Manhattan Buckeye;1571237 wrote:...couple of dozen of guys that are now doing to be out of pocket to the tune of nearly $4,000/year for insurance they won't use and certainly don't need. How is this called the Affordable Healthcare Act when it becomes less affordable for people?
Technically it's an additional $2000 out-of-pocket (which is still pretty significant).
But it's social health insurance. The concept is you contribute a net subsidy when you are younger, and then benefit as you get older. But that logic isn't going to be apparent to most people (nor should it necessarily be - it's major financial choices people have a right to manage themselves).
The reality is I don't really see where they are going to generate "savings" from as margins in insurance are already very slim. The opportunity is in pharma and medical devices (and malpractice, which isn't being addressed). And the other non-obvious thing to most people is if you attempt to force lower margins on pharma and medical devices, R&D is going to suffer.
My solution would be to mandate/regulate how insurance companies can pool risk (i.e. can't screen/filter on pre-existing conditions). Then open competition across state lines, etc...
