Proposed rate increase: 16.8 percent from one year earlier.
Effective date: 2/1/2011
Oregonians impacted: 14,068 (actual membership as of July 2010)
Here: “A fundamental question about the health overhaul is what minimal standards will apply to the coverage all Americans will be required to have. UnitedHealth has been exchanging a high volume of information on the topic with members of the Senate Finance Committee and their staff. Stevens, the former British health aide, regularly scans Power Point presentations generated by the committee staff that attempt to calculate the actuarial value of proposed benefit packages. Senators stung by the projected $1 trillion price tag are winnowing down the required coverage levels to cut costs. (emph mine)
And the bottom line:
This is good news for UnitedHealth, which benefits when patients pick up more of the tab. In late spring, the Finance Committee was assuming a 76% reimbursement rate on average, meaning consumers would be responsible for paying the remaining 24% of their medical bills, in addition to their insurance premiums. Stevens and his UnitedHealth colleagues urged a more industry-friendly ratio. Subsequently the committee reduced the reimbursement figure to 65%, suggesting a 35% contribution by consumers—more in line with what the big insurer wants. The final figures are still being debated.
Oregon leftists/progressives’ shock over the price increases is about as convincing as those phony photo op doctor’s coats over there.
Pete the Banker