WaPo: Some very good news for Obamacare

In a previous email I said that May23 Covered California[Exchange] was going to release information on how individual policies would work and the rates. They did not release information on how the small group program[SHOP] and as best as I could tell they only provided rates for families. The small business group will be released in early June.

The numbers cited below are average around California and the 19 regions how somewhat different rates. If you want the rates by region and a broader description of how the plans will work let me know.



Scott Hauge

President

Small Business California

2311 Taraval Street

San Francisco, CA 94116

shauge@cal-insure.com

415-680-2188





Hi Scott – Just wanted to make sure you and your members saw this info on the California marketplaces. Feel free to forward to any interested parties.



Best,

Chris



http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/24/wonkbook-some-very-good-news-for-obamacare/

In 2009, the Congressional Budget Office predicted that a medium-level “silver” plan — which covers 70 percent of a beneficiary’s expected health costs — on the California health exchange would cost $5,200 annually. More recently, a report from the consulting firm Milliman predicted it would carry a $450 monthly premium. Yesterday, we got the real numbers. And they’re lower than anyone thought.

As always, Sarah Kliff has the details. The California exchange will have 13 insurance options, and the heavy competition appears to be driving down prices. The most affordable silver-level plan is charging $276-a-month. The second-most affordable plan is charging $294. And all this is before subsidies. Someone making twice the poverty line, say, will only pay $104-a-month.

Sparer plans are even cheaper. A young person buying the cheapest “bronze”-level plan will pay $172 — and that, again, is before any subsidies.



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Chris Van Es

Special Assistant for Public Engagement

US Small Business Administration

(202)205-7660

Christopher.vanes@sba.gov