Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/26/2025 1:07:25 AM (updated 8/26/2025 1:16:28 AM)

The projected premium increase for 2026 for ACA individual insurance in Alabama and Georgia is 20%. This is due to higher medical costs and the expiration of premium subsidies.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/26/2025 8:18:11 AM

Yeah Obamadon'tcare is going exactly the way we said it would.  What you don't get Goofy is that the rates have been rising every single year much more than prior to it being passed.  But the govt has been shielding people from the real cost through subsidies.  My wife currently has one and we get no subsidy. 

Our premium for a Bronze plan is $2,000 per month with a $7,500 deductible for one person.  Think about it.....we will spend almost $30,000 before the insurance kicks in.  Most people can't afford that but also didn't care about how much the insurance company was charging because they didn't pay for it....taxpayers do.  And her plan covers all sorts of stuff she does not need but because of the regs she still has to pay for it.  No options.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/26/2025 9:36:07 AM (updated 8/26/2025 9:40:37 AM)

I fully understand how it works and the subsidy is based on income. You should be proud that your wife does not qualify for a subsidy as my taxes would have helped pay for it if your income was not so high. The last thing I want in life is to subsidize Martini's family insurance. 

Do you have Medicare supplement or Advantage?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/28/2025 3:29:49 PM (updated 8/28/2025 3:31:26 PM)

I don't want you to pay for my health insurance premium any more than I should be paying for someone else's...which I do.  My point was that there's a reason big insurance companies were all in for Obamadon'tcare, it made them government contractors as most of the premium is paid by our tax dollars.  So most people are insulated from the real cost of health insurance and the cost increases.  All they care about is their portion, which is determined by the government which is why I am all for getting rid of the subsidies so the people will rise up and demand it be rescinded.

I have Medicare Parts A, B, D and G.  Decided to go that way for obvious reasons.  Go with an Advantage plan and if you get dropped and have preexisting conditions those will be excluded if you want to change to G/N.  Some downsides but it still made sense to me to get a supplemental plan.  Exact same coverage and premium as everyone else.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/28/2025 4:50:40 PM (updated 8/28/2025 5:07:09 PM)

The big problem for the Companies with ACA has been preexisting condition coverage. Companies lost alot of money when coverage fisrt started with all the claims that were covered without regard to pre existing. It is easy to complain about ACA but damn diffiuclt coming up with a replacement that covers pre exisiting. The Republicans would like to offer coverage with an application that allows the insurance company to exclude pre exisiting.

Maybe a program like Medicare for all. I assume you are enjoyig your governement health insurance. After the $240 deductible, everything is covered. With Social Security and Government Health Insurance, you can be a Welfare King.

For D, I have been using Wellcare with $0 premium. I think that will end and 2026 will have a premium.

The Advantage program has had some issues fraud. Companies receive higher payments for each sicker Inured. Companies have been caugh changing codes that doctors send in and making the individual have more severe conditions. This has increased their bottom line and allowed them to offer free goodies on TV. CIGN was caught and fined $750 million last year. United is being reviewd currently.

CIGNA had sold all their Medicare Advantage policies to Blue Cross. The interesting point is that Companies receive payments based on the number of stars that appear on the reviews on the Governemnt Website. Humana received a low review and less subsidy which effects their bottom line. Customer service does matter.

The other day I caslled a bank and it was the typical 1 for English 2 for Spanish. I hit 1 and got someone named Mary Jane from Indonesia. Her english was impreccable if you live in Indonesia.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	2026 Insurance Rates
Date:	8/29/2025 10:21:56 AM

Medicare for all would be doubling and tripling down on stupid as govt does nothing well.  Medicare is already headed to bankruptcy unless it is reformed.  Adding everyone to an already bankrupt program is just about as stupid a thing as you could do.  As for me liking it or not liking it, what other choice do I have?  I got kicked off our Obamadon'tcare policy when I turned 65.  So I had no choice.  

As for the cost increases in the ACA plans, pre-existing conditions is just one of many problems.  Being forced to pay for coverage you don't need also drives up costs.  As for pre-existing conditions, as I am sure you know well it can still happen with Medicare which is why I opted for supplemental versus Advantage.  People simply do not understand what insurance is and have unrealistic expectations.  Imagine trying to buy fire insurance while your house is burning to the ground.  I would have much preferred a govt program to address pre-existing conditions versus what we got.  It would still be a fiscal nightmare but would have made insurance for everyone else more reasonable.

I would also prefer a big expansion of catastrophic insurance and HSA plans.  Getting the consumer closer to the provider is the best way to reduce costs.  If we only used insurance for the big events and pay cash for all other services it will lower costs dramatically.  People rush to the doctor because it's only a $25 co-pay.  If they had to fork out $250 from their HSA account they would think twice.  They would also push back against defensive medicine which results in unneeded tests.  If you had to fork out $500 for a bunch of tests you start to ask questions about why. 

I could go on and on but my solution is to find a way to reduce the 3rd party payer system (including govt) which has massively distorted the cost of health care.  Obamadon'tcare was the exact wrong way to go and we are all suffering as a result.