The GOP house committee report that only 67% of signups actually made their first payment for health insurance was a crock and any objective observer could see through their partisan BS.

Quote:Three large health insurers including WellPoint Inc. (WLP) and Aetna Inc. (AET) say that a high percentage of their new Obamacare customers are paying their first premiums, undermining a Republican criticism of enrollment in the program.

As many as 90 percent of WellPoint customers have paid their first premium by its due date, according to testimony the company prepared for a congressional hearing today. For Aetna, the payment is in the “low to mid-80 percent range,” the company said in its own testimony. Health Care Service Corp., which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states including Texas, said that number is at least 83 percent.

“What you have here is very solid first year enrollment, no matter how you slice it,” Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a Washington consulting firm, said in a phone interview. “This thing is, at this point, well entrenched.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014...miums.html

(05-07-2014 10:32 PM)dawgitall Wrote:  The GOP house committee report that only 67% of signups actually made their first payment for health insurance was a crock and any objective observer could see through their partisan BS.

Quote:Three large health insurers including WellPoint Inc. (WLP) and Aetna Inc. (AET) say that a high percentage of their new Obamacare customers are paying their first premiums, undermining a Republican criticism of enrollment in the program.

As many as 90 percent of WellPoint customers have paid their first premium by its due date, according to testimony the company prepared for a congressional hearing today. For Aetna, the payment is in the “low to mid-80 percent range,” the company said in its own testimony. Health Care Service Corp., which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states including Texas, said that number is at least 83 percent.

“What you have here is very solid first year enrollment, no matter how you slice it,” Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a Washington consulting firm, said in a phone interview. “This thing is, at this point, well entrenched.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014...miums.html

What you don't realize is that Anthem-Wellpoint, Aetna, and other BCBS plans, do not try to be the lowest priced insurer in the exchanges. They do have a better Provider Network than many of the lower cost insurers, however. And as a result you get more expensive insurance with more providers participating.

So what's the point, you say?

Just this-- Most of the people buying these higher premium plans have more money to spend that they're using to get the best provider network (many of the lower priced plans are going to have doctor shortages, and insurance brokers/agents are letting their clients who have income to pay their premiums, know this). Which means that a greater majority of these insurers/ clients are actually buying the insurance based on the fact they aren't looking for Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) to help them pay for it, and can afford the higher priced gross costs.

So, they as a group, they have more money to pay their bills, and are willing to buy coverage that costs more with a better provider network. People buying less expensive coverage and relying on APTC to help them pay, don't make as much, and even with the APTC, many just don't pay their bills, because they don't have as much disposable income.

The 67% figure isn't a sham. Even CBS News agrees with it. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/33-of-obamac...t-why-not/

(05-07-2014 10:47 PM)G-Man Wrote:  

(05-07-2014 10:32 PM)dawgitall Wrote:  The GOP house committee report that only 67% of signups actually made their first payment for health insurance was a crock and any objective observer could see through their partisan BS.

Quote:Three large health insurers including WellPoint Inc. (WLP) and Aetna Inc. (AET) say that a high percentage of their new Obamacare customers are paying their first premiums, undermining a Republican criticism of enrollment in the program.

As many as 90 percent of WellPoint customers have paid their first premium by its due date, according to testimony the company prepared for a congressional hearing today. For Aetna, the payment is in the “low to mid-80 percent range,” the company said in its own testimony. Health Care Service Corp., which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states including Texas, said that number is at least 83 percent.

“What you have here is very solid first year enrollment, no matter how you slice it,” Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health, a Washington consulting firm, said in a phone interview. “This thing is, at this point, well entrenched.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014...miums.html

What you don't realize is that Anthem-Wellpoint, Aetna, and other BCBS plans, do not try to be the lowest priced insurer in the exchanges. They do have a better Provider Network than many of the lower cost insurers, however. And as a result you get more expensive insurance with more providers participating.

So what's the point, you say?

Just this-- Most of the people buying these higher premium plans have more money to spend that they're using to get the best provider network (many of the lower priced plans are going to have doctor shortages, and insurance brokers/agents are letting their clients who have income to pay their premiums, know this). Which means that a greater majority of these insurers/ clients are actually buying the insurance based on the fact they aren't looking for Advanced Premium Tax Credits (APTC) to help them pay for it, and can afford the higher priced gross costs.

So, they as a group, they have more money to pay their bills, and are willing to buy coverage that costs more with a better provider network. People buying less expensive coverage and relying on APTC to help them pay, don't make as much, and even with the APTC, many just don't pay their bills, because they don't have as much disposable income.

The 67% figure isn't a sham. Even CBS News agrees with it. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/33-of-obamac...t-why-not/

That is some interesting information but it doesn't reflect any kind of 67% payment rate. The CBS article doesn't agree with your observations. It doesn't even address them. The main point they make in the article is the whole reason the GOP committee report was BS. A huge number of people that signed up didn't owe the first payment yet! There are any number of other reasons someone might not ever make that first payment. There are duplicate signups among the 8 million. Some people will get a new job that offers coverage, some people will not have the money in their monthly budget. Some will join the military or move out of the country. Some will find a deal they like better before the first payment was due and switch. There will always be a certain amount of "churn" in the market. But 67% is way off. It is going to run in the 80-90% range.

That information doesn't refute the overall claim of 67%, any fool can see that.

(05-07-2014 11:21 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  That information doesn't refute the overall claim of 67%, any fool can see that.

The committee got feedback from only 1/3 of the insurance providers that offer plans on the federal exchange.

The committee took the 67% figure from not only policies that were pass due but those that weren't even due yet.

Insurance providers have consistently reported paid policies by due date to be running at anywhere between 80-93%

Insurance representatives testified today before that committee that the 67% didn't reflect their numbers.

The best chain of doctors and hospitals in this region cut ties with BC/BS because of Obamacare, just so you know. So yay for those who have it, they can go to a shitspital and hopefully get some kind of good treatment. Or they can pay full price, out of pocket for the best treatment. I know the best doesn't count with potato chips or cokes, but when it comes to your health, the best is what you want.