Not as impressive as single payer would be, of course, but in country ruled by capitalism, not bad.
Individuals buying health insurance on their own will see their premiums tumble next year in New York State as changes under the federal health care law take effect, state officials are to announce on Wednesday.
State insurance regulators say they have approved rates for 2014 that are at least 50 percent lower on average than those currently available in New York. Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more for coverage will be able to shop for health insurance for as little as $308 monthly. With federal subsidies, the cost will be even lower.
What comes down (such a deal) will go up. With a vengeance in a free market Capitalist system. Medicare for all. Everything else is a ripoff.
$308/month is hysterically funny. How many working people in jobs without benefits can afford that? Even then the insurance will have a $500 or $1,000 deductible and 20% copay. You would be better off to save the money you would pay for premiums and hope for the best, paying cash for ordinary medical visits.
If you have a big medical crisis you will be bankrupt anyway, or you may get lucky and just die on the table. That’s my plan.
I kept wondering, on hearing this news, just what these various plans actually cover. The range was from about $300/month to $900/month.
Now, NY and NJ do have community rating, so that does affect the cost, usually upward. But the lower cost plans, as pragmatic realist points out, will cost dearly if actually used for other than covered annual checkup type things. Serious illness may well be bankruptcy time.