Changes from 2015 to 2016... Rules, Premiums, Plans, Exchanges, Etc.

AllenChicago

Guru
5000 Post Club
8,448
Subj: EMBEDDED OOP Limits for 2016

YAgents touched on this subject in another thread 2 weeks ago... Contained within a broader 2/27/2015 rule, HHS is requiring that all 2016 plans use "embedded" OOP $$ limits. Here's a plain language description:

"This embedded rule means that plans (including self-funded plans) will now have to have embedded out-of-pocket limits for each individual covered under family coverage.

For example, using the 2016 limits, if a family plan has an annual out-of-pocket limit of $10,000 and one family member incurs an expense of $20,000, that family member would be responsible for expenses up to $6,850 (the self-only out-of-pocket limit), and the remaining $13,150 would be paid in full by the plan. Additional expenses incurred by that family member would be paid by the plan with no cost sharing for the remainder of the plan year.

Although it is not stated expressly in the preamble, the other family members (or a single family member) should be responsible for the remaining $3,150 of expenses under the family cap of $10,000. Of course, after the family group reaches the $10,000 out-of-pocket limit, the group has no further cost sharing for the rest of the plan year."

Source: Bryan Cave Benefits and Executive Compensation Blog

Overview of the Multifaceted 2/27/15 Rule: PPACA World 2016: Dates, risks, flops | LifeHealthPro

Question: Is this handling of Out-of-Pocket in 2016 different than how most insurance plans currently treat the OOP distribution within families?
ac

----------

March 27, 2015

"Small Group" Plans Re-defined by A.C.A. - Eff: January 1, 2016

"A little-noticed provision in the Affordable Care Act could have a big impact on companies with 100 workers or less in 2016. The law changes the definition of small group health plans to include all companies of that size, bringing them under more requirements for benefits that must be covered as well as rules limiting premium differences based on age and gender. Currently, companies with 51 to 100 employees can buy plans in the large group market, which has less stringent regulations.

That means that many companies in the 51-100 size group with younger, healthier employees are likely to face higher premiums, while companies in that size group with older, sicker employees will pay less, according to an issue brief released March 3 by the American Academy of Actuaries."

Source: Little-Noticed ACA Provision Could Impact Small Group Plans in 2016 | Bloomberg BNA
 
From the, "Aww, isn't that nice of them" B.S. pile...

Illinois is allowing Health Insurers to Amend their filed 2016 Plans and/or Premiums within two weeks after the Supreme Court decision, if necessary.

Ltr To Insurers: http://insurance.illinois.gov/cb/2015/CB2015-07.pdf

Seems to me that amending already-filed plans/premiums after the SCOTUS ruling is a right that all insurers doing business in America have by default. They don't need a State Insurance Commissioner to give permission for something this basic to their (and our) survival.
 
May 29, 2015

Higher ($6,500) Silver Plan Deductible potential for 2016. The good, the bad, and the unknown.

Story: ObamaCare's New Twist: $6,500 Silver Plan Deductible - Investors.com

Silver is supposed to pay 70% of something. I never did understand those metal "Actuarial Value" measurements. But since Obamacare is losing altitude so quickly, learning more about how it's supposed to work is a waste of time at this point...unless you're a historian.
 
This article points out the ramifications of a lower cost silver plan has on subsidies in a given market. Not good for affordability.
 


Thanks YAgents. This is a great new resource! Am surprised that HealthCare.gov would publish these, since so many huge 2016 rate increases are included. For instance, BCBS-IL HMO = 29% PPO = 38%.

But then again, if the Govt wants private insurers out of the picture, showing these numbers will give additional ammo to single-payer proponents.

Edit to add: I see that all prior rate increases have been approved as requested, no matter how high. HHS can force a premium request lower, but the state of IL can't. So far, HHS hasn't had the will force reductions since being granted the authority to do so in 2010. At least not in Illinois.
 
Back
Top