse than a tropical storm and just kept showing up anytime I was not going due north. Mercy me.

[Captain Hate on the iPhone]

I've been waiting for the stupidity of the commiecrats to reach critical mass and it never seems to happen. Be pretty nice if 404 could produce change I can believe in.

[Miss Marple]

Captain Hate,

I figure we have been patient in our suffering long enough. I don't know what brought on this sudden mass implosion here on earth, but I thank God for His intervention.

[Janet]

Love your DOOM, Dave.
That circle D for Dems & then 2 Obama logos with an M would work too.
Obama logos...isn't that weird too?

He was/is such a marketed piece of crap.

[Dave (in MA)]

my tears come from a more injurious source than the grim prospect of the next two years: Dave reposted a link that I posted...hours ago.

Sorry lyle, I guess I was more concerned with working "TRANDREA" into the link than I was in checking to see if it was redundant.

[GMax]

According to Credit Suisse, the real 1% is:

You need $798,000 to make it into the top percentile of the world’s wealthiest. This select group accounts for almost half - 48.2pc - of global assets.

Perspective.

[Janet]

Has this been posted - City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/

"The subpoenas are just the latest twist in an ongoing saga over the Houston’s new non-discrimination ordinance. The law, among other things, would allow men to use the ladies room and vice versa. The city council approved the law in June.

The Houston Chronicle reported opponents of the ordinance launched a petition drive that generated more than 50,000 signatures – far more than the 17,269 needed to put a referendum on the ballot.

However, the city threw out the petition in August over alleged irregularities."

[Janet]

Maybe we can get churches declared "free speech zones"?
I realize that America used to be a free speech zone...but times are a-changin'.

[Iggy]

That unsavoryagents guy is hilarious, MM.

In that same vein I will link the superb People's Cube again at which there is a lot of new very funny stuff.
Take the time to read all the way down; it's all good.

[aged lurker]

AliceH: your 7:48 post is the best news I have seen in months, for all sorts of reasons. Thanks!

[Threadkiller]

GMax, What?

Is that a net worth?

Seems to include teachers, firefighters, and cops.

[Iggy]

Surely, the ACLJ or some other right of center public interest law group will or already has pounced on that Houston abomination.

[Threadkiller]

Does this mean Houston mosques are handing over their sermons?

[rich@gmu]

probably not ... sermon /= khutbah, TK.

>>>He was/is such a marketed piece of crap.

Posted by: Janet | October 14, 2014 at 07:58 PM<<<

here, here ...

[lyle]

No prob, Dave. I just can't resist being a faux drama queen. Duplicated links are the least of our worries. I wish we had a sarcasm font on this board, though.

[Threadkiller]

http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2010/08/houston-among-the-top-10-muslim-cities-in-u-s/

Maybe Mayor Lezbo thinks the imams are down with gays.

[Threadkiller]

 I wish we had a sarcasm font on this board, though.

JATFI

[Dave (in MA)]

Somebody needs to tell Trandrea that being disabled is something other than having ginormous acne craters on one's face.

At least when Greg Abbott goes home he doesn't have to let Greenspan get on top of him, to paraphrase something that Imus used to say to her back in the '90s.

[Iggy]

Howard Fineman finally admits Barry is an eff up who has effed up everything but he doesn't know why.

[Dave (in MA)]

and just be thankful I didn't mock up an illustration for my 8:23.

[jimmyk]

The law, among other things, would allow men to use the ladies room and vice versa.

Any of you Texans can explain why this is happening in Houston? I don't even think San Francisco or Seattle have gone that far, have they? I thought Texas outside of Austin was fairly conservative.

[Jack is Back!]

JimmyK,

Not in the big cities. All Dems. Look at Dallas - kooky.

[Mad Jack]

Has this been posted - City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons

Are we sure that link is not a parody site? Seems unbelievable to me.

[Gus]

If I was a Pastor in Houston, I'd say all of my sermons were lost when my HARD DRIVE failed.

[rich@gmu]

mad jack-

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/

#notajoke

[narciso]

well that and the requisite canoe incident,